This Practitioner Guide accompanies the Communicating with Non-Verbal Young People Displaying Fire-Setting Behaviour presentation and provides additional guidance for professionals delivering fire-safety interventions with non-verbal children and young people. It expands on the key messages from the presentation and offers practical advice on communication, engagement, assessment, and risk reduction. The guide promotes a trauma-informed, child-centred approach that recognises fire-setting behaviour as meaningful communication and supports practitioners to build trust, improve understanding, and enhance safety outcomes.
How To Use
Use this guide alongside the presentation to support the planning and delivery of fire-safety interventions with non-verbal young people who display fire-setting behaviour. It provides practical strategies for adapting communication, using visual and alternative communication tools, recognising signs of understanding and distress, and applying trauma-informed approaches. Practitioners can also use the guide to prepare for visits, work effectively with families and carers, and reflect on practice to improve future interventions. It is intended as a quick reference resource to help professionals deliver safe, effective, and accessible interventions.
Supporting Items:
'Resource 1' is the presentation for this session. 'Resource 2' is a useful communication toolkit for further support.