Stress & Distress
Stress and distress training helps your team support people at risk of stressed and distressed behaviour positively, safely and effectively. Delivered on-site by our experienced trainers, with practical work wherever the subject allows.
About the course
Support stressed and distressed behaviour positively
By the end of the course, delegates will:
- Understand how stress becomes distress, and why dementia lowers the threshold
- Recognise distress in its quiet forms as well as its active ones
- Treat new or worsening confusion as delirium and escalate it the same day
- Apply capacity, consent and least-restrictive principles in daily practice
- Look for physical causes, including pain, before trying to manage a behaviour
- Identify triggers in the environment, the task and their own approach
- De-escalate safely, and recognise what makes a situation worse
- Record, reviews and escalate appropriately, and support colleagues
What you’ll cover
Full course content
Everything the course covers, exactly as our trainers deliver it:
Understanding Stress and Distress
- What we mean by stress and distress
- Why the words matter
- A threshold that keeps falling
- Two faces of the same thing
- The quiet ones are missed
Dementia, Delirium and the Brain
- What dementia is, and is not
- More than memory
- Why dementia and distress travel together
- Delirium: always consider it first
The Legal Framework in Brief
- What the law asks of you
- Capacity and consent
- The limits on restraint
- Deprivation of liberty
- England and Wales
Looking Beneath the Behaviour
- Causes and triggers are different things
- Start with the body
- Pain: the most important single cause
- Mental health and life history
Triggers, Environment and Our Part
- Four kinds of trigger
- The building is part of the care
- The two commonest triggers of all
- Your own state is part of the situation
Recognising and Understanding
- Know the baseline
- Early warning signs
- ABC records and their limits
- Building a formulation
Preventing Distress
- Person-centred care is a method
- Knowing the person
- Activity and occupation
- Communication, pace and consistency
Responding in the Moment
- How an episode unfolds
- Steady yourself first
- De-escalation in practice
- What makes it worse
Restrictive Practice and Medication
- What counts as restraint
- When it may lawfully be used
- Antipsychotic medication
- Two common misunderstandings
Recording, Reviewing and Staff Support
- Record what happened
- Review and debrief
- When it becomes safeguarding
- Looking after each other
Keep exploring
Related behaviour management courses
These subjects sit naturally alongside this course, and we can combine courses into one visit.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Where is the training delivered?
All of our training is delivered on-site at your service, anywhere in the UK. We come to you, so there are no travel costs or venue hire for your team.
How long is the Stress & Distress course?
It runs as a full day (6 hours) course, delivered in one visit unless stated otherwise.
How many delegates can attend?
Up to 12 delegates per session. We keep practical groups smaller so everyone gets hands-on time.
Is there a practical element?
Yes, delegates practise the techniques hands-on during the course, guided by the trainer.
Do delegates receive a certificate?
Yes, every delegate receives a certificate on completion. We recommend refreshing every year.
How much does the course cost?
We price every course on application, based on your dates, location and delegate numbers. Use the contact buttons below. We reply quickly with a quote.
Can we combine courses into one visit?
Yes. Many clients build a full training day from shorter courses, and we can deliver several subjects in one visit. Just tell us what your team needs.
Do you only train care providers?
No. This course suits care & nursing homes, home care, hospitals, special schools & SEN settings, supported living. If your sector isn’t listed, ask and we’ll tailor the course to your setting.
Book this course
We bring Stress & Distress training to your service
Delivered on-site at your service, nationwide, with pricing on application. Tell us your dates and delegate numbers and we’ll reply quickly with a quote.
Part of our behaviour management training range. Also explore mental health training and neurological training.