Riverview Hospital Staff Manuals. Richard J. Wiseman

Ride: Children will sit quietly in car. There can be talking, but no yelling, pushing, shoving, etc. Children will keep hands to themselves and not stick anything or part of themselves out of the Briar. Children will remain in the Briar or car until told to leave by staff. Children will not fight for seats in the Briar. Children will not touch the driver.

      Other: In all cases before leaving the ward, the expectations for the activity should be clearly stated to the children. These expectations should be written down as soon as is possible. Fishing or skiing would be included here. Any staff member can structure an outside off-grounds activity as long as expectations are spelled out and activity receives approval from both recreation and Director of BLEU.

      PROCEDURE FOR OFF-GROUNDS ACTIVITIES:

      1. Children are to be informed of possibilities.

      2. Dollars collected.

      3. Expectations stated.

      4. Upon return to ward if expectations are met, child is informed of amount and reason for award or non-award of savings dollars.

      5. Child can receive not more than two reminders of rules and receive savings dollars for that activity.

      6. Some cases, the pool for example, necessitate a Briar Ride. Thus, to receive savings credit for swimming would include a good Briar ride.

      b. Outside Activity ON Silvermine Grounds: These activities will take place outside the ward, but still on the Silvermine Building grounds.

      Activities offered can include such things as:

      1. Swing Set

      2. Ball Game

      3. Digging and Gardening

      4. Bike Riding

      5. Walks

      6. Other

      DEFINITIONS

      1. Swing Set: Child’s walking up to area with staff person within 20 feet of staff. Playing appropriately with equipment, i.e. uses swing as intended, swings in right direction, does not endanger another person, does not throw swing over top bar, does not endanger self, does not throw self off swing, does not run up slide the wrong way, watches where walking and does not come close to people swinging. Stops immediately when told is time to return to ward. Walks back within 20 feet of staff. Receives notification of payment upon return to ward.

      2. Ball Game: The rules are as set up by group living staff member before leaving ward. They are to be followed. If there is a group playing, each is to get equal chance – no one child should monopolize the game. It should be played such that it would not endange anyone, i.e. if an object is being thrown in some way the person throwing object should make sure the person to whom the object is being thrown is knowledgeable of the hurled object. No throwing an object to someone who is not facing you.

      The game will be played immediately outside ICU, on lawn beside Cottage C, or outside of downstairs double doors.

      Game must be played with proper decorum. Materials ad equipment must be used in manner intended, i.e., bats for hitting ball, not rocks, the ground or people.

      3. Digging and Gardening: Equipment taken out by child must be returned and in same condition. If holes or ruts are made, they are to be filled in. When told it is time to clen up the mess, job should be done immediately. Receives notification of payment upon return to ward.

      4. Bike Riding: Bike must be returned by child faking it out, and in same condition as when picked up. The bike riding area is the road in front of ICU from the corner to the driveway to Kitchen, the Kitchen dropoff area, and the tarred area right in front of Cottage C. The child should always be in sight of the staff person. These is to be no running into people, purposefully running into the curbs, no riding too closely to another person on a bike. Using the kickstand to stand bike up, if there is one. Gently lying bike on ground if there is no kick stand. Gently means placed on ground such that there is no noise, it does not dig up the ground from impact, or let fall from a distance of more than 6 inches from the ground. The child must be watchful of cars and if they are in the road or near it, they must stop as soon as they notice a car is nearing them.

      5. Walk: Unlike the morning walk, this walk is not confined to the immediate Silvermine area, but should last 1–1/2 hours, such that the staff and children involved return to the ward by the end of the period. Children must stay within 20 feet of the staff member leading the walk.

      6. Other: Any staff member can structure an outside activity of at least 1/2 hour but not more than 1–1/2 hours, but must clearly spell out expectations and receive approval for activity from the Director of BLEU.

      c. Downstairs: Downstairs means in downstairs Day Room, Bathroom or Jeanne’s room (if specifically requested and granted). This excludes the hallway, Carl’s office, outside double doors. For a child to receive credit, he or she must remain within the prescribed area and meet expectations of activities taking part in.

      Activities offered:

      1. Pool

      2. T.V.

      3. Ping-Pong

      4. Arts & Crafts

      Definitions

      1. Pool: Cue stick is to be used the right way. It is to be held with both hands. The tip of the stick is to be used to hit the balls. No balls should for any reason bounce off the table or be picked up unless they have mistakenly been knocked in a pocket or it is time to rack up. The cue stick should not be damaged in any way, nor should the felt be torn. The cue stick should never be raised perpendicular to the floor nor should the point ever be pointed toward a person. Kids are to take turns playing, i.e. if four want to play, two play, then the other two, etc. There is to be no food or drink on the pool table or rim. The cue stick should never touch another person unless it is being handed gently into the other person’s hand. (The person to whom it is being handed should know cue stick is being handed to him.)

      2. T.V.: Staff will decide in conjunction with the children involved what station or program is to be viewed. Children will sit quietly in the furniture, keeping their hands to themselves and keeping their voices at a low level. When told to leave, the child responds quickly with little protest and returns quietly to the ward.

      3. Ping-Pong: Game played by vollying ball such that ball goes over net and hits the other side of table. On service, ball is to be hit so touches both sides of table. Throwing paddles, banging paddles on table, ripping net, purposely mashing balls, hitting ball at opponent and not table, will all be behaviors for which credit will be lost. Game should be played according to rules.

      4. Arts & Crafts: Using arts $ crafts material at the arts & crafts table or room. Using crafts materials for purpose intended. This means scissors for cutting paper, clay for modeling, paste for pasting paper. Children will work on projects which they can keep upon completion. Children will clean up fully either before leaving the activity or 15 minutes before end of period. Children must clean up to receive credit and leave unfinished projects at Arts & Crafts area.

      PROCEDURE:

      Staff who will run Arts & Crafts will announce which Arts and Crafts activities will be offered, provide these materials. At end of time, child will be told to clean up. Children can only take finished projects with them. All unfinished projects will be marked and put in a safe place. Staff will only remind child of expectation two times before child will lose savings credit.

      On Ward

      d. T.V. in Day Room: Sitting quietly in chair, not “messing” with T.V. or other children watching T.V. Child is to sit quietly in chairs or on floor, keeping hands to themselves and voices at a low level. When told that period is ended, child responds quickly and prepares for next activity. Child is to be in Day Room and only leaves Day Room with permission of staff.

      PROCEDURE:

      Staff sets up T.V. in Day Room with volume at a low level. In conjunction with the children who purchased that activity, a channel is picked. Channel is only to be changed with staff permission. Door to Day Room will be closed