Author: Nicola Stewart
Last saved by: Deborah Cree
Company: Buddies Club/Playscheme

Buddies Clubs & Services

Policy on Violence to Staff      

Buddies Clubs & Services is highly aware of the challenges staff may meet while working with children/young people with a wide range of special needs and disabilities.

Initial assessments on children/young people entering the service pay special attention to issues and traits which may be linked to challenging/violent behavior.

Many children/young people with little or no language use ways to express themselves which may involve violence.  A child/young person may lash out in a desperate attempt to express needs etc.

Buddies Clubs & Services staff recognises that early signals should be acted on and are trained to defuse potentially violent situations well before any climax.  Escalation must be avoided.

When a punch or attack does happen staff are encouraged to react calmly, but to let the child/young person see that it has hurt.  Often this realisation alone can cool the situation.

Buddies Clubs & Services applies a consistent structured approach with guidelines such as . . .

Be prepared at all times - stay calm - keep one step ahead.

Long hair should be tied back, dangling earrings avoided etc.

Allergies and food intolerance are particularly noted, as a small mistake can lead to challenging behavior.

Unusual behavior and problems are monitored, noted and discussed with parents/carers.  Often situations arise which are rooted in events at school or home before the child/young person arrives at Buddies Clubs.  Staff must keep this possibility in mind when assessing situations.

If a child/young person becomes violent and could hurt him/herself, another child/young person/staff member, the child/young person should be removed to a safe, calm area until behavior settles.

All incidents/accidents are recorded in the appropriate book and investigated fully.  This will include debriefing the staff member(s) concerned.

Buddies Clubs staff are introduced to these issues at the start of their employment, and Buddies Clubs is committed to training to ensure staff awareness of all our policies.

Buddies Policy	                                                              Updated July 2026