Build Your Own In-House Training Team
Our 8-Day Train-the-Trainer course equips your staff to deliver BILD certified, trauma-informed training across your entire organisation. Reduce incidents by up to 80%.
In brief: The ProActive Approaches 8-day Train the Trainer programme certifies your staff to deliver BILD Act (RRN) accredited behaviour support training across your organisation. Build lasting in-house expertise with a complete trainer toolkit and ongoing support.
- 8-day certification programme with flexible scheduling options
- BILD Act (RRN) certified, enabling your trainers to certify their own delegates
- Complete trainer toolkit, all course materials, online academy access, and ongoing quality assurance
- Multi-site organisations, MATs, local authorities, and settings wanting sustainable in-house training capacity
- Independently evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University
Trusted by leading organisations across the UK
The Challenge
You've done everything right. So why does the cycle continue?
You've implemented established behaviour management systems, taught de-escalation techniques, and invested in your team's development. Your staff can explain trauma theory. They've attended the trainings and read the research. The problem isn't knowledge.
Yet in the daily reality of residential care, implementing these approaches consistently remains elusive. Workplace stress systematically undermines your team's capacity to provide the care young people need. Staff burn out and leave. Incidents keep happening. And each one carries a cost: emotional, operational, and financial.
The challenge isn't your commitment. It's that traditional models were designed for behaviour management rather than behaviour understanding.
The Shift
From management to understanding
Most behaviour management training begins at the point of crisis. But by then, a crucial opportunity has already been missed. It's not that these approaches are wrong; they're simply incomplete.
A more complete approach
At ProActive Approaches, we've spent over 25 years helping residential organisations integrate three critical elements that traditional training misses:
- The child's lived experience: how trauma shapes current responses
- Shame and survival responses: how control can escalate distress
- Relational safety: the foundation for genuine co-regulation
See It In Action
Watch how the approach transforms teams
See how ProActive Approaches changes the way teams connect with and support young people in residential settings.
Course Curriculum
What your 8 days cover
Delivered as two blocks of 4 days, combining theory, experiential learning, and supervised practice so your team members leave as confident, certified trainers.
Upon completion, your trainers can deliver:
- BILD ACT (RRN) Certified 2-day courses
- BILD ACT (RRN) Certified 3-day courses
- BILD ACT (RRN) Certified 4-day courses
- Unlimited staff, 12-month certification
Block 1: Days 1-4
Foundations of Trauma-Informed Practice
Understanding ACEs, attachment theory, and the neuroscience of stress responses in young people.
The ProActive Model
Learning the complete framework: from understanding behaviour as communication to building relational safety.
De-escalation & Co-Regulation
Practical techniques for preventing crises before they develop, grounded in developmental psychology.
Legal & Ethical Frameworks
Restrictive practice law, duty of care, and the balance between safety and rights.
Block 2: Days 5-8
Teaching & Facilitation Skills
How to deliver engaging, impactful training sessions to your colleagues.
Physical Intervention Techniques
Safe, proportionate, and dignified approaches when physical intervention is genuinely necessary.
Embedding Organisational Change
Strategies for cascading the approach across your entire organisation.
Assessment & Certification
Supervised practice, competency assessment, and receiving your BILD & RRN certification.
The Transformation
A day in the life: before and after
Here's what changes when your team moves from reactive management to proactive understanding.
Before
Staff walk in tense, dreading which young people might 'kick off' today. Handover focuses on yesterday's problems and punishments.
After
Your team arrives feeling ready. Handover covers each child's emotional state and needs. There's calm confidence instead of that knot-in-stomach feeling.
Before
Jamie refuses to join a group activity. Things escalate to physical restraint. 45 minutes lost, a mountain of paperwork, and staff feeling defeated.
After
A staff member spots Jamie's early warning signs, connects with him, and helps him calm down. The situation resolves in minutes. Everyone keeps their dignity.
Before
Staff leave drained, mentally tallying today's incidents and dreading tomorrow. A 'good day' means no major incidents.
After
The team heads home tired but satisfied, remembering breakthrough conversations and genuine connections. Coming back tomorrow feels worthwhile.
Proof It Works
Documented results from real settings
Measurable outcomes from residential settings that implemented ProActive Approaches.
Medium-Sized Residential Provider
Starting Point
30+ incidents weekly, 35% annual staff turnover
After Implementation
82% reduction in incidents within 5 months, staff turnover decreased to 12%
Financial Impact
£45,000+ saved in recruitment costs alone in year one
Multi-Home Provider (London & Southeast)
Starting Point
Multiple placement breakdowns monthly, high agency staff usage
After Implementation
68% reduction in placement disruptions, 70% reduced agency dependency
Inspection Outcome
Specific Ofsted commendation for trauma-informed approach
Three months in, I realised we were having entire weeks without serious incidents. But more importantly, our team meetings had completely transformed. Instead of just reviewing problems, staff were excitedly sharing developmental breakthroughs.
Sarah T.
Residential Home Manager, Southeast England Provider
The difference in our Ofsted inspection was remarkable. The inspector highlighted how our team could clearly articulate the developmental needs underlying behaviours and demonstrate their approach to meeting those needs.
James R.
Care Home Director, Multi-site Provider, Midlands
My biggest surprise was the financial impact. The reduction in staff turnover alone saved us over £45,000 in the first year, not counting reduced agency costs and absence rates.
Helen M.
Operations Director, National Care Group
I used to dread stepping into the house because you could feel the tension. Now there's this sense of purposeful calm. The whole atmosphere has shifted from containment to development.
David K.
Deputy Manager, London-based Residential Home
“We've spent years training teams to be trauma-informed about the children. Now we need to be trauma-informed about the team.
Independent Research
Independently validated by Manchester Metropolitan University
An independent evaluation funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing (£84,348 grant) and approved by the NHS Health Research Authority examined the impact of BILD ACT certified training across multiple organisations.
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, Burdett Trust for Nursing
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, Burdett Trust for Nursing
Measurably Better Training
"Training quality measurably improved under the BILD ACT standards framework. The standards ProActive Approaches is certified against directly correlate with higher-quality training outcomes."
Manchester Metropolitan University
Independent Evaluation, Burdett Trust for Nursing
Why ProActive
Not all training providers are the same
| Feature | Typical Provider | +ProActive Approaches |
|---|---|---|
| BILD Act (RRN) Certified | ||
| Trauma-informed foundation | ||
| Unlimited staff training | ||
| Post-course mentoring | ||
| Certificates included in fee | ||
| Online resource portal, no additional cost | ||
| 25+ years sector experience | ||
| Independently evaluated by a university |
How It Works
Three steps to your own in-house training team
You send team members to us. We transform them into certified in-house training experts who return equipped to cascade this knowledge to everyone else.
Secure Your Place
Book team members onto our 8-Day Train-the-Trainer Foundation Course. See below for next course dates.
Certify Your Team
Your selected staff become BILD & RRN certified ProActive Approaches in-house trainers over 8 immersive days.
Transform Your Organisation
Your certified trainers cascade the approach to unlimited staff. Watch incidents drop, retention rise, and outcomes improve.
Your Trainers
Led by practitioners, not just presenters
Created by Simon Gower, author of The Empathy Gap and a practitioner with nearly 30 years in residential childcare. Many of our trainers are professionally qualified. Many have been Registered Managers, they've managed the crises, and built the cultures you're working to create.
Trainer credentials
- BILD & RRN certified master trainers
- 25+ years combined residential care experience
- Qualified in trauma-informed practice, attachment theory, and developmental psychology
- Active practitioners, not retired academics
- DBS enhanced checked and safeguarding trained
What sets us apart
- We've personally implemented this approach in residential settings
- Ongoing post-course support and mentoring included
- Access to the ProActive Academy online portal
- Part of a national community of ProActive practitioners
- Courses mapped to Level 3 Diploma in Childcare (19 of 21 units)
For Larger Organisations
Multi-site providers: we come to you
For organisations with six or more delegates, we offer closed courses delivered at your premises. It's the same BILD ACT certified programme, tailored to your world. The approach your trainers will deliver has been independently evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University and found to drive genuine cultural transformation, not just compliance.
Closed Course at Your Premises
Rather than sending 6-8 people to Stratford-upon-Avon for eight days, we bring the course to you. Your delegates train together, in your environment, without the disruption and expense of travel.
- Available for 6 or more delegates
- Same BILD ACT certified programme and assessment standards
- Delivered by our senior trainers at your chosen venue
- Cohorts can be phased across the year to suit operational needs
Bespoke to Your Organisation
A closed course allows us to build your specific policies, procedures, and operational systems directly into the training. Your trainers learn to teach colleagues how to record incidents within your existing processes, use your referral pathways, and apply your de-escalation protocols, rather than learning a generic approach and having to translate it afterwards.
Significant Savings on Hotel and Travel
Sending 6-8 delegates to an external venue for eight days means hotel accommodation, travel, and subsistence costs that add up quickly. A closed course at your premises eliminates this entirely, often saving thousands of pounds that can be redirected into additional training capacity.
Open Course or Closed Course: Your Choice
Open National Course
Join alongside trainers from other organisations at our Stratford-upon-Avon venue. Ideal for organisations sending 1-5 delegates, with regular dates throughout the year.
Best for: Smaller cohorts or individual delegates
Closed Course at Your Premises
We deliver the full programme at your venue, bespoked to your policies and systems. Available for 6+ delegates, with dates to suit your operational schedule.
Best for: Multi-site providers with 6+ delegates
Transparent Pricing
No hidden costs. No surprises.
Many training providers charge separately for certificates, platform access, and annual subscriptions. We don't. Here's what's 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.
Level 3 Diploma Worksheets
Evidence worksheets mapped to 19 of 21 units. Significantly reduces the administrative burden of supporting staff through their qualification.
Two New Modules Every Year
From Year 2, your trainers receive two brand-new content modules drawn from the latest research. Recent examples: polyvagal theory, intersubjectivity, cues and miscues.
Training Needs Analysis
A full TNA for your organisation is included at no additional cost. This is a requirement of the RRN Training Standards and ensures your programme is bespoke, not off-the-shelf.
Named Senior Mentor
Each qualified trainer receives a dedicated mentor from our senior team, with ongoing quality assurance aligned to RRN Training Standard 4.1.
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.
Built for the Long Term
A sustainable model that grows with you
Building internal training capacity is a long-term investment. We've designed every element of the programme to ensure it remains sustainable, even as your organisation evolves.
Replacing Trainer Attrition
People get promoted, change roles, or leave. If you lose a qualified trainer, simply book one or two replacement delegates onto our next available open course. No need to wait for a minimum cohort, no need to commission a full closed course, and no disruption to your ongoing delivery schedule.
Content That Evolves
Where many providers deliver the same refresher content each year, our model includes two brand-new modules annually, drawn from the latest research and practice. Your teams encounter genuinely new learning each year, keeping engagement high and practice evolving.
Switching Provider? We'll Help
If you're moving from another training provider, we manage the transition. This includes guidance on terminology differences, mapping across from your current physical techniques to ours, and supporting your managers to communicate the change positively to their teams. All included at no additional cost.
"Since implementing +ProActive Approaches, we've seen a complete culture shift. Restraint incidents have dropped by 72% and we won a UK Company Culture Award."
Fair Ways Group
Multi-Site Children's Services Provider
Book Your Place
Upcoming course dates
Places are limited to ensure quality. We recommend booking early to secure your preferred dates.
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Need different dates or an in-house delivery? Call us on 01789 653575 to discuss bespoke arrangements.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
No, our 8-Day Train-the-Trainer Foundation Course is delivered face-to-face. This ensures the depth of experiential learning and practice that's essential for developing confident, competent trainers.
The course runs over 8 days, typically delivered as two blocks of 4 days. This structure allows time for reflection and initial practice between blocks.
We recommend sending a minimum of 2 team members per organisation to ensure you have sufficient in-house training capacity, peer support and quality assurance. We recognise for small providers that only one trainer may be practical.
Yes. Upon completion, your trainers receive BILD & RRN accredited certification, enabling them to deliver certified training within your organisation.
There is no limit. Your certified trainers can deliver training to an unlimited number of staff within your organisation during the 12-month certification period.
No. All certificates are included in the course fee. There are no hidden costs.
Absolutely. Our approach aligns with and exceeds current Ofsted expectations for trauma-informed, attachment-aware practice. Many organisations have received specific commendation during inspections.
We recommend booking a free consultation call to discuss your specific needs before committing. We'll help you understand whether this approach is the right fit for your team and your setting.
Yes. An independent evaluation conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing through an £84,348 charity grant, examined the impact of BILD ACT certified training. The research received NHS Health Research Authority ethical approval and included 114 survey participants, 12 in-depth interviews, and stakeholder workshops. It found that certified organisations experienced a fundamental cultural transformation, shifting from control-based to therapeutic approaches, and that training quality measurably improved under the BILD ACT standards framework that ProActive Approaches is certified against.
Our Clients
Trusted by organisations across the UK
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Take the first step towards transforming your organisation's approach to behaviour support.
Prefer to talk now? Call 01789 653575