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For a number of years I worked in a voluntary run community-based adolescent unit for abused and violated young people, many of whom could be abusive and violent themselves. I later moved from that setting to an independent agency recruiting and supporting foster carers, where I am currently employed. Throughout this time, having to respond to the aggressive and threatening behaviour of children and young people has been a constant challenge.

There is a growing debate over the use of appropriate techniques in these situations. Receiving good information about effective physical intervention and restraint techniques has not been easy to find.

Like many practitioners, I work to a value base that prescribes that every action taken must have the welfare, dignity and respect for the young person at its core. So I attended a four-day programme - Protecting Rights in a Care Environment (Price) - that teaches a range of non-aggressive physical intervention techniques that are in keeping with these values. The techniques were developed by the Bordesley Institute, and enable a safe, effective and ethical way to respond to challenging behaviour.

The value of the training was soon to be put to the test. I was responsible for the supervision of a placement of a boy - Trevor, aged 9 - who had experienced extreme levels of neglect and abuse of both an emotional and physical nature.

As I arrived at his new placement, I found Trevor standing on a window sill, banging the window pane with his fist. His first reaction was to become verbally abusive towards me. He had obtained a letter-opener and began hitting this against the window. This was interspersed by attempts to cut his wrists, while screaming that he was an evil child who deserved to be hurt.

A technique taught on the course appeared appropriate in this situation, but necessitated that two people be involved. Having called one of the foster carers, we approached Trevor using the self-protection techniques advocated during the training, and were able, safely and without pressure or force, to reduce the movement of his arms, enabling the letter-opener to be put down. We were able to sit Trevor down in a comfortable position, and utilise a safe hold, again not reliant on the application of pressure or strength.

Trevor eventually relaxed, his emotions stabilised, and we were able to scale down the intervention to the point where the carer just had an arm gently placed on his shoulder. On reflection, I strongly believe that if we had not been trained, then the outcome would have been one that was damaging to the child, and to the foster parents.

This recent experience has served to confirm my belief that the safe holding of young people is an integral part of good child care practice.

Ian Taylor is a senior social worker for an independent foster care agency.

- Information about Price training from the Bordesley Institute, 01527 65550.