When restraint is lawful (regulation 20)

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted to prevent:

  1. injury to any person, including the child;
  2. serious damage to the property of any person, including the child; or
  3. a child accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding.

It must also be necessary and proportionate. Restraint to stop a child leaving an open children’s home is not one of the permitted purposes. Regulation 19 separately lists measures that must never be used as discipline. The DfE guide says techniques that cause pain, neck holds, or anything that could restrict breathing must never be used.

What the record must contain (regulation 35)

The registered person must have a behaviour management policy and keep it under review. Whenever a measure of control, discipline or restraint is used, the record must include:

  • the child's name
  • the child's behaviour that led to the measure
  • the date, time and place it was used
  • a description of the measure and how long it lasted
  • what was done to try to avoid using it
  • who used the measure and who else was involved
  • how effective it was and any consequences
  • any injury to the child or anyone else, and any medical treatment given

The 24-hour, 48-hour and 5-day steps

Restraint follow-up timeline (regulation 35)

    The 48 hours run from when the record is made; this shows the latest point if the record is written at the 24-hour limit. Writing it sooner brings the sign-off forward.

    How the Residential Childcare App handles this

    Staff can only choose a lawful reason under regulation 20; absconding is only offered for secure homes. Once written, the account cannot be changed. The 48-hour sign-off is limited to managers and can be done once, as can the confirmation that the child was spoken to, and the compliance hub flags anything still open.

    Restraint records with the regulation 35 deadlines shown

    Good practice

    • Record what was tried first, in enough detail to show restraint was the last resort.
    • Offer the child a debrief, and write down what they said in their own words.
    • Look for patterns across restraints: times, places, staff, triggers. Use them in your Regulation 45 review.
    • Make sure the Regulation 44 independent person can see restraint information for the month.