Join strategic, frontline staff and trainers to explore governance, safety culture and restraint minimisation across different sectors.
Following the success of our inaugural conference, described by delegates as “excellent”, “phenomenal” and “unique”, PMVA Associates is proud to host our 2nd Annual Conference focusing on Aggression, Violence, Challenging Behaviour and Restrictive Interventions — a critical and escalating cross-sector issue.
Recent data highlights the scale of the challenge. The 2025 NHS Staff Survey reports that 31% of ambulance staff experienced physical violence from patients or the public in the previous 12 months - the highest of any NHS sector. In acute settings, incidents of physical violence across 89 trusts in England rose from 2,093 in 2019 to 4,054 in 2024, with reports indicating that a member of A&E staff is assaulted every hour during a typical working day.
Yet outside specialist mental health services, many NHS acute trusts, ambulance services and education providers operate with limited prevention and de-escalation training, placing sustained pressure on frontline teams and strategic leaders alike.
As the implementation of Right Care, Right Person reshapes responsibilities between health, police and emergency services, organisations must ensure staff are equipped to respond safely, lawfully and proportionately to behavioural crisis, without defaulting to enforcement-led responses.
Bringing together strategic and clinical leaders, frontline professionals and trainers, this conference will explore governance, legal accountability, staff wellbeing, prevention strategies and restraint minimisation. Delegates will gain insight into under-explored challenges, hear how organisations are responding, and leave with informed, strategic considerations to strengthen safety culture, staff confidence and human rights-centred practice across acute, pre-hospital and education settings.
Wednesday, May 6 2026 from 9 am to 4:30 pm
King's House Conference Centre
245 Ampthill Road
Bedford
MK42 9AZ