Train the Trainer

This comprehensive 5-day trainer development programme is designed to equip trainers with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills needed to deliver effective training in positive handling and positive behaviour interventions, with a focus on dignity, respect and person-centred approaches.

Course Aim:

To develop skilled trainers who can confidently teach staff teams to manage challenging behaviour effectively through non-escalation, de-escalation, and where necessary, safe physical interventions, whilst maintaining the dignity and rights of all involved.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, participants will:

Know:

• The relevant articles of the Human Rights Act and legal frameworks relating to duty of care, necessity, and proportionality.
• The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler model) and the SCARF Model of conflict triggers.
• The principles of trauma-informed practice and their application in behaviour management.
• Risk factors and warning signs in physical interventions, including medical considerations.
• The key elements of effective course design and delivery methodologies.
• Comprehensive documentation requirements for training delivery and certification.

Understand:

• The importance of treating every person with dignity and respect, particularly during moments of disagreement or crisis.
• The ethical considerations in avoiding coercion and unnecessary restrictions.
• The difference between emergency and planned interventions and their appropriate applications.
• How trauma affects behaviour and the importance of trauma-responsive approaches.
• The principles of the SCENA training framework for effective skills transfer to the workplace.
• The importance of continuous improvement through post-incident reviews and reflective practice.

Be able to:

• Design and deliver training sessions using the ‘complex whole’ approach to increase skills transferability.
• Demonstrate and teach effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques.
• Demonstrate and teach safe physical intervention skills, including prompting, escorting, and holds.
• Execute and teach personal safety and breakaway techniques.
• Assess learner competence using appropriate assessment methodologies.
• Create scenario-based learning experiences that reflect real-world challenges.
• Provide targeted feedback to learners that improves their practice.
• Complete all required training documentation to professional standards.

Daily Course Structure:

Day 1: Foundations and Legal Framework

Know:

• Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality
• Human Rights Act relevant articles
• Core principles for ethical physical interventions

Understand:

• The importance of dignity and respect in all interactions
• How values and attitudes influence intervention decisions
• The principles of the SCENA training approach

Do:

• Articulate the rationale for different interventions
• Analyse scenarios for appropriate intervention options
• Begin to design training elements using the ‘complex whole’ approach

Day 2: Understanding Behaviour and Communication

Know:

• The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler model)
• The SCARF Model and conflict triggers
• Principles of trauma-informed practice

Understand:

• How behaviour serves as communication
• The impact of trauma on behaviour and regulation
• The importance of non-escalation strategies

Do:

• Demonstrate effective non-escalation techniques
• Apply de-escalation skills in role-played scenarios
• Create and deliver micro-teaching sessions on communication skills

Day 3: Physical Skills Development

Know:

• Risk factors and warning signs in physical interventions
• Medical considerations and contraindications
• Physical skills progression and safety parameters

Understand:

• The difference between emergency and planned interventions
• The importance of proportionality in physical responses
• How to maintain dignity during physical interventions

Do:

• Demonstrate safe prompting and escorting techniques
• Execute personal safety and breakaway skills
• Practise lower-risk protective interventions (straight arm, bent arm)
• Begin coaching others in physical skills execution

Day 4: Advanced Physical Skills and Training Delivery

Know:

• Advanced physical intervention techniques and their applications
• Methods for assessing learner competence in physical skills
• Approaches to tailoring physical interventions to specific contexts

Understand:

• How to create safe practice environments for physical skills
• The importance of progressive learning in skills development
• How to provide targeted feedback during physical skills practice

Do:

• Demonstrate higher-risk protective interventions with safety controls
• Coach peers through complex physical skills sequences
• Deliver micro-teaching sessions on physical intervention techniques
• Assess peer competence using established criteria

Day 5: Trainer Assessment and Certification

Know:

• Documentation requirements for training delivery
• Quality assurance processes for maintaining standards
• Post-incident review methodologies

Understand:

• The SCENA Trainer Assessment Framework criteria
• Different certification levels (Lead, Team, Assistant) and their requirements
• The importance of continuous professional development

Do:

• Deliver complete training segments integrating theory and practice
• Complete all required documentation for course delivery
• Demonstrate competence across the SCENA assessment framework
• Receive certification at appropriate level (Lead, Team, or Assistant)

Learning Methodologies:

The course employs a scenario-driven training approach called SCENA, which focuses on creating “an increasingly complex version of the whole task” where “the event becomes the curriculum.” This research-informed methodology ensures high transferability to workplace contexts through:

• Scenario-based learning that replicates real-world challenges
• Extensive physical skills practice with targeted feedback
• Micro-teaching opportunities with peer and instructor feedback
• Reflective practice through group discussions and individual assessments
• Progressive learning that integrates theory and practice throughout

Trainer Qualifications and Credibility:

This course is delivered by experienced trainers with extensive background in positive handling and behaviour management. All trainers are certified to deliver this programme and have practical experience in managing challenging behaviour in various settings.

Resources Provided:

• Comprehensive trainer manual with session plans and resources
• Access to online resources for continued learning
• Example documentation templates for course delivery
• Certification upon successful completion
• Ongoing support through the first year of delivery

Certification Process:

Participants will be assessed throughout the course on their knowledge, understanding, and practical skills. Upon successful completion, they will be certified as either:

• Lead Instructor: Can teach independently and is very capable
• Team Instructor: Should teach with a colleague and is competent with some gaps in training capability
• Assistant Instructor: Must teach with a Lead Instructor or higher and has some gaps in knowledge or understanding

The certification includes a first-year licence to deliver the programme, with annual renewal options available.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Ongoing evaluation of trainer effectiveness will be conducted through:

• Participant feedback forms from delivered courses
• Analysis of incident data pre- and post-training
• Annual refresher and recertification opportunities
• Peer review and observation during initial course delivery

This comprehensive approach ensures that trainers not only develop the necessary skills but continue to refine their practice to deliver high-quality training that makes a real difference in behaviour management outcomes.