Education and Children's Services

Safer Handling specialise in the delivery of accredited and nationally recognised Positive Handling and Physical Intervention award certificate for those working with children, young people or vulnerable adults. Our training is both legally compliant and properly risk assessed and is well established across the UK. Our courses not only teach staff a range of appropriate and effective physical skills, but in addition, provides them with a concise Legal Briefing on their rights and responsibilities regarding the use of force.  The focus of our training is always on de-escalating situations; however, it is important for staff to know how to safely and effectively intervene physically where necessary, in order to prevent a greater harm from occurring.

All our courses are bespoke to your sector, requirements and service users.

Our Positive Handling and Physical Intervention course is made up of 2 sessions. Delegates have the option to take Session 1 alone or both Sessions together. Session 2 cannot be delivered in isolation unless it is a refresher session.

Session 1 -  Restraint Reduction Legal Briefing on the Use of Reasonable Force with Children & Young People. Duration 1.5 hours

​

The first module of our fully risk assessed and legally audited training, is the theory and risk reduction session, our popular 90 minute Legal briefing which is open to all members of staff from your school for no extra charge.

Many organisations open this session up to all staff, governors and, parents/carers as this session helps delegates to understand minimising and avoiding interventions. This can be delivered to suit your needs, either as a twilight session, as part of a full INSET day or as an online course. 

 

Topics included in this module includes the following:

 

• What is deemed as "Reasonable Force" when dealing with pupils?

• Restraint risk assessment and least restrictive practices

• Risk assessing the searching of pupils & their property

• Last Resorts and translating guidance documents

• Risk assessing time-out rooms & withdrawal

• Reporting and Recording Incidents & allegations

• Managing smaller pupils

Session 2 -  Safer Holding, Handling, Essential  Physical Intervention & Disengagement Skills. Duration 2.5 hours. 

 

This essential, follow up session is for those who may need to physically intervene to prevent a greater harm from occurring and must be taken in conjunction with the Legal Briefing session. The techniques comprise of easy to remember, low-level physical interventions which are appropriate yet effective, enabling staff to consider the holding, handling & escorting of their individual specific needs relevant to their workplace and service users. We take into consideration the size of your pupils and the associated risks, your environment, any transport considerations, seated holds, breakaways and situations where staff may be left alone with a young person. All of techniques are medically reviewed and manual handling risk assessed.

​

This session includes the following.

​

• Differentiate between holding, handing, escorting and guiding

• Managing the risks of handling smaller children

• Managing the risks of biting, hair pulling & spitting

• Seated holds and the safe movement of pupils

• Managing the risks of objects and weapons

• Safely managing altercations & disengagement

 

We do advise that all staff from your school complete Session 1 as numbers for that session do not affect the overall price.   
 

Face to Face and Online Options

We do recommend that our training is delivered in person when we are providing training for you for the first time, however there are online/distance learning options available as follows;

• Session 1 lends itself well to being completed online. Each delegate has their own unique log in credentials and 90 days to complete and pass the course. Delegates don't have to complete it all in one sitting and can log in and out and their progress will be saved.

• Although we do have an online/distance learning option for Session 2, this is only available for those who have previously been trained by us and are refreshing their training. Refreshing this way is permitted on alternate occasions after the first in-personcourse. It should be noted that we strongly recommend where possible that the physical skills session is held face to face.

​

Delivery Options

​

• Option 1: Both sessions at school on the same day.   

• Option 2: Session 1 online (1.5hrs) and Session 2 at your school (2.5hrs).

• Option 3: Both sessions at school on different days, e.g. twilights.

• Option 4: If you would like to just complete the Legal Brief Session online. 

​​

There are no limits to the number who may attend each session. Just ask for a bespoke cost.

​

The cost of our full course includes course material, certification for ALL staff, a resource folder including instructional videos, toolbox talks videos, training manual, a copy of the Legal Brief presentation and lots more plus a due diligence file you can use during audit to support your choice of training provider  Download our handy leaflet