top of page
Understanding Accreditation, Affiliation and Certification
History, Professional Foundations and Scope

 

Safer Handling is an international provider of specialist training and consultancy focused on Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), safer handling strategies and the reduction of restrictive practices.

 

Established in 1999, we support organisations across education, health, social care, justice and security to implement lawful, proportionate and ethically sound approaches that protect both staff and those in their care.

​

Our work prioritises prevention, de-escalation and understanding the function of behaviour, enabling organisations to reduce risk while promoting dignity, human rights and positive outcomes.

​

Safer Handling is recognised as a stakeholder organisation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and operates as a licensed training centre for the Institute of Conflict Management, and the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). We deliver nationally recognised Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications in Violence Prevention and Reduction, including train-the-trainer programmes for operational and strategic leads.

​

Since 1999, we have also delivered legal awareness briefings supporting staff, leaders, parents and carers to understand the lawful use of reasonable force, the principles of necessity and proportionality, and the implementation of least-restrictive approaches that include appropriate physical intervention skills where required.

Leadership, Expertise and Sector Recognition

Safer Handling is led by Doug Melia, an internationally recognised subject matter expert in the use of force, safer handling strategies and restrictive practice reduction.​

​

He is:​​

  • an accredited trainer, consultant and international speaker

  • a registered expert witness and risk assessor

  • a specialist member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (SIIRSM)

  • a lifelong member of the Howard League for Penal Reform

  • a Master Trainer with ESL

  • Director of the Institute of Conflict Management

  • Use of force advisor to the IAHSS

Doug has worked with Government departments and specialist services to improve safety standards. In 2020 he contributed to work supporting Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) initiatives across Young Offender Institutions and Secure Children’s Homes to reduce reliance on pain-inducing techniques.​

​

Safer Handling’s work within Justice Health services in Sydney, Australia was cited as best practice within a coronial inquiry conducted by the New South Wales Government.

​

Our international arm Passenger Safe has also achieved course accreditation through ISCA via the Bahamas Maritime Authority.

OUR ETHOS

Our ethos is centred on reducing restrictive practices without compromising safety or operational effectiveness.

​

We support organisations to move beyond reliance on accreditation alone by developing:​

  • robust governance systems

  • workforce competence frameworks

  • restraint reduction strategies

  • risk management processes

  • prevention-focused organisational cultures

TECHNIQUES

All Safer Handling techniques are contained within independently reviewed manuals and structured digital learning resources.

​

Content is subject to ongoing legal, medical and dynamic operational review through collaboration with specialist consultants including Safety Without Compromise (SWC Experts).

​

Our programmes align with current expectations relating to:​

  • Human Rights legislation

  • Trauma-informed care

  • Positive Behaviour Support models

  • Workforce safety standards

  • Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) principles

Accreditation, Affiliations and Quality Standards

Safer Handling delivers programmes designed to meet and exceed national occupational standards while remaining adaptable to organisational context.​

​

We vocationally map our training to recognised awarding frameworks including:​

  • Pearson Edexcel

  • City & Guilds

  • Highfield Qualifications​

​

We operate as a licensed centre for:​

  • National Federation for Personal Safety (NFPS) delivering BTEC-aligned personal safety qualifications

  • Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) delivering Level 3 and 4 Awards in Violence Prevention and Reduction

 

Our trainers maintain professional registration with the Institute of Conflict Management, publishers of the National Occupational Standards for personal safety training.​

​

We are members or affiliated with professional bodies including:​

  • International Corrections and Prison Association (ICPA)

  • National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO)

  • Centre for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ)​

 

We routinely support organisations seeking independent accreditation of their behaviour support systems, including alignment with BILD Act and Restraint Reduction Network Training Standards.​

 

Training programmes are always preceded by a structured Training Needs Analysis, ensuring cultural relevance, legal compliance and operational effectiveness.

Tailored Approach

Safer Handling does not promote a “one-size-fits-all” system of training.​

This is particularly important in:​

  • social care

  • education

  • CAMHS

  • mental health services

  • custodial and secure environments​

Individuals present with varied physical abilities, complex needs and environmental risks. Our training reflects real operational challenges including transport risk, containment, multidisciplinary working and safeguarding responsibilities.

Charity, Community and Sector Support

Safer Handling actively supports charitable and community initiatives linked to safety and wellbeing.

This includes:

  • long-standing membership of Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) since 1996

  • provision of personal safety awareness input for community projects

  • annual sponsorship of Woody’s Lodge, supporting veterans, emergency service personnel and their families

  • headline sponsorship supporting the launch of “A Silent Approach”, a theatre production based on Rebecca House’s work Police to Paranoid

Senior leadership also participates in fundraising challenges and charitable events.

​

bottom of page