Studio III

1. Studio III Dr Andy McDonnell, andym@studio3.org June 2014

2. About us We were established in 1992. We provide high quality evidence based training in the specialist field of managing aggressive and challenging behaviour. Studio 3 is renowned for the development of Low Arousal Approaches to managing behaviour throughout the UK and Europe. We consider ourselves to be market leaders in challenging behaviour training for a variety of care settings.

3. Our services We work in Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, UK wide, Ireland. Israel, Greece, Malta, South Africa. Currently developing projects in France, Hong Kong and Australia. We are the originators of the low arousal approach to physical intervention Studio 3 Training Services Studio 3 Clinical Services Atlass – Children & Families - Autism Low Arousal – Stress Management in Crisis's

4. Low Arousal Approaches Is a resource for families, carers and professionals looking for information on the Low Arousal Approach. The Low Arousal Approach emphasises a range of behaviour management strategies that focus on the reduction of stress, fear and frustration and seeks to prevent aggression and crisis situations. The low arousal approach seeks to understand the role of the ‘situation’ by identifying triggers and using low intensity strategies and solutions to avoid punitive consequences for individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The low arousal approach seeks to understand the role of the ‘situation’ by identifying triggers and using low intensity strategies and solutions to avoid punitive consequences for individuals from a variety of settings. Low arousal approaches are part of the SPELL framework developed for people with autism.

5. Why Train Staff • Staff training is expensive. • High staff turnover makes delivering staff training difficult in ‘real world’ settings’. • Relatively low pay in the care sector makes the migration of staff to other services much more of a reality. • Good organisations invest money in staff training for frontline staff.

6. A Systemic Approach • Training to be effective requires organisational support. • We provide training systems. • We actively support the development of best practice in terms of policies, support plans and procedures and the implementation of our methods. • Influencing organisations to operate within a low arousal framework is a long term process.

7. Why Studio 3? We don’t just train we campaign We are advocates for banning prone and supine holds from training (See Millfields Charter) We provide a training system, not just training courses. We focus on developing a culture change strategy in partnership with our customers Our goal is to achieve organisations that have a focus on the reduction of restrictive practices. We have a proven track record. We set very high quality standards. We are scientist practitioners.

8. Our Courses An Introduction to managing challenging behaviour - One day Managing challenging behaviour including physical intervention techniques - Three days Designing non-aversive reactive plans - Two days Designing risk assessments - One day Parents Training – Autism Autism Awareness Safeguarding children- One day Safeguarding Adults - One day Atlass Course 5 days Low Arousal Practitioner Course – 5 Days Train the Trainer Managing Challenging Behaviour

9. Studio 3 Clinical Services Clinical Psychology Support Services. We are an experienced team of professionals from many different but inter-related disciplines. Our staff work with individuals with a range of difficulties as well as with their carers using systemic, evidence based approaches. Our current work includes individualised assessments, a range of therapeutic approaches (including CBT and counselling), staff and carer support.

10. The Atlass Programme ATLASS was formed by a group of Studio3 practitioners with many years experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their families and agencies who support them. In our work we recognise that autism not only affects the individual but also those around the individual and we therefore take a holistic approach to support and intervention. We have become increasingly aware of the role that stress plays for the individual with autism, their experience of their symptoms and for their family and carers. We have therefore developed a range of services which specifically acknowledges the management of stress and the development of coping skills as an essential part of the therapeutic process.

11. Applied Research We have substantial history in the behaviour management field We are currently working in collaboration with the Tizard Centre University of Kent on a number studies which focus on the application of Low Arousal Approaches Dr Roy Deveau is our Research Coordinator Our team is currently involved in writing an international book about reducing restrictive practices (Professor Jeffery Chan University of Queensland) We are currently writing a book which focuses on a stress management approach to working with behaviours of concern

12. UK Accreditation All our physical intervention courses are BILD accredited. We support the Code of Practice, however our training standards are well above the requirements of this Code. In our view this code as developmental in nature and we are advocating for increasing quality standards.

13. Some of our Publications

14. Example Publications Deveau, R and McDonnell, A.A. (2009). As the last resort: Reducing the use of restrictive physical interventions using an organisational approach. (The British Journal of Learning Disabilities)  McDonnell ( Dagnan D, Hull A & McDonnell A (2013) The Controllability Beliefs Scale used with carers of people with intellectual disabilities: Psychometric properties. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 57, 422-428.

15. Further Information • General enquiries contact info@studio3.org • Useful websites: • About Studio3: www.studio3.org • Low arousal approaches: www.lowarousal.com • The Atlass programme: www.atlassautism.com