Skills for Care, Certification of training in restrictive practices Statement:

NHS England is co-ordinating a significant national improvement programme to reduce restrictive practices. As part of this work, the NHS has commissioned the Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) to develop standards for training for the prevention and use of restrictive interventions.

The Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards (2019) aim to facilitate culture change, not just technical competence. The Standards are designed to:

• protect people’s fundamental human rights and promote person centred, best interest and therapeutic approaches to supporting people when they are distressed
• improve the quality of life of those being restrained and those supporting them
• reduce reliance on restrictive practices by promoting positive culture and practice that focuses on prevention, de-escalation and reflective practice
• increase understanding of the root causes of behaviour and recognition that many behaviours are the result of distress due to unmet needs
• where required, focus on the safest and most dignified use of restrictive interventions including physical restraint.

Training services can be certified as complying with the RRN Training Standards. Certification must be accredited by UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) as complying with the ISO standards for certification. UKAS is the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom, and ensure the competence, impartiality and integrity of the certification scheme.