Source: NICE

 

Adolescence is a time of change and can be a difficult transition for many young people and significantly more so for young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, displacement from family or poor mental health. This can sometimes lead to a trauma-based response of violence and aggressive behaviour. 

 

NICE’s quick guide promotes prevention through building positive professional relationships with young people ensuring they are fully involved in their care plans and directing these where possible.  

 

Transparency and open conversation are key to ensuring young people know and understand what will happen if their behaviour is violent or aggressive and the de-escalation messages for professionals are clear and supportive.  

 

The quick guide reinforces the importance of prevention through keeping the young person at the centre of the work – supporting them to understand their triggers, recognise the signs that things are going wrong and building positive coping mechanisms. 

 

Following NICE’s guidance by increasing preventative measures, planning together for when things go wrong and supporting young people to develop their own insight, will ultimately keep both young people and professionals safe whilst developing life-long skills.

 

This guide is aimed at registered managers of mental health services for young people, it offers support to implement our guidance on: 

  • Preventing violent and aggressive behaviour
  • Using de-escalation techniques
  • Staff training

 

» NICE’s Quick guide to ‘Reducing the risk of violent and aggressive behaviours’

 

» NICE’s Violence and aggression guidelines

 

» NICE’s Violent and aggressive behaviours’ quality standard