to choose the colour scheme for seclusion or de-escalation rooms, some of the colour choices made (for example, deep purple) may not be ideal for an area set aside for calming down and de-escalation purposes. Units were mostly in a reasonable state of repair (indeed, two were recently refurbished), but the ICU at Te Whare Ahuru (Hutt Valley DHB) could do with an update. Lack of personal belongings and things to do Most seclusion rooms had none of the patient’s personal belongings, and patients were offered very few, if any, activities, typically no more than a short time in a barren outdoor yard or in a so-called ‘day room’ containing a table, a chair and a TV set behind a protective screen. This was contrary to MOH guidelines (2010) proposing that giving patients access to personal belongings and things to occupy themselves with was a desirable practice. Many practices were discretionary. Asked if patients could have a book in one mental health unit, the nurse replied that: “it depends on the client. It’s unusual to give them too much property. If someone is able to concentrate on reading a book, they would most likely be out [of seclusion]”. Insufficiently detailed recording The statistical data for restraint incidents did not record the reason for use of restraints. Furthermore, incidents involving the use of restraint were not collated and analysed nationally. Children and Young Persons’ Care and Protection residences and Youth Justice residences The physical space where children could be held in separation from other children in a care and protection residence is called a Secure Care unit. Section 368 of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989 stipulates that a child or a young person may be placed in the Secure Care unit of a residence only if such placement is necessary (a) to prevent the child or young person absconding from the residence or (b) to prevent the child or young person from behaving in a manner likely to cause physical harm to that child or young person or to any other person. Some of the issues around the use of seclusion in Children and Young People's Care and Protection and Youth Justice residences included: 38