1-Day Handcuff Application Course
Handcuff Application Course
Course Overview
This Handcuff Application Course is designed to provide staff working in secure environments – including mental health services, secure transport, and security roles – with the essential knowledge and practical understanding required for the safe, lawful, and ethical use of handcuffs and other restraint equipment.
The course is grounded in the legal framework of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, with a strong emphasis on risk assessment, proportionality, duty of care, and best practices in managing high-risk and potentially hazardous situations involving restraint.
Participants will learn to make informed, legally defensible decisions in high-pressure environments while ensuring the dignity and safety of all involved – staff, service users, and the general public.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for professionals working in secure, forensic, or mental health settings who are responsible for safely managing, applying, or overseeing the lawful use of restraint within high-risk environments.
- Mental Health Practitioners in Secure Units
- Staff in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs)
- Forensic Mental Health Services Personnel
- Security Officers working in Healthcare and Secure Facilities
- Secure Transport Staff handling at-risk individuals
- Team Leaders and Managers responsible for restraint protocols
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Legal & Ethical Foundations
- Understand the employer’s legal responsibilities under Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
- Recognise individual and organisational accountability when using restraint equipment.
- Identify the legal thresholds and ethical considerations for the use of handcuffs in care settings.
Risk Assessment & Planning
- Conduct a dynamic and structured risk assessment prior to the use of restraints.
- Apply principles of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to anticipate and mitigate foreseeable risks.
- Understand when and how to involve senior staff, external agencies, or legal counsel in restraint planning.
Safe Application of Restraints
- Demonstrate correct and safe techniques for applying handcuffs and other restraint equipment.
- Identify risks related to positional asphyxia, medical conditions (e.g., epilepsy, cardiac issues), or mental health crises.
- Recognise when restraint is no longer necessary and how to de-escalate appropriately.
Communication & Documentation
- Effectively communicate with colleagues, service users, and other stakeholders during high-risk interventions.
- Accurately document incidents involving restraint, ensuring transparency and defensibility.
- Reflect on incidents to improve team practice and organisational policy.
Human Rights & Dignity
- Apply principles of proportionality, necessity, and least restriction in all interventions.
- Recognise the psychological impact of restraint and how to provide post-incident support for both staff and service users.
- Promote trauma-informed and recovery-focused approaches to safety and security.
Assessment & Certification
- Practical Skills Assessment (Safe Use of Handcuffs)
- Short Written Knowledge Check
- Certificate valid for 1 year (recommended annual refresher)
1 Day
Theory & practical
Flexible
½ day refresher for recertification
Enquiry Form
Ready to Book?
Protect your staff with the 1-Day Breakaway & Self-Defence Course and give them the confidence to safely handle conflict in high-risk situations.
Delivered on-site or online by experienced trainers, this practical programme ensures compliance, reduces risk, and builds a safer workplace.
Take the next step today — enquire now to secure your training date.