Reducing restrictive practice across healthcare: How IKON Training supports NHS England’s new guidance

Empowering Healthcare Teams to embed least restrictive, trauma-informed care 

In October 2025, NHS England released its long-anticipated Identifying Restrictive Practice guidance, a milestone in promoting ethical care, dignity, and human rights across health and social care. 

At IKON Training, we share this vision. For over two decades, our work has focused on helping professionals stay in control under pressure through empathy, effective communication, and proactive prevention rather than relying on control. Reducing restrictive practice in healthcare isn’t just about policy; it’s about people. 

We believe every interaction, every choice, and every response has the power to either empower or restrict. And with the right training, reflection, and support, teams can ensure it’s always the former. 

Understanding & reducing restrictive practice 

According to NHS England, restrictive practice includes more than just physical restraint. It spans eight categories, from mechanical and chemical restraint to psychological, environmental, and cultural restrictions — many of which are often invisible but deeply impactful. 

The new guidance challenges organisations to ask an essential question: 

“Is this action restrictive, and if so,  is there a better way?” 

By embedding this reflective mindset into daily practice, healthcare teams can make measurable progress towards safer, more dignified care. 

Each restrictive act must be lawful, necessary, proportionate, and the least restrictive option available. But more importantly, every act should be rooted in understanding, empathy, and effective communication —the hallmarks of truly trauma-informed care. 

How IKON Training is responding 

As a national leader in conflict resolution, de-escalation, and managing challenging behaviour, IKON Training continues to evolve its approach to reflect the latest NHS standards and human rights principles. 

Here’s how we’re supporting healthcare organisations to reduce restrictive practice in real terms: 

• Deepening our focus: Expanding all course curricula to include cultural, psychological, and environmental restraint, not just physical intervention. 

• Prioritising prevention: Strengthening the emphasis on early recognition, de-escalation, and communication to prevent restrictive responses. 

• Embedding trauma-informed principles: Ensuring every training experience promotes emotional safety, trust, and empowerment for both staff and patients. 

• Championing equality and inclusion: Supporting teams to address unconscious bias and apply reasonable adjustments in every scenario. 

• Encouraging reflection and accountability: Providing tools, templates, and structured reviews for incident analysis and organisational learning. 

These actions reaffirm what has always been central to IKON’s approach — enabling people to respond with dignity, empathy, and professionalism, even in the most challenging moments. 

“Together, we can create environments where care and safety coexist without restriction.”  James Crown, Training Director, IKON Training

Building a culture of care 

Reducing restrictive practice is not a tick-box exercise; it’s a cultural transformation. 

It requires leadership, self-awareness, and a commitment to psychological safety. By investing in staff confidence, reflective supervision, and empathy-led communication, healthcare organisations can shift their focus from control to collaboration. 

IKON’s training supports this shift by helping teams balance safety with compassion, fostering environments where people feel both safe and respected, whether they’re staff or those in care. 

Because true safety doesn’t come from restraint, it comes from understanding, connection, and trust. 

Our Ongoing Commitment 

IKON Training remains deeply committed to supporting NHS and healthcare organisations across the UK to: 

• Align their training with NHS England’s latest restrictive practice guidance 

• Embed least restrictive, person-centred approaches in everyday practice 

• Create environments where communication, reflection, and understanding take precedence over control 

When people feel safe, respected, and in control, everyone benefits. Patients experience better outcomes. Staff feel more confident. And organisations build stronger, more compassionate cultures of care. 

That’s the heart of our mission at IKON Training. 

Want to learn more? 

If your organisation is reviewing its approach to restrictive practice or looking for ways to align with NHS England’s new guidance, we’d be glad to help. 

How IKON can help:
Tailored training pathways, consultancy support, and reflective tools designed to embed least restrictive, trauma-informed care. 

Our BILD ACT-certified training meets the Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) Training Standards, ensuring alignment with national best practice. It equips professionals to recognise, prevent, and respond to challenging situations while maintaining safety, dignity, and respect. 

Through evidence-based learning and real-world reflection, participants gain the skills and confidence to de-escalate conflict, reduce risk, and foster positive interactions — even under pressure. 

Learn more about the NHS England guidance here: Identifying Restrictive Practice, NHS England (2025) 

Related Insights 

• Why Do RRN Standards Matter in Creating Safer Workplaces? 

• Violence Prevention and Reduction (VPR) Standard: Do Your NHS Teams Feel Safer? 

• Safer Workplaces Start with Action: What the New CPS Guidance Means for You & Your Team 

FAQs 

1. What is restrictive practice in healthcare?
   Restrictive practice refers to any action that limits a person’s freedom, choice, or movement — from physical restraint to environmental and psychological restrictions.
2. Why is it important to reduce restrictive practice?
   Reducing restriction promotes dignity, autonomy, and trust, improving both patient and staff wellbeing while aligning with legal and ethical care standards.
3. How does IKON Training support the reduction of restrictive practices?
   Through trauma-informed, reflective training that emphasises communication, prevention, and collaboration, IKON helps teams respond safely and empathetically.
4. What are the NHS England ‘Identifying Restrictive Practice’ guidance updates about?
   They provide a national framework for recognising, reviewing, and reducing restrictive practices across health and social care settings.
5. How can NHS teams implement least restrictive care in daily practice?
   By encouraging reflective supervision, de-escalation techniques, and empathy-led communication to prevent restrictive responses.
6. What makes IKON Training’s courses unique?
   All IKON programmes are BILD ACT certified and RRN-aligned, blending real-world insight, reflection, and empowerment to create confident, compassionate professionals.

Conclusion 

Reducing restrictive practice in healthcare isn’t just a policy goal; it’s a shared moral and professional responsibility. 

At IKON Training, we’re proud to stand alongside NHS England and healthcare organisations across the UK, helping them turn guidance into genuine, lasting change. 

Because when care is compassionate, informed, and least restrictive, everyone wins: staff, patients, and the communities we serve.