Amplifying Key Voices in the Sector
A new website has launched to support an important research project examining physical restraint in residential child care across Scotland.
Holding Differently, Containing Distress is a collaborative project involving the University of Strathclyde, the Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group (SPRAG), CELCIS and the residential child care sector. The research is funded by the Scottish Government.
The project seeks to build a clearer understanding of how physical restraint is currently used in residential child care across Scotland. Crucially, it will also learn directly from the sector about the progress being made, the challenges services continue to face and what is needed to support the further reduction and elimination of restraint.
Physical Restraint in Residential Child Care: Learning from Those Closest to the Work
Physical restraint in residential child care is one of the most complex and sensitive areas of practice. Discussions around it must recognise the rights, safety and experiences of children and young people, while also acknowledging the difficult situations residential child care workers can face.
Meaningful progress cannot be achieved through policy and research alone. It requires the knowledge and experience of children, young people, practitioners, managers and others who understand the realities of residential care.
Holding Differently, Containing Distress creates an important opportunity for those voices to inform the evidence, recommendations and future direction of practice across Scotland.
A Valuable New Resource for the Sector
The newly launched website provides a dedicated home for information about physical restraint in residential child care and will allow people across the sector to follow its development.
Visitors can learn more about the research, explore project resources and access the latest news and updates as the work progresses.
By making the research accessible and creating a central place for information, the website can help strengthen awareness, encourage participation and support wider discussion throughout the sector.
Why This Research Matters
Scotland’s national guidance is clear that restraint should only ever be used as a last resort, when there is no safer way to keep a child or member of staff safe. Understanding how physical restraint in residential child care is used in practice, and why, is an essential step towards reducing it further and supporting trauma-informed alternatives.
The research will also explore what support, training and resources residential child care staff need to feel confident responding to distress without relying on restraint, helping services move towards more consistently trauma-informed care.
Research of this kind gives services the evidence they need to reflect on current practice, identify training needs and shape guidance that works for children, young people and the workforce alike. It also ensures that those with direct experience of residential care have a genuine say in the changes that follow.
Getting it right for every child will continue to follow this research into physical restraint in residential child care as part of our wider coverage of the children’s care sector in Scotland, sharing updates as new findings and opportunities to get involved are announced.
Supporting Positive and Lasting Change
Reducing the use of physical restraint requires openness, collaboration and a willingness to learn from both successful practice and the challenges that remain.
This project offers an opportunity to develop a more complete picture of physical restraint in residential child care across Scotland. The knowledge gathered can help identify what is working, where additional support may be required and how children, young people and the workforce can be better supported.
At Geco Connect, we welcome the launch of this valuable resource and the project’s commitment to listening to the residential child care sector.
As part of our Amplifying the Voice of the Sector series, we want to help bring greater attention to work that encourages learning, strengthens practice and supports better experiences and outcomes for children and young people.
We encourage residential child care workers, managers, leaders and everyone with an interest in the future of the sector to explore the new website and follow the project as it develops.