Breaking News – A Person Being Restrained Now Can’t Die from Excited Delirium!

As reported in the New York Times on the 11th October 2023, “California has become the first US state to ban the use of “excited delirium” as a cause of death, rejecting a term that prominent medical associations have said is rooted in bias and is often used to justify the deaths of people in police custody”. The New York … Read more

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems in Managing Stress

Following on from yesterdays LinkedIn post Stress, let’s look into how and why the network of nerves sends messages to parts of the body. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work together, delicately balancing our physiological reactions to external stimuli. These systems, sometimes described as the gas and brake pedals of our body, play a crucial role in maintaining equilibrium … Read more

What Type of Incidents Do You Report?

We use well known phrases like the Health & Safety Executives (HSE) definition of work-related violence… Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work, whether the behaviours are explicit or implicit in nature or design, is a reportable incident. What does the HSE’s Definition Mean to You? These incidents are not … Read more

Is the Escalating Issue of Workplace Violence a Society-wide Problem?

In today’s modern landscape, the spectre of workplace violence looms larger than ever, casting a dark shadow not only within office walls but seeping into the fabric of our societal norms. Violence in the workplace isn’t just a problem confined within the nine-to-five routine; it’s a pervasive issue that echoes across various spheres of our lives. The Health and Safety … Read more

Survey on Pupil Behaviour

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is a teacher trade union representing over 80% of all teachers across nursery, primary and secondary education in Scotland. They launched the Stand Up for Quality Education (SU4QE) campaign at their AGM in June 2023. The campaign has 3 key priority areas which call for: Build the skills, resources and school culture to address … Read more

Moving people up and down stairs under restraint

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

This is an image showing Rab from NFPS Ltd and the text is there to highlight a change in police methods and how physical intervention training is becoming ever more important

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

Flight Attendant Chased Home by Irate Passenger that yelled ‘f*** your Airline’

An Airline flight attendant posted a tearful video on TikTok describing how an unruly passenger chased her out of the airport parking lot and followed her home.  The safety and well-being of employees is of paramount importance and a duty that all employers must address. Workplace violence tends to be far more prevalent in occupations that involve prolonged interaction with … 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