1. Herding cats! Children research the use of physical restraint in custody.
UCLAN. The Centre for Children and Young
People’s Participation
9th March 2016

2. Background
Over 30 children (under the age of 18) have died in custody in the past decade. Custody for children is inherently unsafe, and exists of harmful and unsafe care. This study argued that the way children are treated once incarcerated is the result of the way that children, childhood and child offenders are conceptualised, perceived and controlled. The routine use of physical restraint as a response to challenging behaviour is highly questionable.
Even if it is legally defensible, does that make it morally right?

3. Background
Taking a children’s human rights approach this piece of participatory research, explores the use of physical restraint across the secure estate in England, from the perspective of children themselves. Over 100 children participated in the research, some as researchers themselves and others as subjects. Spaces were created which encouraged the authentic and distinctive voice of children, which lies at the heart of the study. Their contemporaneous experience makes this research unique.

4. The Research Aims
To explore challenging situations with children in the secure estate from a rights perspective.
Using participatory research methods children explored:
the potential of adopting a rights-based approach, and
issues around the use of physical restraint

5. Everyone has a different reality

6. Children’s Participation
Children as researchers
Children as research participants
Children as advisors - The Children’s Advisory Group

7. Research Spaces Agenda Days™ My Space Vignettes
CAG – Children’s Advisory Group

8. Research Participants
Children
22 children involved in initial scoping
5 members of the Children’s Advisory Group
12 children interviewed as part of the development of vignettes
12 children involved in pilot of the vignettes
7 children from YOI
18 children in STC
35 children in LASCH
Key Stakeholders
5 staff from YOT
5 staff from STC
7 staff from LASCH
6 staff from key stakeholder groups

9. Evidence generated by Children Evidence generated by Adults
Research Evidence
Evidence generated by Children
Notes from CAG meetings
Interviews with children to develop the vignettes
Notes from the vignette pilot session
Recordings from interviews using the vignettes
Notes from New Space meetings
Recording of one to one interviews with children from LASCH, STC, and YOI
Evidence generated by Adults
Research diary entries
Recordings of one to one interviews with key stakeholders
Notes from staff group sessions

10. The use of physical restraint in the secure estate
Themes for Analysis
The use of physical restraint in the secure estate
Children’s experiences of physical restraint
The acceptability/inevitability of restraint
Gender issues
The importance of relationship
Expectations
The futility of complaints
A rights perspective
Methodological issues
The Children’s Advisory Group
The child’s voice
Vignettes
Research spaces

11. Research findings Children’s human rights in the secure environment
Children’s everyday experience of violence
The significance of gender
The importance of relationship
It’s all about control
No interest in alternatives
The importance of participatory research spaces

12. Co-construction with children
Shaping the vignettes
Creating a balanced context in which the research was conducted
Created a dialogue with children in custody
Sense of rights and injustice
Creating alternatives
Children are firmly planted in reality

13. Where will it end? What will it start?

14. Issues, challenges and barriers
Children altered the shape and scope of the research
Children creating a different dynamic
Adult gatekeeping
Taking children seriously – adult accountability

15. Thank you!