older man hitting a younger man

Breakaway Instructor Training

Introduction

Breakaway Instructor Training in working environments where there is a risk of physical assault or unwanted contact is crucial for ensuring safety, maintaining control, understanding legal and ethical considerations, building confidence, enhancing teaching effectiveness, and reducing liability. By equipping instructors with the necessary skills and knowledge, organisations can mitigate risks and create safer environments for everyone involved.

Properly trained instructors are less likely to cause harm accidentally or escalate a situation unnecessarily. This reduces the risk of injuries, lawsuits, and other liabilities for organizations operating in high-risk environments. By investing in breakaway training for their instructors, organizations demonstrate a commitment to safety and risk management.

The primary goal of breakaway instructor training is to empower participants to confidently and competently teach others how to respond to potentially volatile situations with techniques that prioritize safety, de-escalation, and restraint as a last resort. This training typically covers a range of topics, including:

  1. Understanding Risk and Legal Considerations: Participants learn about the legal and ethical frameworks surrounding the use of physical intervention techniques, including the principles of proportionality, necessity, and reasonable force.
  2. Assessment and De-escalation Techniques: Trainees are taught how to assess the level of risk in a situation and employ verbal and non-verbal de-escalation strategies to defuse tension and prevent escalation whenever possible.
  3. Physical Intervention Techniques: Breakaway instructor training typically includes instruction in a variety of physical intervention techniques, such as grabs, bites, punches  and releases, designed to safely manage aggressive behaviour while minimising the risk of injury to all parties involved.
  4. Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills: Effective communication is essential in managing confrontational situations. Participants learn how to communicate assertively, set boundaries, and resolve conflicts constructively to minimise the need for physical intervention.
  5. Risk Reduction Strategies: In addition to physical techniques, breakaway instructor training often emphasises the importance of risk reduction strategies, such as situational awareness, environmental assessments, and teamwork, to prevent and mitigate potentially violent incidents.

Contact Us

    Our Approach to Breakaway Instructor Training

    All our courses are tailored to reflect the needs and values of our clients. The course focuses as much on prevention of violence and aggression as it does escape techniques. The techniques are taught as a last resort and emphasises the importance of situational awareness, positive behaviour management and verbal and nonverbal de-escalation techniques.

    The course is designed for those who already have some experience of delivering training but can also be tailored towards those who have had no or little training experience by including content on:

      • The training cycle
      • Creating SMARTER aims and outcomes
      • Designing lesson plans
      • Training methods
      • Assessing learning
      • Evaluating training
    A hand holding a sign saying training and development
    nurse talking to elderly lady in wheelchair
    • The course is taught in a student-centred interactive style and we would expect delegates to do the same in all their courses. The techniques taught have been well researched and are safe and ethical. With our methods there is no intent to harm the other person; The main aim is to use simple movements to extricate yourself from a grab or hold or to use to defend against an assault, in order to get away from the situation.
    • The course is accredited by OCNCredit4Learning. The assessment process is non-threatening and This gives the delegates opportunity to prepare for their courses back in the workplace. The trainer will make every attempt to put the delegates at ease and create a safe learning environment. Delegates are required to run a short training session which is observed by the trainer and their peers. Feedback is delivered both by the other delegates on the trainer. If a delegate feels unhappy with their session they have the chance to deliver it again.
    • The delegates will receive a qualification which has no end date but we do insist that as part of ongoing professional development that the trainers do update their skills regularly.

    Benefits of NNTC Breakaway Instructor Training

    Reduced External Training Costs:

    Organisations often spend significant amounts on hiring external trainers for various programs. By training internal staff to become trainers, the need for external trainers diminishes, resulting in substantial cost savings over time.

    Legal and Ethical Considerations:

    In high-risk environments, there are legal and ethical considerations surrounding the use of force or physical intervention. Breakaway training ensures that instructors understand their legal rights and responsibilities when it comes to physical interactions. They learn how to use only the necessary amount of force to protect themselves and others, minimizing the risk of legal repercussions or ethical dilemmas.

    Faster Response to Training Needs:

    Internal trainers can quickly adapt to changing training needs within the organisation. They can update training materials and methods in response to feedback or changes in industry regulations, ensuring that employees receive relevant and up-to-date training without delays or additional costs associated with external providers.

    Consistent Training Quality:

    Internal trainers can ensure consistency in training quality across different branches or departments. This consistency helps in avoiding costly errors and misunderstandings that may arise from inconsistent training practices.

    Safety of Instructors & Delegates:

    Breakaway training equips instructors with the skills to effectively protect themselves and their trainees from harm during challenging situations. By knowing how to safely disengage from physical confrontations, instructors can prevent injuries to themselves and others.

    Reducing Liability & Risk:

    Properly trained instructors are less likely to cause harm accidentally or escalate a situation unnecessarily. This reduces the risk of injuries, legal action, and other liabilities for organisations operating in high-risk environments. By investing in breakaway training for their instructors, organisations demonstrate a commitment to safety and risk management.

    Cultural Alignment:

    Internal trainers can incorporate organisational values and culture into training sessions more effectively than external trainers. This alignment helps reinforce desired behaviours and attitudes among employees, leading to better overall performance and cohesion within the organisation.

    Retention & Development

    Investing in internal staff through train the trainer programs can improve employee satisfaction and retention. Employees who receive opportunities for professional development are more likely to stay with the organisation, reducing turnover costs associated with hiring and training new staff.

    Effective Teaching Techniques:

    Instructors who undergo breakaway training are better equipped to teach their trainees how to handle similar situations. They can demonstrate techniques accurately, provide practical guidance, and offer valuable insights based on their own experiences. This enhances the overall quality of training and ensures that trainees are adequately prepared to deal with real-world challenges.

    Customised Training Content:

    In high-risk environments, there are legal and ethical considerations surrounding the use of force or physical intervention. Breakaway training ensures that instructors understand their legal rights and responsibilities when it comes to physical interactions. They learn how to use only the necessary amount of force to protect themselves and others, minimizing the risk of legal repercussions or ethical dilemmas.

    Knowledge Transfer and Continuity:

    Train the trainer programs facilitate knowledge transfer within the organisation. Experienced employees can pass on their expertise to newer hires, ensuring continuity of knowledge and skills without relying solely on external sources, which can be costly and less effective in transferring institutional knowledge.

    Scalability:

    Train the trainer programs enable organisations to scale training efforts more efficiently. Instead of relying solely on external trainers, internal trainers can be deployed as needed to train new hires, expand into new markets, or introduce new products or services, all without incurring additional external training costs.

    Why Choose NNTC for Breakaway Instructor Training?

    • NNTC Has been delivering Breakaway Instructor training programs for over 12 years.
    • The NNTC Breakaway Instructor Training Course has been delivered to The NHS, Social Care, Housing and Probation Industries.
    • What a fantastic session! (Breakaway Instructor)The trainer delivered in a very positive and enthusiastic way enabling all participants to join in. Her delivery style is excellent for the subject, making it informative, relevant, and engaging.
      Chellie Stevenson
      The Kirkwood Centre
    • I work in the Justice L&D department of Ingeus and this training (breakaway Instructor) is something which I feel is very important for our staff who will be working face to face with service users. The training will give the staff more knowledge and confidence during interactions. .This was an excellent course to attend. The delivery was well paced and the content very informative and relevant to my job role
      Chris Brown
      Ingeus Ltd
    Aim
    The breakaway skills training course is designed to give delegates the tools to be able to deliver breakaway training in a safe and professional manner. Our training is ethical, safe, up to date and respectful to the client/service user. The methods we teach give staff the confidence to be able to deal with clients in a professional way; whilst having the tools to be able to deal with assaults should they happen.
    Outcomes
    Identify the personal safety risk associated with your work and carry out a P.E.T .assessment: evaluating the person, environment and task.
    State the stages of the assault cycle and discuss the importance of carrying out a dynamic risk assessment in order to identify the early warning signs of impending aggression and violence.
    Share best practice for calming the anger of others and explore different ways of putting this across to your target audience
    Explore the effect of the fight and flight on our ability to remain calm and professional in the face of aggression.
    Discuss the use of reasonable force in defending yourself against a physical assault.
    Discuss the importance of safety on the course and your role as a trainer.
    Carry out a risk assessment of the training environment
    Practice simple and effective breakaway techniques for dealing with grabs, hair pulls, holds, punches and kicks
    Discuss the importance of respiting all incidents of aggression and violence.
    Practice running a mini breakaway training session.
    Other Information
    Duration 1 – 2 Days
    Maximum number of delegates 12
    Accreditation’s through OCN Credit4Learning £20 per person.
    Public Courses –  We do not deliver Public Courses for 1 individual to attend

    FAQs

    What are the pre-requisites for the course?

    None

    Would your trainer travel to us?

    Yes

    What is the Maximum Number of Delegates allowed on the course?

    12

    Is there a reduction in fees for charitable organisations?

    Yes

    What materials will I receive from the course?

    Training Manual
    PowerPoint Presentation

    Will there be an exam?

    Delegates will have to deliver a mini session and complete a room risk assessment and health questionnaire.

    Is there a refresher course?

    Yes – we would recommend every 12 months initially followed by a biannual refresher

    Do you have to be physically fit to attend this course?

    No – the physicality is minimal

    Do you run public courses for an individual to attend?

    No

    Is there support after the course?

    Yes – you can email the trainer any time after the course for support or further information.

    Yes - we would recommend every 12 months initially followed by a biannual refresher

    Comfortable clothing. We do not insist that delegates wear tracksuit and trainers but to wear the clothes they carry out their duties in providing its not a tight skirt and high heels!

    NNTC Related Courses