Physical interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities: survey of use, policy, training and monitoring

Background: Perceived problems around the use of Physical Intervention to manage challenging behaviour have led to UK initiatives to encourage policy development and accredited training. However, information on PI use and the impact of these initiatives remains limited.

Method:Adult residential services within an English region were sent a questionnaire regarding physical intervention use, policy, staff training and monitoring/management.

Results:Physical intervention use was reported by 47% of the services. Of services using physical intervention, 65% reported having a policy governing its use and 79% reported providing staff training. Where restrictive physical intervention was used, comparable figures were 82% for policy and 84% for training. Physical intervention use was reported to be monitored in some way by 94% of services. Opinions offered supported the reduction of physical intervention use.

Conclusions: Physical intervention use is widespread. National guidance on policy and training is widely followed though unimplemented by a minority. The time may be right to more explicitly aim for a reduction in PI use within services.