Equip Your Team to Understand Behaviour, Not Just Manage It
Grounded in Polyvagal Theory and trauma-informed neuroscience - not just techniques.
Our 2, 3, and 4-Day courses give adult social care staff the PBS and trauma-informed skills to reduce incidents, lower restrictive practices, and create environments where the people you support can thrive.
In brief: +ProActive Approaches delivers BILD Act (RRN) certified behaviour support training for adult social care settings. Our programmes are designed for teams supporting adults with learning disabilities, dementia, mental health needs, and complex behaviours.
- Residential care, supported living, domiciliary care, dementia services, learning disability services, and mental health settings
- BILD Act certified against Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards
- Five specialist de-escalation toolboxes tailored to your specific population and setting
- Independently evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing
- Delivered at your setting by our expert trainers, tailored via a Training Needs Analysis
Reduction in Incidents Within 12 Months
Workplace Accidents
Days Lost to Injury
Aligned With "Positive & Proactive Care" Guidance
Verified data from a CQC-regulated adult short breaks service in Kent, commissioned through Kent County Council. 12-month review period.
Trusted by leading care organisations
When Your Team Is Surviving, Not Thriving
You know the signs. One individual with complex needs. Nine incidents recorded during just seven overnight stays in a single month. Staff responding reactively, without a shared framework for understanding the function of behaviour. No consistent approach to de-escalation. Confidence eroding with every shift.
This was the reality for one Kent County Council adult short breaks service before they contacted us. It is the reality for hundreds of services across the UK right now.
Feeling powerless when behaviours of concern escalate - and nothing they have tried makes a lasting difference
Empathy running on empty - the emotional toll is showing in sickness, turnover, and agency costs
Dreading work and losing the passion for a career they once loved
Defaulting to restrictive practices because they do not know what else to do
Your team cannot help people in crisis if they are in crisis themselves. The answer is not more of the same training. It is a fundamentally different approach.
From Surviving Each Shift To Genuinely Thriving
When your team fully understands trauma, unmet needs, and the neuroscience behind behaviour, they do not just manage situations differently - they rediscover why they chose this career. Your team transforms from reactive to proactive, from overwhelmed to confident.
Your Team Becomes "Amygdala Whisperers"
We teach staff to use their own calm nervous system to down-regulate a person in distress - through co-regulation, not control. This is the science of Polyvagal Theory applied to daily practice.
Build therapeutic relationships through the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy)
Understand neuroception - why a person's nervous system detects threat before their conscious mind does
Create 'felt safety' through co-regulation, reducing the need for restrictive practices
Protect their own wellbeing using the PERMA model for resilience and preventing empathy fatigue
Built On Proven Frameworks, Not Generic Techniques
Every module is grounded in named, evidence-based models - giving your team the language and credibility to articulate their approach to CQC inspectors, commissioners, and families.
Polyvagal Theory
Explains why behaviour happens at a neurological level - and how staff can use co-regulation to create calm.
PACE Model
Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy - a practical relational framework for every daily interaction.
Huckshorn's Six Core Strategies
The gold-standard organisational framework for reducing restraint and restrictive practices.
Attachment Theory
Understand why people are avoidant, clingy, or chaotic - and the hidden need driving each pattern.
PERMA Model
Seligman's wellbeing framework applied to staff resilience - linking team wellbeing to quality of care.
Bruce Perry's 3 R's
Regulate, Relate, Reason - the correct sequence for responding when someone is in crisis.
Therapeutic Lens
Our proprietary framework for analysing behaviour through sensory, attachment, and trauma dimensions.
Shields Against Shame
Understand aggression, withdrawal, and people-pleasing as protective responses to the fear of disconnection.
The What, The Why, The How
Our unique 3-Step Method is built on real-world experience, empathy, and becoming a trusted person. Each step builds on the last, giving your team a complete framework.
Step 1: The What
Academic Education
Gain a foundational and practical understanding of behaviour and unravel the complexities of supporting adults with behaviours of concern by exploring lived experiences.
Establish a PBS approach and Human Rights-based Value Base as the foundation for practice
Define behaviours of concern through a therapeutic lens, adopting a person-centred mindset
Explore lived experiences (ACEs), the significant impact of trauma and unmet attachment needs
Understand the 5 Service Accomplishments (O'Brien) and person-centred planning
Step 2: The Why
The Neuroscience of Behaviour
Delve into why behaviours occur by exploring Polyvagal Theory, neuroception, and co-regulation - the science that explains how your staff's nervous system directly influences the people they support.
Understand Polyvagal Theory - how the autonomic nervous system drives fight, flight, and freeze responses
Learn about neuroception: the subconscious detection of threat that triggers behaviour before conscious thought
Explore Shields Against Shame - how aggression, withdrawal, and people-pleasing are protective responses
Discover setting events and triggers, and the relationship between personal and environmental conditions
Step 3: The How
Practical Application
Apply techniques and strategies into daily practice, providing positive experiences for the people you support so they can thrive and enjoy a better quality of life.
Implement the PERMA model (Seligman) to promote quality of life, autonomy, and choice
Apply the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) in daily interactions
Use Bruce Perry's 3 R's (Regulate, Relate, Reason) as the correct crisis response sequence
Master setting-specific de-escalation strategies from our five specialist toolboxes
Five Specialist De-Escalation Toolboxes. Not One Generic Approach.
We do not deliver a one-size-fits-all course. Your team receives de-escalation strategies specifically designed for the people they actually support - because de-escalating someone experiencing sundowning is fundamentally different from supporting someone in psychosis.
Adult Services
Residential & Supported Living
Dementia
Specialist Dementia Care
Learning Disability
LD & Autism Services
Mental Health
Mental Health Settings
Verbal & Non-Verbal
Complex Communication Needs
Every strategy adapted for the people you actually support. Your trainer will customise the toolbox selection based on your service's specific needs.
What If Aggression, Withdrawal, and People-Pleasing Are All The Same Thing?
When a person lashes out, withdraws, or constantly apologises - most teams see "challenging behaviour." We teach them to see the shield against shame underneath.
Shame - the fear of disconnection and rejection - drives many of the behaviours that care staff find most difficult. Our training reveals how aggression, avoidance, and excessive compliance are all unconscious protective responses to the same underlying pain. Once your team sees this, everything changes.
Aggression
"If I push you away first, you can't reject me"
Withdrawal
"If I disappear, I can't be hurt"
People-Pleasing
"If I'm perfect, you'll keep me safe"
Refusal
"If I don't try, I can't fail"
From Reactive to Reflective: A 12-Month Transformation
A CQC-regulated adult short breaks service in Kent, commissioned through Kent County Council, was experiencing rising incidents linked to one individual with complex needs. Following our training, the results were sustained across every quarter.
Reduction in incidents
Workplace accidents
Days lost to injury
Quarter-by-Quarter Trajectory
Q1
Sep - Nov 2024
Q2
Dec - Feb 2025
Q3
Mar - May 2025
Q4
Jun - Aug 2025
Number of recorded incidents per quarter. Q1 bar (red) includes 9 incidents before training was delivered.
What Actually Changed
The numbers tell an important story, but the cultural shift beneath those figures is what makes the difference last.
Behaviour as Communication
Staff developed a fundamentally different understanding of why the person was dysregulated. They learned to ask what was driving the behaviour and respond accordingly.
Teaching Coping Strategies
Rather than simply containing difficult moments, staff began involving the individual in preparing personal care items, using visual timetables, and offering structured choices.
Debriefs That Drive Learning
Team debriefs shifted from administrative exercises to genuine reflective practice - analysing triggers, evaluating strategies, and agreeing consistent approaches.
A Joined-Up, Confident Team
Staff consistently used the same trauma-informed approaches, shared learning through handovers, and demonstrated a shared understanding of triggers and support needs.
Smarter Environmental Planning
The team introduced environmental changes informed by their learning - carefully planning stays to reduce overstimulation and create a more predictable, emotionally safe environment.
"Staff recognised that the behaviours were not deliberate but were communication of emotional or sensory needs."
Registered Manager · Kent County Council
"Staff felt safer due to having clear strategies and a comprehensive risk assessment that outlined thresholds for decision-making. Knowing what to look for, how to respond and when to escalate gave the team confidence and stability."
Registered Manager · Kent County Council
10+ Years. Thousands Of Staff. Proven Results.
Over the past 10 years, we have helped thousands of care staff to identify, understand, and respond confidently to behaviours of concern using proven strategies and techniques.
This bespoke course is your solution to easily access BILD Act (RRN) Certified PBS training, uniquely designed using our exclusive 3-Step Method for adult social care, supported living, and mental health settings.
Our Trainers
Created by Simon Gower, author of The Empathy Gap and a practitioner with nearly 30 years in care settings. Many of our trainers have been Registered Managers. They have managed the services, supported the people, and built the cultures you are working to create. They teach from experience, not textbooks.
What Our Partners Say
"Three months in, we realised we were having entire weeks without a single restrictive intervention. But more importantly, the people we support are visibly happier and more engaged."
Sarah T.
Registered Manager, Supported Living Provider
"The difference in our CQC inspection was remarkable. The inspector highlighted how our team could clearly articulate the needs underlying behaviours and demonstrate their person-centred approach."
James R.
Operations Director, Multi-site Adult Care Provider
"My biggest surprise was the financial impact. The reduction in staff turnover alone saved us over £38,000 in the first year, not counting reduced agency costs and absence rates."
Helen M.
Operations Director, National Care Group
"I used to dread walking into the service because you could feel the tension. Now there is this sense of purposeful calm. The whole atmosphere has shifted from containment to genuine support."
David K.
Deputy Manager, Supported Living Service
"We have spent years training teams to be trauma-informed about the people they support. Now we need to be trauma-informed about the team."
Simon Gower · Founder, +ProActive Approaches
Not Just a Course - A Complete Toolkit
The most common complaint about training is "my staff go on a course, come back, and nothing changes." Our delegates leave with practical, setting-specific resources they can use on the floor the next day.
5 De-Escalation Toolboxes
Setting-specific strategy guides for Adult Services, Dementia, Learning Disability, Mental Health, and Verbal/Non-Verbal communication.
Comprehensive Delegate Workbook
Full course workbook with theory summaries, reflection exercises, and space for personal action planning.
Attachment Theory Handout
Practical guide to recognising avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganised attachment patterns - and the hidden need behind each.
Shields Against Shame Guide
Case studies and framework for understanding aggression, withdrawal, and people-pleasing as protective responses.
Communication Differences Sheet
Reflection tool covering sensory overload, processing delays (the 'Count to 8' rule), and adapted communication strategies.
Online Academy Portal Access
Digital access to all materials, step-by-step embedding guidance, and ongoing CPD resources after the course ends.
More Than Just Training
Protect Your Organisation
Taking this course will equip your team with a legal understanding of the laws and regulations surrounding restrictive practices. This includes:
Online Academy Portal
Your team will gain access to our online Academy Portal, where they can download all course worksheets and gain step-by-step guidance on how to embed the approach.
Three Simple Steps To Get Started
Download the Course Guide
Get the full course guide with pricing for all three levels and available dates. Or book a call to discuss which option suits your team.
Choose Your Course Level
Select the 2, 3, or 4-Day course based on your team's needs and budget. We deliver at your premises, so there is no disruption to rotas.
Your Team Starts Applying New Skills
Your staff return to work with BILD certified skills, practical toolboxes, and the confidence to make a real difference from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer 2-Day, 3-Day, and 4-Day options. Each builds on the previous level, so you can choose the depth that suits your team's needs and budget. All three are BILD Act (RRN) Certified.
We recommend groups of 8 to 16 for the best learning experience, but we can accommodate larger groups if needed. 12 delegates with 1 trainer, up to 18 with 2 trainers, in line with RRN Training Standards. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
We come to you. All courses are delivered at your premises, which means no travel costs, no disruption to rotas, and your team learns in the environment where they will apply the skills.
Yes. All our courses are BILD Act (RRN) Certified as PBS (Positive Behaviour Support) training. Certificates are included in the course fee at no extra cost. Certificates are issued based on competence, not just attendance.
Absolutely. Unlike generic training, we deliver five specialist de-escalation toolboxes tailored to different populations: Adult Services (general residential and supported living), Dementia (validation therapy, biographical anchoring, sundowning protocols), Learning Disability (Total Communication, Makaton, visual supports), Mental Health (CBT/DBT-informed, psychosis-specific strategies), and Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication (for individuals with complex communication needs). Your trainer will select and customise the toolboxes most relevant to the people your team supports.
Yes - and it goes well beyond the minimum. Our training explicitly covers the Mental Capacity Act (2005), Duty of Care and Duty of Candour, and is fully aligned with the government's 'Positive and Proactive Care: reducing the need for restrictive interventions' guidance. The course equips your team to articulate the legal framework for any intervention, demonstrate person-centred practice, and evidence restraint reduction - all of which are key focus areas for CQC inspections. For CQC-regulated services, demonstrating that your team can identify triggers, respond proportionately, reflect meaningfully, and continuously improve practice is precisely what good and outstanding ratings require. Many organisations have received specific commendation during inspections after completing our training.
Pricing depends on the course level and group size. Download our information pack or book a call with our team for a tailored quote.
Our training is experiential and practical, not lecture-based. Your team will learn through real-world scenarios, group exercises, and guided practice. Every session is led by a trainer with direct adult social care experience - many of our trainers have been Registered Managers themselves.
Our courses have been specifically developed for staff supporting adults in their own homes, residential settings, supported living, day centres, and mental health settings.
Far more than a certificate. Every delegate receives a comprehensive workbook, setting-specific de-escalation toolboxes, an Attachment Theory handout, a Shields Against Shame guide, a Communication Differences reflection sheet, and access to our Online Academy Portal. These are practical, evidence-based resources your team can use on the floor the next day - not generic handouts that gather dust.
We recommend booking a free consultation call to discuss your specific needs. We will help you understand which level is the best fit for your team, your setting, and your budget.
Give Your Team the Skills They Deserve
Take the first step towards a team that feels confident, supported, and equipped to make a real difference in the lives of the people they support.
Prefer to talk now? Call 01789 653575