Who’s In Your Speed Dial Telephone Numbers?

Subject to which survey you read, there are: Between 123 and 205 daily assaults on lone workers Between 44,850 and 74,750 attacks on lone workers per year, and Between 159 and 266 daily instances of verbal abuse on staff Working remotely offers flexibility and freedom, but it also presents unique challenges, especially in emergency situations. Whether you’re working from a … Read more

Safeguarding Schools across the Scottish Borders and Beyond

Whilst UNISON survey exposes ‘shocking’ levels of violence in Borders schools, are things any different in your area? 85 per cent of respondents reported experiencing/witnessing slapping or punching – that figure rose to 88 per cent regarding kicking incidents. More than 55 per cent of respondents said they experienced violence multiple times a week. In recent months, the Scottish Borders … Read more

Preventing Violence to Shopworkers Today and Everyday

Violence against shop workers is a pervasive issue. According to a survey conducted by the British Retail Consortium, there were around 455 incidents of violence or abuse towards retail staff each day in the UK. That means there are over 160,000+ reported incidents per year, that’s before we start thinking about the un-reported incidents. Why are some (lots according to … Read more

Workplace Safety – Whose Responsibility?

In today’s dynamic and hectic work environments, ensuring the health and safety of employees must be of paramount importance for employers. The Health & Safety Executive previously produced data in 2020 that outlined the prevalence of aggression and violence affecting businesses and workforces across the UK. Approximately 688,000 incidents of aggression and violence were reported in the workplace in England … Read more

A Guide to Managing Risk on Stairs No one should be moved up or down stairs if they are violent or if you reasonably foresee that they might become violent during the process. Moving a person up or down a flight of stairs can be a challenging and potentially risky procedure. Whether you are a care provider, security personnel, or … Read more

The Changing Landscape of Police Response and How Selecting The Right Physical Intervention System is Paramount

In recent times, there has been a shift in how police services respond to calls for assistance from NHS Mental Health Units. Many of you will have heard of the ‘Right Care Right Person’ (RCRP) operational model developed by Humberside Police. In a letter sent to leaders of London health and social care providers on 24th May 2023, Commissioner Sir Mark … Read more

Pain Compliance on Children is Permissible & Why Adopt Standards For A Mental Health Unit, If You Are Not a Mental Health Unit?

The use of pain compliance on children is an emotive subject, it is contentious and one that many organisations fail when issuing legally robust policy and guidance. NFPS has covered this subject in previous publications and links to these will be given at the end of this post. Of course, applying pain to a child is the absolute last thing … Read more

Serco fined £2.25 million for H&S Failings following the Death of Custody Officer

Ms Barwell, a 54-year-old grandmother was kicked twice at Blackfriars Crown Court in 2015 during the restraint of a prisoner in custody. She died from brain injuries caused by the second blow. Ms Barwell had worked for Hampshire-based security firm Serco for 10 years when the attack took place. The incident led to an investigation by the Health and Safety … Read more

Ambulance Service Ordered to Pay £49,000 in Wrongful Dismissal Case After Staff Member Was Dismissed for Allegedly ‘Assaulting’ a 14 Year-Old Patient Who Had Attacked Him

  A veteran paramedic ambulance worker who was assaulted by a 14 year-old was awarded £49,000 by an industrial tribunal after he was wrongfully dismissed for gross misconduct by his employer for allegedly assaulting a 14 year old who had attacked him. In August 2021 Mr Edwards, a senior paramedic with 18 years service was attending a call. It involved … Read more

It is against health and safety to put a coat over a handcuffed persons arms

“It is against health and safety to put a coat over a handcuffed persons arms.”

That is the crux of an email just sent to me based on what someone was told by a trainer.

They mentioned how an organisation respected a handcuffed patients dignity whilst reducing the risk of anger, aggression and violence thus reducing the need for a restrictive physical intervention.

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