PMVA Behaviour Support & Physical Interventions Training

Using the Able Target System (ATS) Model

Gain the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to understand, prevent and safely respond to behaviours that may challenge with this PMVA Behaviour Support & Physical Interventions Training course. Designed for health, social care, education and support services across the UK, this two-day programme equips learners with the skills to reduce risk, improve outcomes for individuals, and maintain safety when supporting people whose behaviour may present increased levels of risk.

Ideal for organisations supporting autistic individuals, people with learning disabilities, individuals living with dementia, people experiencing mental health difficulties, and those with complex support needs, this course focuses on understanding why behaviours occur, preventing escalation, and responding safely and proportionately when physical intervention may become necessary.

Delivered using the Able Target System (ATS) model and aligned with Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) and Institute of Conflict Management (ICM) standards, this programme builds upon the foundations of behaviour support, communication, prevention and de-escalation before progressing into personal safety, breakaway strategies and selected physical intervention techniques.

The training places a strong emphasis on understanding behaviour in context, reducing restrictive practices, promoting dignity and ensuring the least restrictive approach remains at the centre of decision making.

What this course offers

Delivered over two days, this engaging and highly practical programme provides learners with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to understand behaviours that may challenge and respond safely when situations escalate beyond verbal intervention alone.

Learners will first develop a strong understanding of behaviour support, communication, proactive planning and de-escalation strategies. Building on these foundations, the programme introduces a wider range of personal safety, breakaway and physical intervention responses designed to create safety, manage risk and support positive outcomes.

Participants will explore why behaviours occur, how escalation develops, and how proactive strategies can significantly reduce incidents. They will then develop practical skills to safely respond to situations involving grabs, assaults, aggression, blocked exits, peer-to-peer conflict and other foreseeable workplace risks.

Significant time is dedicated to practical rehearsal, helping learners apply skills confidently within realistic scenarios linked to their working environment.

Why this training matters

The majority of incidents involving behaviours that may challenge can be prevented or successfully managed through effective communication, planning and support. However, there are occasions where staff may need additional skills to maintain safety and reduce the risk of harm.

When situations escalate, staff require the confidence and competence to make safe decisions whilst maintaining dignity, respect and least restrictive practice.

This course helps organisations balance effective behaviour support with practical risk management. By combining Positive Behaviour Support principles, de-escalation strategies, personal safety skills and physical intervention techniques, staff are better equipped to support individuals whilst maintaining safety for everyone involved.

The programme promotes restraint reduction, proactive support and effective decision-making whilst helping organisations meet their duty of care responsibilities.

Understanding Behaviour & Prevention

A key focus of this programme is understanding why behaviours occur and how support strategies can be implemented to prevent escalation.

Learners will explore:

• Understanding behaviours that may challenge

• Workplace violence and aggression awareness

• The ATS hierarchy of prevention, proactive management and response

• The Six C's framework

• Trust, communication, culture and language

• Person-centred support approaches

• Positive Behaviour Support principles

• Understanding behaviour through communication, needs and context

• The Six Stage Target Model

• Understanding motivation, trauma and life experiences

• Human motivation and behavioural drivers

• Neurodevelopmental differences and support needs

• Proactive planning and support strategies

• Building adaptive skills and positive outcomes

• Reducing stressors and improving support environments

The course helps learners move beyond reacting to behaviour and instead focus on understanding, prevention and long-term positive outcomes.

Communication, De-escalation & Personal Safety

Effective support relies upon communication, self-awareness and the ability to respond proportionately to changing levels of risk.

Learners will explore:

• Recognising escalation and early warning signs

• Dynamic risk assessment

• DAPPER principles

• HEART and HELP communication frameworks

• De-escalation techniques and approaches

• Maintaining professional curiosity and empathy

• Recording, reporting and learning from incidents

• Personal safety awareness

• Active palms and keeping-safe stances

• Distance, positioning and exits

• Reasonable and proportionate force

• Restrictive versus non-restrictive intervention

• Decision making during escalating situations

The emphasis remains on prevention and de-escalation first, with physical intervention viewed as a last resort where other strategies are no longer sufficient.

Physical Interventions & Breakaway Skills

Building upon personal safety and breakaway principles, this course introduces a wider range of practical intervention techniques designed to support safe working practices.

Depending upon organisational requirements and Training Needs Analysis findings, learners may explore:

• Wrist and hand grab releases

• Clothing grab releases

• Hair grab responses

• Choke and neck grab responses

• Bite defence strategies

• Fight separation techniques

• Hook and pivot responses

• Improved disengagement strategies

• Personal safety under pressure

• Team communication during incidents

• Escorting and relocation techniques

• Supporting movement from one environment to another

• Cross-body escort approaches

• Safe guidance and redirection strategies

• Dynamic decision-making in real-world situations

The specific practical content delivered may vary depending on organisational risks, staffing arrangements and identified service needs.

Training Needs Analysis (TNA)

Every organisation supports different people and faces different challenges.

Prior to delivery, organisations may complete a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) which helps identify:

• The needs of the individuals being supported

• Known behavioural risks

• Incident history and trends

• Environmental considerations

• Staffing levels and support structures

• Existing policies and procedures

• Appropriate levels of intervention

This process allows training to be tailored to the realities of the environment whilst ensuring interventions remain appropriate, proportionate and relevant.

Course Benefits

• Develop a deeper understanding of behaviours that may challenge

• Strengthen preventative and proactive support strategies

• Improve confidence when managing escalating situations

• Learn enhanced de-escalation techniques

• Develop practical personal safety skills

• Gain confidence using breakaway and disengagement techniques

• Understand safe physical intervention principles

• Improve team communication during incidents

• Reduce the risk of injury to staff and those being supported

• Promote dignity, safety and positive behavioural outcomes

• Support organisational compliance and risk management

Certification and Progression

On successful completion, learners will receive a PMVA Behaviour Support & Physical Interventions Training Certificate.

Training is delivered using the Able Target System (ATS) framework and aligned with the principles of the Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) and Institute of Conflict Management (ICM) standards.

Annual refresher training is strongly recommended to maintain competence, confidence and safe practice.

This course provides progression opportunities into:

• PMVA Behaviour Support & Restrictive Interventions Training

• PMVA Behaviour Support & Advanced Restrictive Interventions Training

• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

• Advanced Autism Support Practice

• Restrictive Practice Reduction

• Trauma-Informed Practice

• Specialist Behaviour Support Programmes

Other organisations may call this...

Depending on the provider, sector or service type, similar training may be referred to by different names.

You may have come across terms such as:

• PMVA Training

• Physical Intervention Training

• Behaviour Support Training

• Positive Behaviour Support Training

• Managing Behaviours That May Challenge

• Advanced Breakaway Training

• Violence and Aggression Training

• Breakaway & Disengagement Training

• Personal Safety Training

• Safe Holding Awareness Training

• Learning Disability Behaviour Support Training

• Autism Behaviour Support Training

• SEND Behaviour Support Training

• Conflict Management Training

• Restrictive Practice Reduction Training

• Care Staff Physical Intervention Training

Whilst terminology may differ, the aim remains the same: understanding behaviour, reducing risk, promoting positive outcomes and maintaining safety through the least restrictive approach possible.