4.6 Self Harming |
Contents
1. Planning and Prevention
Broadly defined, self-harm refers to the deliberate attempt to physically injure oneself without causing death. This can include self-mutilation (e.g. cutting behaviours), self-poisoning, burning, scalding, banging, and hair-pulling.
Although clearly damaging, alcohol and drugs misuse, eating disorders, unsafe sex and other excessively risky behaviour, such as dangerous driving, are not generally classified as self-harm.
If a child is suspected or found to be self harming, the strategies that should be taken are those determined by any existing plan, for example, in the child's Placement Plan.
If no plan or strategy exists, 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 (See Physical Intervention Procedure)or calling for assistance from the emergency services.
If there is any suspicion that the child may be involved in self harming, the social worker must be informed and a risk assessment undertaken 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.
Useful guidance for young people and carers in relation to ‘cutting’ can be found at the kidshealth website
If necessary, specialist advice or support should be sought.
2. Notifications and Management Review
There are different notifications procedures, depending on the seriousness of the self-harming.
2.1 Notifications of Minor or Non Persistent Self Harming
Minor or non persistent self-harming should be notified to the manager at the first opportunity; the manager will decide whether to inform the relevant social worker.
2.2 Notifications of Serious or Persistent Self Harming
Serious or persistent self-harming is deemed to be an Incident; and must be notified to the manager and relevant Social Worker within 24 hours or as soon as practicable thereafter.
The social worker should decide whether to inform the child's parent(s) and, if so, who should do so.
Depending on the seriousness of the Incident, other people/agencies may have to be notified, see Notifiable Events Procedure.
The manager must undertake a Management Review, as set out in Section 5 - Incidents General Procedure.
3. Recording
A hard back book/sealed log should be put in place which will act as a record to cross reference to individual records. Registered managers must complete the Self Harm form and place on the child’s file.
As a minimum headings in the incident log should include:
- Log Reference Number
- Name of child
- Date of Incident
- Type of Incident
- Who has been notified and date
- Any Emergency Services Call out - list
- Name of other records completed
- Name of staff entering details
- Managers Signature
End