Restraint Reduction Network

The BBC documentary series Don’t Exclude Me, which has now aired two episodes, follows the school experiences of Oscar and Jack. It depicts the daily reality for many children with additional needs, including the unnecessary use of judgemental and coercive language, public shaming and restraint. Both boys are at risk of exclusion due to poor inclusion practices. A lack of ... Read More »

A new book, Autistic and Expecting, written by Restraint Reduction Network Manager and autism campaigner Alexis Quinn, aims to empower autistic parents with vital information and strategies to help parental bonding and provide advice for early parenting. Autistic and Expecting is the first book of its kind, written specifically for autistic parents as a wonderfully positive, affirming and informative resource ... Read More »

“How would you respond if the Government mandated that CCTV should be installed in every room in your house, including your bedroom, with the aim of promoting your health and protecting you from harm? You might be outraged or even set to the streets to protest. We all have a fundamental right to privacy.” Those are the words of Alexis ... Read More »

The use of surveillance in health and social care settings is a complex issue. Our right to privacy is so fundamental that its value can be difficult to articulate. This analogy helps make the ethical debate real: Imagine asking members of the public to argue against the installation of cameras in their lounge rooms (Chesterman, 2017). Such is the situation ... Read More »

The Restraint Reduction Network, in partnership with the British Institute of Human Rights, has launched new resources aimed at helping individuals and organisations take a rights-based approach to the use of surveillance. The resources include an in depth plain English and easy-read explainer for both individuals and services, as well as a poster. They explore why surveillance might be used ... Read More »

In autumn 2019, a National Quality Improvement Taskforce was established to improve current specialist children and young people’s inpatient mental health, autism and learning disability services in England. The Taskforce seeks to make a rapid set of improvements in care, with delivery of the programme by March 2022. These resources were commissioned from the Restraint Reduction Network by the Taskforce ... Read More »

Norfolk Adult Safeguarding Board yesterday (10th September) published its report, authored by Margaret Flynn, into the deaths of Joanna, Nicholas (known as Jon) and Ben – three adults with learning disabilities who unnecessarily died in their 30’s whilst being looked after at Cawston Park Hospital. The RRN has responded in full here. Cawston Park Hospital is part of the Jeesal Akman ... Read More »

The Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) is excited to announce an impressive array of speakers for this year’s RRN Conference exploring the theme of inequalities and restrictive practices. The conference will be taking place on 30 November to 1 December at The Queens Hotel in Leeds in-person and virtually. Inequalities and Restrictive Practices In a variety of exclusive keynotes, panels and ... Read More »

The Restraint Reduction Network calls for the immediate safety and protection of vulnerable people in LTS. The Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) has today (21 July 2021) welcomed recommendations made by Baroness Hollins, Chair of the Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Review into the long-term segregation (LTS) of people with a learning disability and autistic people in inpatient settings[1] calling for ... Read More »

The Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) has today (19 July 2021) welcomed the Welsh Government’s launch of the Reducing Restrictive Practice Framework (RRPF) in Wales as a ‘major milestone,’ calling for a strong and transparent implementation plan to be in place for Autumn 2021 to support the roll-out required across health, education and social care settings in Wales.[1] The RRN is ... Read More »