Physical Intervention
Evidence-based and respectful techniques for protective physical interventions in high-risk situations.
Safety First
Dignity Always
Train and Sustain
Pathfinder
Key Issues for Your Team
Without skilled, safe interventions, organisations risk serious injury, legal action, reputational harm, and erosion of trust.
01
Injury
Poor technique increases risk of harm to staff and service users.
02
Liability
Non-compliance with law risks legal and financial consequences.
03
Trust
Unsafe practices damage relationships and confidence.
Safer, Smarter Interventions
Evidence-Based
Techniques reviewed by medical and legal experts.
Practical
Scenario-driven, hands-on skill development.
Ethical
Dignity and rights at the heart of every action.
Adaptable
Tailored to your setting’s unique risks.
Course Outline & Goals
Develop the awareness, judgement, and practical skills needed to prevent, manage, and survive high-risk lone working situations
Course Title
Physical Protective Interventions: Evidence-Based Skills for Safety and Dignity
Course Aim
To equip professionals with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills needed to safely manage high-risk situations requiring physical intervention, while prioritizing dignity, human rights, and restraint reduction principles.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
Know:
- The legal frameworks governing physical interventions, including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality
- The biomechanical principles underlying safe physical intervention techniques
- Risk factors and warning signs requiring immediate protective action
- Contraindications and medical considerations for different intervention techniques
- Documentation requirements and post-incident reporting procedures
- The continuum of force options and decision-making frameworks
Understand:
- The ethical implications of using physical interventions in care settings
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions
- How trauma history can affect responses to physical interventions
- The importance of maintaining dignity throughout physical interventions
- The psychological impact of physical interventions on both service users and staff
- The relationship between proper technique and injury prevention
- How to balance safety needs with restraint reduction principles
Be able to do:
- Assess risks quickly in rapidly evolving situations
- Apply appropriate holding techniques with proper biomechanical alignment
- Execute safe breakaway and disengagement techniques when threatened
- Implement team-based interventions with clear communication
- Transition smoothly between different levels of intervention as situations evolve
- Maintain safety while minimising restriction of movement
- Apply techniques with appropriate intensity and duration
- De-escalate during physical interventions to enable earliest safe release
- Document interventions thoroughly and accurately
- Participate effectively in post-incident reviews
Course Duration
- One-day program (6 hours): Foundation physical skills for low-risk environments
- Two-day program (12 hours): Comprehensive physical interventions for medium- to high-risk settings
- Bespoke programs available based on organisational risk assessment
Target Audience
- Healthcare professionals in mental health and acute settings
- Social care staff supporting individuals with challenging behaviours
- Security personnel in healthcare environments
- Educational staff in specialist behaviour support settings
- Any professionals authorised to use physical interventions in their role
Learning Methodologies
- SCENA scenario-driven approach progressing from simple to complex situations
- Graduated skill development with ample practice time
- Video analysis of technique application with detailed feedback
- Small group practice with expert coaching
- Role rotation exercises to understand all perspectives
- Reality-based stress inoculation training for skill retention
- Simulation exercises mirroring actual workplace situations
Tailoring and Relevance
Training is specifically designed based on your organisation’s unique risk profile, service user population, and regulatory requirements. Physical techniques are selected and modified to address the specific challenges your team faces, with consideration for staffing levels, environmental factors, and service user characteristics.
Legal and Medical Review
All physical techniques have undergone rigorous independent review:
- Medical assessment by qualified healthcare professionals
- Biomechanical evaluation for safety and effectiveness
- Legal review for compliance with relevant legislation
- Risk assessment addressing both service user and staff safety
Trainer Qualifications and Credibility
Delivered by specialist trainers with extensive experience in both teaching physical skills and real-world application in care settings. All trainers maintain current certification in physical intervention instruction and undergo regular peer review and continuing professional development.
Resources Provided
Participants receive comprehensive support materials including:
- Illustrated technique guides with step-by-step instructions
- Decision-making frameworks for intervention selection
- Risk assessment templates
- Video resources for technique review
- Quick-reference cards for common techniques
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
Course effectiveness is measured through:
- Pre and post-training confidence assessments
- Practical skill demonstration and competency evaluation
- Follow-up evaluation of technique application in workplace settings
- Analysis of incident reports to identify improvement areas
- Regular refresher assessments to ensure skill maintenance
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning
The course includes a structured plan for skill maintenance:
- Scheduled practice sessions in the workplace
- Regular technique review with peers
- Progressive skill development through advanced modules
- Incident review framework to facilitate continuous learning
- Access to trainer support for technique refinement
This physical interventions training emphasises that physical techniques are always a last resort, to be used only when other interventions have failed or are inappropriate. The course balances the need for effective protective skills with an overarching commitment to dignity, respect, and restraint reduction.
Course Title:
Safe Caring with Older People (Dementia Care)
Course Aim:
To equip care staff with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills to safely support older people experiencing distress that may be amplified by the effects of dementia, using person-centered approaches that maintain dignity and respect.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, participants will:
Know:
- The relevant articles of the Human Rights Act that apply to care for older people with dementia.
- The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler) and how they manifest uniquely in dementia care settings.
- Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality when supporting distressed older people.
- Risk factors and warning signs specific to dementia-related distress behaviors.
- Health and safety implications when working closely with older people experiencing cognitive challenges.
Understand:
- The principles of trauma-informed care and person-centered approaches specific to dementia care.
- The importance of staff wellbeing and emotional equilibrium when supporting people with dementia.
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions in dementia care contexts.
- The ethical considerations in avoiding coercion and blanket restrictions with vulnerable older people.
- How cognitive impairment affects communication, comprehension, and emotional regulation in older people.
Be able to do:
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques specifically tailored for older people with dementia.
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills, including prompting, escorting, and gentle guiding approaches.
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques appropriate for working with older people.
- Clearly articulate the rationale for different interventions and describe the legal and ethical implications of using restrictive practices with older people.
- Implement the five key strategies for working with cognitive challenges: Model Calmness, Reduce Stimulation, Separate and Support, Adapt Communication, and Meet Unmet Needs.
Course Duration:
1 Full Day (6 hours of instruction)
Target Audience:
Care staff working with older people in residential, nursing, or community settings who support individuals living with dementia or other cognitive impairments.
Learning Methodologies:
This course uses a scenario-driven approach (SCENA) that incorporates:
- Classroom discussions on theoretical concepts and legal frameworks
- Practical role play exercises focusing on common challenging scenarios in dementia care
- Physical skills practice in an emotionally safe learning environment
- Video demonstrations of effective communication and safe physical approaches
- Interactive problem-solving activities based on real-world care situations
Tailoring and Relevance:
The training content is specifically designed and tailored to the unique roles, tasks, and challenges faced by staff caring for older people with dementia. Scenarios are contextual to real-life situations in care settings, making the training engaging, effective, and directly applicable to daily work. Common scenarios include supporting residents during personal care, managing territorial disputes between residents, responding to hallucinations, and addressing distressed behavior triggered by cognitive impairment.
Legal and Medical Review:
All physical intervention techniques taught have been specifically adapted for older people with consideration of age-related physical vulnerabilities such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular conditions, and medication effects. The training content is tactically effective, legally correct, and medically safe, designed to withstand scrutiny in legal proceedings. Techniques emphasize the least restrictive approach possible while maintaining dignity and safety.
Trainer Qualifications and Credibility:
Dynamis trainers have extensive experience in adult social care settings, with specific expertise in dementia care. All trainers are certified under the Institute of Conflict Management standards and undergo continuous professional development in dementia care approaches. Dynamis has been providing specialized training for care settings since 2006, working with organizations including Balhousie Care Group, Brendoncare, AgeCare UK, and Luxury Care UK.
Resources Provided:
Participants receive:
- Comprehensive course handbooks with all key techniques and principles
- Reminder cards summarizing key de-escalation approaches and safe physical techniques
- Access to online video resources demonstrating dementia-specific communication techniques
- Documentation templates for incident recording and reflection
- Post-course support via email for scenario-specific questions
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:
The program’s effectiveness will be measured through:
- Pre and post-course knowledge assessments
- Practical skills observation and feedback during the course
- Participant satisfaction surveys
- Follow-up assessment of incident rates and severity in the workplace
- Periodic refresher sessions to maintain skill proficiency
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning:
Learning will be reinforced through:
- Regular team discussions of challenging situations using the framework taught
- Supervisor observation and feedback on application of techniques
- Access to refresher materials and videos
- Case study reviews at team meetings
- Scheduled refresher training to prevent skill decay and complacency
This comprehensive approach ensures that staff develop not just skills for the moment, but sustainable practices that enhance the quality of care and safety for both residents and staff over time.
Course Title
Positive Handling: Evidence-Based Training to Keep Everyone Safe in Your School Setting
Course Aim
To equip school staff with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills needed to manage challenging behaviors effectively and safely, creating a culture of dignity and respect where physical intervention is used only as a last resort.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
Know:
- The context and legal basis of Positive Handling in schools, including Human Rights Act considerations
- The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler) and the SCARF Model
- Brain-based approaches to understanding trauma, ACEs, and challenging behaviors
- Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality
- Risk factors and warning signs in physical interventions
- Health and Safety and Manual Handling guidelines relevant to high-risk incidents with children
Understand:
- The core principle that every person should be treated with dignity and respect
- How staff Duty of Care should influence decision-making in managing incidents
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions
- The ethical considerations in avoiding coercion and blanket restrictions
- When it may be appropriate or necessary to hold a child, and when it may NOT be appropriate
- How to minimize risks when physical interventions are used
- The importance of staff wellbeing and emotional equilibrium during challenging situations
Be able to do:
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills, including prompting, escorting, and holds
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques
- Carry out and record safer holding procedures with children to create safety
- Clearly articulate the rationale for different interventions
- Apply good-practice guidance to common high-risk incidents
- Describe the legal and ethical implications of using restrictive intervention
Course Duration
- Full-day (6 hours): Best for less experienced or less confident teams managing extreme behaviors
- Half-day (3 hours): Supported by pre-course online learning (90 mins), ideal for time-pressed schools
- Double-session day: AM and PM groups for larger rollouts (up to 32 learners total)
- Customized options available based on specific needs
Target Audience
- Teaching staff in mainstream primary and secondary schools
- Staff in special educational needs settings
- Early years practitioners
- Alternative provision staff
- Learning support assistants
- School leadership teams
Learning Methodologies
- Scenario-driven training using the SCENA approach (research-informed and evidence-based)
- Practical role-play of common school scenarios
- Interactive discussions and problem-solving
- Physical skills practice in a supportive environment
- Video case studies and analysis
Tailoring and Relevance
This training is specifically designed for YOUR staff working with YOUR children who present with behaviors of concern. The course is customized based on a Training Needs Analysis to address your school’s unique environment, whether Early Years, Mainstream Primary, SEN contexts, Secondary Schools, or other educational settings.
Legal and Medical Review
All training content is tactically effective, legally correct, and medically safe, supported by our legal and medical audits. The physical intervention techniques taught have been reviewed to ensure they would withstand scrutiny in legal proceedings.
Trainer Qualifications and Credibility
Dynamis trainers are all full-time, qualified, and insured professionals who hold recognized qualifications in Adult Education and Level 3 Qualifications in Physical Intervention. We are accredited for quality assurance with the Institute of Conflict Management (ICM) and hold a 5-star ‘Safety Without Compromise’ rating.
Resources Provided
- Training Needs Analysis documentation
- Review and feedback on your Positive Handling Policy
- Access to a “Resources” folder with instructional videos, templates, case-law samples, and other tools
- Ongoing telephone support from our training team for staff safety queries
Monitoring and Evaluation
Course effectiveness is measured through participant feedback, skill demonstration, and follow-up support to ensure implementation in the school environment.
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning
Government guidance recommends refresher training every 12 months. We provide resources and support to maintain skills and prevent complacency between formal training sessions.
This comprehensive course description follows the expanded KUD model guidelines from your updated document, providing clear learning outcomes and the additional contextual information needed to fully understand the training’s purpose, methods, and value.
Course Title
Secure Escort for Mental Health
Course Aim
To equip secure escort personnel with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills required to safely transport and escort individuals with mental health needs, managing challenging behaviors ethically and effectively while ensuring the safety and dignity of all involved.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
Know:
- The relevant legal frameworks including Mental Health Act provisions that apply to secure escorts
- The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler) and the SCARF Model
- Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality
- Risk factors and warning signs in physical interventions
- Health and Safety implications of secure mental health escorts
- Safe Systems of Work for escort teams
- Procedures for proper vehicle checks and transport safety
Understand:
- The principles of trauma-informed care and person-centered approaches
- The importance of staff wellbeing and emotional equilibrium
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions
- The ethical considerations in avoiding coercion and blanket restrictions
- Decision-making under pressure and fear management techniques
- How to minimize confrontation risk by detecting pre-incident indicators
- The importance of effective handover procedures with healthcare staff
Be able to:
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills, including prompting, escorting, and holds
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques
- Clearly articulate the rationale for different interventions
- Recognize pre-assault cues for escalating aggression
- Use appropriate body language to improve safety
- Apply principles of time, distance, and opportunity for exit/escape
- Conduct proper vehicle security protocols for safe patient transport
- Manage critical moments during transport including entry/exit of vehicles
Course Duration
4 days of intensive training combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills development
Target Audience
Professionals responsible for the secure transport and escort of individuals with mental health needs between facilities or to appointments
Learning Methodologies
The course employs multiple teaching methods including classroom instruction, scenario-based learning, practical role play, and physical skills practice. The “whole task” approach is used throughout, ensuring skills are practiced in realistic contexts. Online pre-course learning materials are provided to establish foundational knowledge before in-person training.
Tailoring and Relevance
The training content is specifically designed and tailored to address the unique challenges faced by secure escort teams working with mental health service users. Course materials are based on real-world scenarios identified through needs analysis workshops with escort personnel, ensuring direct relevance to daily operational tasks.
Legal and Medical Review
All physical intervention techniques taught are tactically effective, legally correct, and medically safe. The course content aligns with current legislation including the Mental Health Act, Human Rights Act, and Health and Safety requirements. Interventions are designed to minimize risks associated with restraint and transport.
Trainer Qualifications and Credibility
Courses are delivered by experienced trainers with backgrounds in mental health services and secure transport. All trainers hold appropriate qualifications in prevention and management of violence and aggression (PMVA) and maintain current knowledge of best practices in the mental health escort sector.
Resources Provided
Participants receive comprehensive handbooks, quick-reference guides for use in the field, and access to our online learning platform for refresher materials. Additional resources include vehicle security checklists and post-incident reporting templates.
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
Course effectiveness is measured through pre and post-training knowledge assessments, practical skills demonstration, and follow-up evaluations to determine impact on operational practice. Incident data is reviewed to identify improvements in safety outcomes following training.
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning
The learning is reinforced through regular team debriefs, refresher sessions every 12 months, and access to updated online materials. Managers are provided with observation checklists to support the transfer of learning to the workplace.
Proven Impact
Organisations report fewer injuries, greater staff confidence, and improved compliance after training.
Injury rate
Confidence gain
Compliance rating
Learner feedback
“The training gave our staff the skills and confidence to handle situations safely, without compromising dignity.”
M. Keane, HSE
We Support You
From risk assessment to refreshers, we ensure your team maintains safe, effective skills.
How It Works
Three clear steps
ASSESS
TRAIN
SUSTAIN
Case Study – PICU project
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this only for high-risk settings?
Do you teach restraint techniques?
How do you ensure safety?
Can you tailor the course?
Yes. We align content to your risk profile, service users, and setting.
How often should skills be refreshed?
Guides
Download our Safe Physical Interventions guide.
Contact Us
Let’s discuss your training needs.