Most restrictive practice decisions are shaped long before they reach a Human Rights Committee. Research and practice demonstrate that the effectiveness of a committee depends on the understanding, judgement, and confidence of managers, clinicians, and frontline staff as well as committee members themselves. This programme recognises that Human Rights Committees do not operate in isolation. They function within a wider organisational culture that must understand:

• What constitutes a rights restriction
• When due process is required
• How supported decision-making should operate in practice
• How to restore rights rather than simply manage risk

Originally developed as part of a national project commissioned by Inclusion Ireland and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, this course has evolved into a comprehensive training programme designed for:

• Equality and Human Rights Committee members
• Restrictive Practices Review Committee Members
• Service managers and team leaders
• Behaviour support specialists
• Clinicians and allied health professionals
• Frontline staff involved in restrictive practices
• Governance and safeguarding leads

The training prepares participants to review, challenge, and refine restrictive practices in line with:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities        
• The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (as amended)
• The Decision Support Service Codes of Practice
• The HSE National Consent Policy (including Deprivation of Liberty guidance)
• HIQA standards and human rights-based approaches

A distinctive feature of this programme is its applied case methodology. Organisations are invited to submit anonymised cases for structured review. Participants apply a Restrictive Practice Review Checklist and engage in reasoned deliberation — reaching decisions that are lawful, proportionate, and rights-focused. The aim is not simply compliance.
The aim is cultural shift — embedding rights-first reasoning into everyday practice.