Breakaway training for NHS staff: time for a fresh approach?

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, breakaway training has been synonymous with many prevention and management of violence and aggression (PMVA) training programmes in social care and NHS settings. However, for almost three decades, this community has continued to accept a training approach that has been largely unsupported by a robust underpinning methodology or evidence base. The validity of this historical training approach will be examined in context with the available literature, and will seek to identify the fundamental flaws that have been inherent in the traditional system. This paper will conclude by making some practical suggestions on how the efficacy of personal protective training may be improved, based on the emerging findings from other scientific fields.

Citation

Mott, A., Dobson, P., Walton, J., Highfield, P., Harries, L., Seal, R. and Butland, P. (2009), "Breakaway training for NHS staff: time for a fresh approach?", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 4 No. 3, pp. 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/17556228200900024