Barnsley Local Authority Childrens Homes Procedures Manual

Self-Harming and Suicidal Behaviour

Scope of this chapter

Note: This chapter should be read in conjunction with the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Procedures for the area.

Regulations and Standards

The Positive Relationships Standard

The Protection of Children Standard

Related guidance

1. Introduction

Many children and young people who come into the 'looked after' system have experienced significant trauma in their lives and are often highly vulnerable. It is likely that these children will sometimes have multiple and complex needs and significant behavioural and emotional difficulties, which can lead to acting in ways that place themselves in situations of high risk.

2. Planning and Prevention

As part of Placement Planning, relevant information should be gathered and appropriate risk assessments put in place alongside relevant intervention strategies.

This should be regularly reviewed and monitored.

In situations where staff are involved with a child who is actively self-harming or suicidal, they should, in consultation with other members of the team, ensure there is a plan to manage the effects such as distress or grief that an incident of self-harm or suicide may cause other workers, family members and other children and young people in the setting.

All reasonable measures should be taken to reduce or prevent continuation of the behaviour.

This may include providing additional supervision, confiscation of materials that may be used to self-harm or, as a last resort, use of physical intervention or calling for assistance from the emergency services.

If there is any suspicion that the child may be involved in self harming or any attempts of suicide, the social worker must be informed and a risk assessment undertaken (if it does not already exist with a view to deciding whether a strategy should be adopted to reduce or prevent the behaviour. That strategy should be included in the child's Placement Plan.

If necessary, specialist advice or support should be sought.

Serious or persistent self-harming or attempted suicide must be notified immediately to the Home's manager and the relevant social worker notified within 1 working day - the social worker should be consulted and consideration given to whether a Child Protection Referral should be made, if so, see Safeguarding Children and Young People and Referring Safeguarding Concerns Procedure.

The Designated Manager (Self Harming) should also be notified and consideration given to whether the incident is a Notifiable Event, see Notification of Serious Events Procedure.