Build Permanent PMVA Training Capability Inside Your Organisation
Our 5-day Train the Trainer course certifies your staff to deliver BILD ACT accredited PMVA training across your entire organisation. Not just physical techniques. Trauma-informed. PBS-led. Aiming for Zero.
In brief: The ProActive Healthcare 5-day Train the Trainer programme certifies your staff to deliver BILD ACT (RRN) accredited PMVA training across your organisation. Build lasting in-house expertise with a complete trainer toolkit, trauma-informed PBS content, and ongoing support.
You Know You Need Internal PMVA Training Capability. So What Is Holding You Back?
External Training Is Expensive and Unsustainable
Bringing in external PMVA trainers for every cohort, every year, across every ward and unit is a significant recurring cost. Your training schedule depends on someone else's availability, not your operational needs.
Compliance Gaps Are Growing
CQC expects evidence of current, certified PMVA training across your entire workforce. With external-only delivery, keeping every staff member in date becomes a logistical challenge that creates compliance risk.
Staff Turnover Multiplies the Problem
Healthcare has some of the highest turnover rates in the UK. Every new starter needs PMVA training before they can work safely on the ward. Without internal trainers, you are constantly playing catch-up.
Traditional PMVA Training Misses the Point
Most PMVA courses focus almost entirely on physical techniques. They teach staff what to do during a crisis but not how to prevent one. Your teams deserve training that includes trauma-informed PBS content alongside the physical skills.
This Is Not a 1980s Restraint Course. It Is the Future of PMVA.
Most PMVA training begins and ends with physical techniques. Holds, breakaways, and restraints taught in isolation from the context that makes them necessary. The physical skills matter, and we teach all of the standard PMVA techniques your staff already know. But they are only part of the picture.
Our 5-day Train the Trainer programme is BILD ACT certified against the Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards. That means your trainers learn to deliver a course that integrates:
What Your Trainers Will Be Certified to Deliver
After five days, your trainers walk away certified and equipped to deliver two BILD ACT accredited programmes to unlimited staff within your organisation.
3-Day PMVA Introductory Course
BILD ACT (RRN) CertifiedThe comprehensive foundation programme for staff who are new to PMVA or require full certification. Covers theory, de-escalation, legal frameworks, PBS content, and physical techniques.
- Full PMVA theory and legal framework
- Trauma-informed PBS content
- De-escalation and Aiming for Zero methodology
- All standard physical techniques
- Competency assessment and certification
1-Day PMVA Refresher Course
BILD ACT (RRN) CertifiedThe annual refresher for staff who hold current PMVA certification. Reinforces core skills, introduces updated content, and ensures continued competency and compliance.
- Refresher on key theory and legal updates
- Updated PBS and de-escalation content
- Physical technique practice and assessment
- New module content (from Year 2 onwards)
- Re-certification for a further 12 months
Your certified trainers can deliver training to unlimited staff within your organisation during the 12-month certification period. No per-delegate charges. No hidden costs.
A Complete Trainer Toolkit: Everything Needed to Deliver Internally
Your trainers walk away on Day 5 with everything they need to run the programme independently. No ongoing licence fees. No hidden costs.
Comprehensive Trainer Manual
Step-by-step delivery guide covering every module, with facilitator notes, timing guidance, and key teaching points for both the 3-day introductory and 1-day refresher courses.
Complete Slide Deck
Professionally designed presentation slides for every session, ready to deliver. Customisable to your organisation's branding and specific policies.
Scenario Cards and Assessment Tools
Pre-built scenario cards for practical sessions, competency assessment frameworks, observation checklists, and documentation templates for every participant.
Training Needs Analysis Tools
A complete TNA framework for your organisation, ensuring your programme is tailored to your specific setting, not delivered off-the-shelf.
BILD ACT Certification
Successful trainers are authorised to deliver BILD ACT (RRN) certified training within your organisation. Participants receive nationally recognised certification.
Named Senior Mentor and Ongoing Support
Each qualified trainer receives a dedicated mentor from our senior team, with ongoing quality assurance and support for implementation questions and scenario development.
Why Train the Trainer Is the Smart Investment
Recoup Your Investment Within 2-3 Cycles
Most organisations recover the Train the Trainer cost after just two to three internal training cohorts. Every subsequent cohort is delivered at a fraction of external delivery fees.
Train on Your Schedule, Not Ours
No more coordinating with external providers. Run PMVA training when it suits your ward rotations, operational tempo, and budget cycle. New starters can be trained within weeks, not months.
Maintain Compliance Across Every Ward
With internal trainers, you can ensure every staff member stays current without waiting for the next external course date. CQC compliance becomes a process you control, not a dependency you manage.
Demonstrate Governance and Best Practice
BILD ACT certification is the gold standard. Having certified internal trainers gives your board, commissioners, and CQC inspectors confidence that your organisation meets the highest training standards.
Not All PMVA Training Providers Are the Same
| Feature | Typical Provider | ProActive Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| BILD ACT (RRN) Certified | ||
| Trauma-informed PBS content included | ✕ | |
| Aiming for Zero restraint reduction methodology | ✕ | |
| All standard PMVA physical techniques taught | ||
| Unlimited staff training (no per-delegate charges) | ✕ | |
| Named senior mentor for each trainer | ✕ | |
| ProActive Academy online portal included | ✕ | |
| Certificates included in fee | ✕ | |
| Switching provider support included | ✕ | |
| Certified against RRN Standards (MMU-evaluated framework) |
RRN Training Standards Independently Evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University
An independent national evaluation funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing and approved by MMU's Research Ethics and Governance Team examined the impact of BILD ACT certified training across multiple organisations. ProActive Healthcare is certified against the standards this research examined.
Cultural Transformation
“Certified organisations shifted from control-based to therapeutic approaches. The evaluation found a fundamental cultural transformation in how organisations approach behaviour support.”
Manchester Metropolitan University, Independent Evaluation of the RRN Training Standards
Legitimacy and Leverage
“Certification gives organisations legitimacy and leverage when implementing restraint reduction. BILD ACT certification provided the credibility needed to drive meaningful practice change.”
Manchester Metropolitan University, Independent Evaluation of the RRN Training Standards
Measurably Better Training
“Training quality measurably improved under the BILD ACT standards framework. The standards ProActive Healthcare is certified against directly correlate with higher-quality training outcomes.”
Manchester Metropolitan University, Independent Evaluation of the RRN Training Standards
A Day on the Ward: Before and After
Here is what changes when your team moves from reactive restraint to proactive, trauma-informed care.
Staff arrive tense, scanning the board for which patients had incidents overnight. Handover focuses on who was restrained, how many incident forms were filed, and which agency staff are covering today.
Your team arrives with a clear framework. Handover covers each patient's emotional state, known triggers, and de-escalation strategies that worked. There is calm confidence instead of that familiar knot in the stomach.
A patient becomes agitated and refuses medication. The situation escalates to a restraint. Forty-five minutes lost, a mountain of paperwork, a staff member with a minor injury, and a patient who is now more distressed than before.
A staff member recognises the early warning signs, uses a de-escalation approach they learned in your internally-delivered training, and helps the patient calm down. The situation resolves in minutes. Everyone keeps their dignity.
Staff leave drained, mentally tallying today's incidents and dreading tomorrow. A good day means no major restraints. Morale is low. Another colleague hands in their notice.
The team heads home tired but satisfied, remembering the breakthrough conversation with a patient who had been struggling all week. Coming back tomorrow feels worthwhile. Your internal trainer is already planning next month's refresher session.
No Hidden Costs. No Surprises.
Many training providers charge separately for certificates, platform access, and annual subscriptions. We do not. Here is what is included from day one.
Unlimited BILD ACT Certificates
No per-delegate or per-certificate charges. Train as many staff as you need each year at no additional cost per person.
ProActive Academy Access
Full online portal with technique videos, theory modules, trainer scripts, and workshop materials. No annual subscription fee.
Two New Modules Every Year
From Year 2, your trainers receive two brand-new content modules drawn from the latest research and practice, keeping engagement high and training evolving.
Training Needs Analysis
A full TNA for your organisation is included at no additional cost. This ensures your programme is bespoke to your setting, not a generic off-the-shelf package.
Named Senior Mentor
Each qualified trainer receives a dedicated mentor from our senior team, with ongoing quality assurance aligned to RRN Training Standards.
Switching Provider Support
Moving from another PMVA provider? We manage the transition, including guidance on terminology, technique mapping, and supporting your managers to communicate the change.
Unlike providers who charge annual platform subscriptions, per-delegate certification fees, or mandatory digital access charges, our pricing is fully transparent. Once trained, your organisation can certify as many staff as needed each year at no additional cost per person.
Already With Another PMVA Provider? We Will Help You Switch.
One of the most common concerns we hear from organisations considering a change is whether the physical techniques will be different. They are not. We teach all of the same standard PMVA techniques your staff already know. The transition is straightforward because the physical skills are the same.
What changes is everything around those techniques. Your staff will move from a traditional restraint-focused course to a BILD ACT certified programme that includes trauma-informed Positive Behaviour Support content and our Aiming for Zero restraint reduction methodology. It is a significant upgrade in quality without a disruptive change in physical skills.
We have significant experience helping organisations switch from other PMVA training providers. Our transition support includes:
Open Course or Closed Course: Your Choice
Open National Course
Join alongside trainers from other organisations at one of our venues across the UK. Ideal for organisations sending one to five delegates, with regular dates throughout the year.
See upcoming open course datesClosed Course at Your Premises
We deliver the full programme at your venue, tailored to your policies and systems. Available for six or more delegates, with dates to suit your operational schedule. Eliminates hotel and travel costs entirely.
Best for: Multi-site providers with 6+ delegatesTrusted by NHS Trusts and Healthcare Providers Across the UK
Within three months of our trainers completing the course, we had reduced our reliance on external PMVA providers entirely. The financial saving was significant, but the real difference was having trainers who understood our wards, our patients, and our culture.
Rachel M.
Head of Learning & Development, NHS Mental Health Trust
What sets this apart from every other PMVA TTT course we looked at is the PBS content. Our staff are not just learning holds and breakaways. They are learning why people become distressed and how to prevent escalation in the first place. That is a fundamentally different approach.
James P.
Director of Nursing, Acute NHS Trust
We switched from a provider we had used for over a decade. The transition support was outstanding. Our staff barely noticed the change in physical techniques because they are the same standard PMVA skills. What they did notice was the quality of the theory content and the trauma-informed approach.
Sarah K.
Training Manager, Private Healthcare Group
The biggest surprise was how quickly our new trainers became confident. By the end of the five days, they were delivering practice sessions to each other with real authority. The trainer manual and slide deck meant they had everything they needed from day one.
David L.
Clinical Education Lead, Community Mental Health Trust
Led by Someone Who Understands Your World
Gary Collins
RGNGary brings over 32 years of clinical nursing experience and 8 years of specialist trauma management training for armed police officers and tactical medics. He designed this programme from the ground up for the unique challenges healthcare teams face in managing behavioural crisis safely, lawfully, and with dignity.
As a BILD ACT certified practitioner and the author of the forthcoming book “Reading the Room: Understanding Behaviour and De-escalation in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care”, Gary combines deep clinical expertise with an evidence-based approach to behavioural crisis management that is grounded in law, informed by operational reality, and designed to keep both patients and staff safe.
Ready to Build Internal PMVA Training Capability?
Get the full programme guide with detailed curriculum, pricing, and implementation timeline. Or speak directly with our team about your specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend the 5-day Train the Trainer course?+
What can our trainers deliver after completing the course?+
Are the physical techniques different from our current PMVA provider?+
Can the course be delivered at our premises?+
What certification do trainers receive?+
What ongoing support is provided after the course?+
How quickly can we start delivering training internally?+
What is the ROI compared to ongoing external delivery?+
We are currently with another PMVA provider. Can you help us switch?+
Is this approach backed by independent research?+
Your Staff Deserve PMVA Training That Goes Beyond Physical Techniques
Not a 1980s restraint course. A BILD ACT certified programme with trauma-informed PBS content, the Aiming for Zero methodology, and all the standard PMVA physical techniques your staff already know. Build permanent internal capability in just five days.
Join the growing number of NHS trusts and healthcare providers building certified internal PMVA training teams with ProActive Healthcare.