De-Escalation & Breakaway
1 Day Course
Course Overview
In a wide range of front-facing roles, especially those involving vulnerable individuals or emotionally volatile environments, there exists the real possibility of encountering aggression or physical confrontation. At Paul F Gill Training, we equip staff with the practical tools and awareness to respond safely, legally, and effectively when such situations arise.
Breakaway skills training focuses on teaching professionals how to prevent, manage, and, if necessary, disengage from physical threats with minimal harm to themselves and others. Our aim is to help organisations meet their duty of care while empowering staff with the skills and confidence to maintain safety and professionalism at all times.
Course Purpose and Benefits
This training provides practical knowledge and physical techniques to:
- Anticipate and de-escalate potentially volatile situations before physical intervention is required
- Safely create distance when disengagement becomes necessary
- Build resilience and reduce anxiety in high-risk situations through structured, instinct-based responses
- Understand legal principles and health & safety obligations around personal protection
- Minimise harm to service users and staff alike during incidents
Professionals who complete this training return to work with greater confidence, improved situational awareness, and a clear understanding of how to respond appropriately under pressure.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will gain:
- A strong understanding of personal safety principles and legal frameworks, including the use of reasonable force
- Insight into conflict resolution through verbal de-escalation and non-aggressive communication
- Techniques to manage personal space effectively and reduce proximity risks
- Movement strategies for confined spaces such as hospital rooms, bathrooms, or hallways
- Awareness of the psychological impact of aggression and how to stay composed under stress
Who We Support
Paul F Gill Training supports training centres in delivering high-quality breakaway skills courses to:
- Healthcare workers
- Education staff
- Social care professionals
- Security teams
- Customer-facing public sector employees
This service is ideal for training providers looking to outsource specialist modules to experienced trainers who can deliver consistent, accredited, and practical instruction on their behalf.
Duration
1 Day (6 hours of theory and practical training)
Certification
Your participants will receive a Certificate of Competence, based on your Training Centre accreditation. Currently we can deliver courses in conjunction with FAIB or Qualsafe Awarding Bodies.
Practical Techniques Covered
We teach a small number of high-retention physical skills based on natural, instinctive responses. These include:
- Maintaining balance and posture under threat
- Using “framing” techniques to protect vital areas
- Deflecting or escaping from grabs, strikes, or holds, including:
- Hair pulls
- Limb grabs
- Throat grips
- Bites, pinches, and scratches
- Rear chokeholds or frontal assaults
- Navigating away from danger while remaining composed and effective
Our methods are simple, repeatable, and designed to be retained even under duress.
Skills Development Focus
- Heightened alertness to early signs of escalation
- Physical and emotional resilience under pressure
- Clear, lawful understanding of self-protection principles
- Preparedness for common real-world threats faced in care, education, or emergency settings
The Evolution of Breakaway Training
Historically, breakaway methods focused on specific ‘technique-matching’ (e.g., X for wrist grabs, Y for chokeholds). However, real-world confrontations are dynamic and rarely predictable. Modern training, like that offered by Paul F Gill Training, adopts a more integrated and intuitive approach, teaching adaptive skills based on natural body reactions and emotional regulation.
The emphasis is on prevention first, psychological readiness second, and physical disengagement as a last resort. This layered model reflects the complex reality of frontline work and supports long-term skill retention.
Evidence-based Results
Providing staff with the tools to handle violent situations potentially limits the negative impact of aggression and violence within those situations. The key benefits of this include:
- a reduction in lost workdays;
- a reduction in complaints; and
- improved staff confidence and retention.
Very few of the included reviews actually report on the methods used to provide the training, making it difficult to find common approaches and lessons learned. However, there are indications that participants benefit from frequent provision of training, a culturally embedded programme of change to support the training and periodic refresher courses.
There are relatively few rigorous evaluation studies that provide for robust comparison and the quality of available evidence is limiting. Any efforts towards implementing de-escalation training would benefit from the inclusion of evaluation in their design. This would inform the development of the programme as well as support the knowledge base in general for de-escalation training.
For Training Centres and Organisations
As a freelance provider, Paul F Gill Training offers flexible delivery partnerships with established training centres. If your organisation wants to expand its portfolio with specialist breakaway training but lacks in-house expertise, we are ready to step in and deliver under your brand or ours.
Availability
My availability to support your training requirements can be discussed and scheduled accordingly. Please use the Contact Form or Telephone directly to reach out and secure services to support with a view to meeting your demands and ensuring client satisfaction
Let’s keep people safe – together.
To enquire about partnering with Paul F Gill Training, or to arrange a consultation, please get in touch.
