Building on Positive Relationships is a new approach currently being implemented in North Ayrshire. It aims to support families and school staff to build upon positive relationships with children and young people who are experiencing difficulties. This follows on from the already established work that has been done to Promote Positive Relationships in North Ayrshire. We are confident it will have a strong impact in achieving positive outcomes for the children and families involved.

Building on Positive Relationships ultimately aims to support children and young people who display behaviours that challenge adults. This is mainly done through the use of strategies that seek to de-escalate a situation. Tools such as relational gestures, or announcements, can be used. This new approach draws inspiration from the Non-Violent Resistant Approach (NVR) and compliments North Ayrshire’s existing supports, such as our nurturing and trauma-informed approaches.

Building on Positive Relationships, is based on the principles of relationship quality, attunement, regulation, and care and challenge – among others. When facing behaviours that challenge us, it is important to remember that ‘all behaviour is communication’. It is important that adults in that young person’s life have a good relationship with them, and that they are attuned to their thoughts and emotions.  Moreover, adults must display qualities of care, such as empathy – as well as qualities of challenge, such as setting clear boundaries and expectations. These underlying principles then allow adults to help young people to regulate their heightened emotions. Young people can then begin to develop more positive behaviours.

Involvement in groups is currently directed through staff trained in the approach, working through schools or already established teams of staff.  We hope to develop a more open referral system once we have gathered feedback from these pilots.