1.1 How reflection on an incident can assist in managing future behaviour

This guide will help you with answers for NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Behaviour that Challenges 1.1 How reflection on an incident can assist in managing future behaviour.

As a support worker, you play a really important role in managing and understanding behaviours that challenge. One essential aspect of your role is reflecting on incidents to better manage future behaviours. Reflection allows you to develop methods to support individuals effectively and minimise difficult situations. Let’s dive into how this process works and its benefits.

What Is Reflection?

Reflection involves thinking deeply about an incident. This could be any challenging behaviour you’ve encountered, such as aggression, refusal to cooperate, or self-injury. When you reflect, you analyse what happened, understand why it happened, and think about how you might handle similar situations in the future. It’s not just recalling the event but delving into its details and implications.

The Process of Reflection

Reflecting on incidents systematically involves several steps:

1. Recalling the Incident:
   Start by remembering the incident in as much detail as possible. Note the behaviours, the context, and your responses.
2. Understanding the Context:
   Identify the environmental factors that might have contributed to the behaviour. Was the setting stressful or unfamiliar? Were there specific triggers like noises or lights?
3. Analysing the Behaviour:
   Think about the behaviour itself. What was the person trying to communicate or achieve? Did they want attention, escape from a situation, or perhaps express discomfort?
4. Evaluating Your Response:
   Consider how you responded. Were your actions effective? Did they escalate or de-escalate the situation?
5. Considering the Outcomes:
   Reflect on the immediate and long-term outcomes of your actions. Did the individual calm down? Was the situation resolved satisfactorily?

Purpose of Reflection

Reflection serves multiple purposes. Primarily, it helps you understand the behaviour better, which can lead to more effective strategies for managing similar incidents. It also fosters personal growth and professional development by featureing areas for improvement.

Advantages of Reflection in Managing Future Behaviour

Improved Understanding of Triggers

Through reflection, you can identify specific triggers that lead to challenging behaviour. Whether it’s sudden loud noises, changes in routine, or specific social interactions, understanding these triggers is important. Once identified, you can work on minimising these triggers in the environment or preparing individuals better to cope with them.

Development of Personalised Strategies

Every individual is unique, and what works for one person might not work for another. Reflecting on past incidents allows you to develop tailored strategies that suit the individual’s needs. For instance, if a person calms down with sensory toys, integrating these into their daily routine could prevent future incidents.

Enhanced Communication Skills

Reflection helps improve your communication skills. Understanding what de-escalating language and non-verbal cues worked or didn’t work in a previous incident can guide you in future situations. Practice and reflection on effective communication techniques make you more adept at handling challenging behaviour.

Identification of Professional Development Needs

Reflecting on incidents can also feature areas where you might need further training or support. Perhaps you might benefit from learning more about specific conditions like autism or attending workshops on de-escalation techniques. Continuous professional development enhances your ability to manage challenging behaviour effectively.

Practical Reflection Techniques

Keeping a Reflective Journal

One effective way to reflect on incidents is by keeping a reflective journal. Document each incident, including what happened, your responses, what worked, and what didn’t. Over time, patterns will emerge that can inform your approach.

Team Debriefings

Discussing incidents with your team can provide multiple perspectives. Team debriefings encourage open communication and collective problem-solving. You might gain insights from your colleagues on how they handle similar behaviours.

Use of Reflective Models

Structured reflective models like Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle can guide you through the reflection process. Gibbs’ Cycle involves six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. This systematic approach ensures you cover all aspects of the incident.

Implementing Changes Based on Reflection

Revise Behavioural Support Plans

Based on your reflections, you can revise and update behavioural support plans. Ensure they are dynamic documents that change with each new insight you gain. These plans should be shared with and understood by the entire support team to ensure consistency.

Training and Workshops

If reflection features a gap in your skills, seek out relevant training. This might include workshops on managing aggression, understanding specific conditions, or communication strategies.

Environment Modifications

Make necessary changes to the physical environment to reduce triggers. This might involve creating quiet spaces, consistent routines, or using visual aids to reduce anxiety.

Case Study: Applying Reflection

Imagine an incident where an individual becomes aggressive during meal times. Reflecting on this incident could reveal several insights:

• Triggers Identified: The aggressive behaviour occurs mainly during mealtime in a noisy, crowded environment.
• Your Response: You intervened with verbal prompts, which temporarily calmed the individual but didn’t stop recurring incidents.
• Outcome: The individual often left meals unfinished, affecting their nutrition.

Through reflection, you might develop a strategy where meals are provided in a quieter setting with fewer stimuli. You could introduce visual schedules to prepare the individual for mealtimes. Testing and tweaking these strategies based on continuous reflection could eventually lead to a better-managed mealtime with reduced aggression.

Final Thoughts

Reflection is an invaluable tool in managing challenging behaviour effectively. By analysing past incidents, understanding triggers, and developing personalised strategies, you can actually improve the support you provide. Make reflection a regular part of your practice to continuously learn and adapt. Remember, the goal is to make the environment as supportive as possible for those in your care and to enhance your professional skills.

Developing a habit of reflection not only benefits the individuals you support but also fosters your growth as a compassionate and skilled support worker. Keep reflecting, learning, and improving.

Example answers for unit 1.1 How reflection on an incident can assist in managing future behaviour

Example Answer 1

During a recent incident, one of the individuals I support became very agitated and started yelling and throwing objects. Reflecting on this event, I realised it happened right after a sudden change in routine. We had to cancel an outing due to bad weather, and I hadn’t prepared him for this possibility. Reflecting on this, I understood the importance of giving ample warning about changes and offering alternative activities to help him cope better. This reflection will help me manage similar situations in the future by preparing him more effectively for any changes in plans.

Example Answer 2

In my reflection about a challenging behaviour incident, I noted that the individual became aggressive when asked to participate in a group activity. By thinking it through, I realised he might feel overwhelmed in group settings and possibly lacks the social skills needed to engage comfortably. From now on, I’ll try to encourage more one-on-one activities before gradually introducing him to group settings. Reflecting on this incident has highlighted the need for a more gradual approach, which I plan to implement in the future.

Example Answer 3

After an incident where a resident became very upset and started self-injuring, I took time to reflect. I noticed this behaviour occurred just after a new staff member entered the room. Looking back, I can see that this individual has always shown a preference for stability and familiarity. Reflection helped me understand that any changes in staff should be introduced slowly, with plenty of reassurance. Moving forward, I’ll make sure to prepare him better for any changes in staff to manage his behaviour more effectively.

Example Answer 4

One incident involved an individual refusing to take her medication and becoming verbally aggressive. Reflecting on this, I considered that she might not fully understand why she needs her medication. My response at the time was to insist she take it without explanation, which escalated the situation. Through reflection, I realised the importance of educating her about her medication and offering choices whenever possible. This insight will help me manage similar incidents by providing more information and fostering cooperation.

Example Answer 5

In a recent challenging behaviour episode, a child I work with started hitting others during playtime. Looking back, I noticed that this often happens when he feels frustrated and can’t express himself with words. My reflection revealed that he needs more support in developing his communication skills and managing frustration. Therefore, I’ll focus on teaching him alternative ways to express his needs and feelings. This reflection will assist in managing future behaviour by proactively addressing the root cause.

Example Answer 6

Last week, an individual became distressed when it was time to transition from one activity to another. Reflecting on this, I realised that sudden transitions are hard for him. He needs more time and support to switch activities. My reflection also brought to light that I need to use visual aids and verbal countdowns more consistently to help him anticipate and prepare for transitions. This finding will guide me in making transitions smoother in future, by providing better preparatory cues and supports.