About the course

Trying the patience of parents is part of a child’s healthy and normal development, it’s a child’s way of practicing their independence. As difficult and frustrating as this may be for parents, these episodes often pass. Distressed behaviour in children is pro-longed and can take many forms – anger, lack of attention, physical and verbal abuse, reluctance to socialise, self-harm and risk of injury to themselves or others. The root of distressed behaviour can be varied, complex and if left unaddressed, can contribute to further mental issues in adolescence.

This online short course will enable learners to gain a general awareness of the causes of distressed behaviour, along with an understanding of appropriate ways to support a child displaying distressed behaviour. Furthermore, learners will consider how other characteristics such as mental health, learning disabilities and sensory processing or autism conditions can play a role in distressed behaviour being displayed by a child. Finally, learners will gain an understanding of how current UK legislation underpins approaches to providing support for a child who displays distressed behaviour.

This course is ideal for those who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of distressed behaviour in children. It’s also valuable for anyone who is planning a career that requires an understanding of distressed behaviour and is looking to gain a qualification in this. The programme is suitable for those who desire to form a foundation due to little or no previous experience of the topic.

Please note, this is a fully online course and you will be given access to an online portfolio upon successful completion of the initial assessment process.

Unit 1: Awareness of distressed behaviour in children

Section 1: Understand what is meant by distressed behaviour

Section 2: Who may experience distressed behaviour

Section 3: How distressed behaviour can be assessed in children

Section 4: The impact distressed behaviour can have

Unit 2: Principles of intervention when working with children who display distressed behaviour

Section 1: Understand strategies that can support children showing distressed behaviour

Section 2: Understand how to record incidents when working with children who display distressed behaviour

Section 3: Understand how to mitigate distressed behaviour in children

Section 4: Understand when physical intervention should be used and the importance of using physical intervention safely when a child is displaying distressed behaviour

Unit 3: Distressed behaviour and mental health in children

Section 1: Understand the characteristics of mental health

Section 2: Understand how to support children with a mental health condition displaying distressed behaviour

Unit 4: Distressed behaviour and learning disabilities in children

Section 1: Understand the characteristics of learning disabilities

Section 2: Understand how to support children with a learning disability displaying distressed behaviour

Unit 5: Distressed behaviour, sensory processing conditions and autism spectrum conditions in children

Section 1: Understand the characteristics of sensory processing conditions and autism spectrum conditions

Section 2: Understand how to support children with an autism spectrum condition or sensory processing condition displaying distressed behaviour

Unit 6: Legislation and guidance for an individual providing support to children displaying distressed behaviour

Section 1: Understand legislation relevant to distressed behaviour in children

Section 2: Understand wider support available when working with children who display distressed behaviour

Section 3: Understand how UK legislation can support the human rights of children who display distressed behaviour