All physical training should take into consideration the natural capabilities of the body, the ways in which it moves most efficiently and should utilise training methods and learning formula which build on fundamental attributes which are shared by every person.

Typically, when normal people are involved in confrontations, the moment at which the discussion turns to an assault, when a simple question triggers verbal abuse or the seemingly compliant subject escalates into a violent attacker, the person being surprised will undergo a sudden and quite drastic change in their physiology.

There are few more sensitive areas in the field of care than that of the purpose, time and place for physical intervention with service users.  Management have duty of care for both staff and service users.  Care professionals must balance care with risk.  Its not easy, and we recognise this.

Our training in this area seeks to wash away much of the confusion and misconception which abounds, while ensuring that staff have the confidence to act appropriately if and when they ever need to physically intervene with a service user.

Of course, the professional directive is to avoid the need for physical restraint wherever possible, however in exceptional circumstances, the need for competency and skill is paramount.

Our Physical Restraint course has been developed by leading specialists in the field, NFPS Ltd, who have rigourously developed the course to Edexcel-accredited BTEC standard, ensuring the highest levels of occupational relevance and due diligence.

Breakaway and Disengagement Tactics

We believe that if an aggressive person can be engaged with compelling verbal strategies, congruent body language and confident presence, they will more often than not choose alternatives to violence in order to resolve their situation.

By taking a behavioural approach to confrontation, we see that in most cases, the majority of people who are experiencing confrontation would much rather that they were somewhere else, doing something else.  Most would rather not be experiencing the heightened emotions which arise, unbidden and unwanted, in the midst of conflict. 

Communication and Managing Aggression

Working Alone in Safety

Employers have a legal duty under the HSWA 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees [HSWA 1974 s2(1)]

This places a statutory duty on employers, besides their common law duty of care, to ‘everything reasonable and practicable’ to minimise the risk of harm from hazards to health in their working environment.

“Where violent incidents are forseeable employers have a duty under section 2 to identify the nature and extent of the risk and to devise measures which provide a safe workplace and a system of work”

Lord Skelmersdale

DHSS Advisory Committee on Violence to Staff

Risk Management and Control

Restraint, Care and Control