BILD Act RRN Training: The Complete Guide for 2026

The BILD Act RRN training framework exists to ensure that organisations using physical intervention and restrictive practice are trained to a verified, independently evaluated standard. BILD Act certification confirms that a training provider has been assessed against the Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) Training Standards, the only sector-wide standards for restrictive practice training in England. For CQC-regulated settings, using a BILD Act certified provider has been an expectation since April 2021.

What is the BILD Act and what does it certify?

The BILD Association of Certified Training (BILD Act) is the body responsible for certifying training providers against the RRN Training Standards. It is licensed by the Restraint Reduction Network and uses accreditation through the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the national accreditation body for the UK.

Certification is not a quality mark that training providers award themselves. It requires an independent assessment process in which BILD Act evaluates the provider's curriculum, trainer competency, assessment methods, quality assurance systems, and commitment to restraint reduction as a core principle. Providers are re-assessed regularly to maintain their certification status.

What are the RRN Training Standards?

The RRN Training Standards were developed by the Restraint Reduction Network to establish a consistent, values-based benchmark for training in the use of restrictive interventions. The standards cover not only the technical aspects of physical intervention but the proactive, preventative, and post-incident elements that research shows are critical to achieving genuine reductions in restrictive practice.

The standards require that certified training addresses: positive behaviour support and proactive strategies; de-escalation and relational approaches; restrictive physical intervention as a last resort only; and post-incident review and learning. A provider that only teaches physical techniques, however competently, cannot be certified against the RRN Training Standards.

The independent evaluation by Manchester Metropolitan University

The RRN Training Standards were independently evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), with funding from the Burdett Trust for Nursing. This evaluation assessed the standards themselves: their structure, evidence base, and likely effectiveness in reducing restrictive practice across health and social care settings. The MMU evaluation provides the independent academic underpinning for the regulatory expectations that now apply to CQC-regulated services.

It is important to note that this evaluation was of the RRN Training Standards as a framework, not an evaluation of any individual training provider. Organisations that have documented reductions in incidents through their training programmes are drawing on their own client outcome data, which is distinct from the MMU evaluation.

Who needs BILD Act certified training?

The answer depends on which regulator oversees your service. The regulatory landscape is more nuanced than many providers acknowledge, and it is important to understand what is a legal requirement, what is a regulatory expectation, and what is best practice in settings not currently covered by a mandatory requirement.

CQC-regulated health and social care settings

For services registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission, the position is clear. In November 2020, a joint letter from CQC, Health Education England, and Skills for Care confirmed that from April 2021, CQC expects all health and social care services to use training that is certified against the RRN Training Standards.

The letter states that failure to use certified training is likely to be a breach of CQC Regulation 18, which covers staffing. This is a strong regulatory expectation: while it falls short of primary legislation, in practice CQC inspectors apply it as a de facto requirement during inspections of services that use physical intervention. Services that cannot demonstrate use of a certified provider are at risk of enforcement action.

Services covered by this expectation include children's homes, residential care homes, supported living services, and NHS-commissioned services for people with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health conditions. Children's homes registered with Ofsted but also with CQC fall within the CQC expectation for the elements of their service covered by CQC registration. Our children's services page sets out how ProActive Approaches supports registered children's homes to meet these requirements.

NHS-commissioned services

BILD Act certified training became a contractual requirement of NHS-commissioned services for people with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health conditions from April 2020, a year before the CQC position was formalised. Services holding NHS standard contracts who cannot demonstrate certified training may be in breach of their contract, independent of the CQC position.

Settings regulated by Ofsted only

The picture for Ofsted-only regulated settings is different. Schools, early years providers, and children's social care settings that are regulated and inspected exclusively by Ofsted or the Department for Education are not currently required to use BILD Act certified training.

The LGA guidance published in April 2024, produced jointly with CQC, NHS England, and ADASS, states explicitly that where a setting is regulated and inspected by Ofsted or DfE only, CQC has no involvement, and providers are permitted to use trainers who are not UKAS accredited or BILD Act certified, if they choose. This guidance is available on the LGA website at local.gov.uk/publications/reducing-restrictive-practice.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has made recommendations to the Department for Education that BILD Act certification should be required for education settings, but these have not yet been implemented. The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015, Regulation 20, governs the use of restraint in children's homes but does not specify training certification requirements.

For Ofsted-only settings, BILD Act certification is therefore best practice rather than a current legal requirement. Given the trajectory of regulation and the strength of the evidence base, it is reasonable to expect that the requirement will extend to education and social care settings outside the current CQC scope in the future. Choosing a certified provider now places your organisation ahead of that curve and, more importantly, gives your staff and the young people you work with access to training that has been independently verified to support genuine reduction of restrictive practice.

If you are unsure about your regulatory position, our team is available to advise. Browse our upcoming certified training events or get in touch to discuss your specific service context.

What the RRN Training Standards require of certified training

Understanding what the standards require helps commissioners, managers, and HR professionals make informed choices about training providers. Certification against the RRN Training Standards is not simply a matter of a provider registering with BILD Act. It requires evidence of compliance across multiple domains.

Values and culture

Certified training must be grounded in a clear commitment to reducing restrictive practice, not managing it. The standards require that physical intervention is positioned as an absolute last resort, used only when necessary to prevent injury or serious harm, and that every aspect of the training programme emphasises proactive, preventative approaches ahead of any physical technique.

This values orientation is significant. It means that a certified provider cannot simply add a module about positive behaviour support to a programme that is primarily about physical control techniques. The philosophy of restraint reduction must permeate the entire curriculum, from the first module to the final assessment.

Proactive and preventative content

Certified training must include substantial content on proactive approaches: understanding the function of distressed behaviour, identifying triggers and early warning signs, building positive relationships, using the environment to reduce the likelihood of crisis, and supporting people to develop communication and regulation skills. This is the content that actually produces reductions in restrictive practice over time.

Our restraint reduction training is built around these proactive principles, with physical intervention content covered only within the context of a comprehensive, person-centred framework.

Physical intervention techniques

Where physical techniques are included, they must be evidence-based, proportionate, and regularly reviewed for safety. The standards prohibit techniques that pose known risks of injury or death, including prone restraint in most contexts. Certified providers must have a clear process for reviewing and updating their physical techniques in line with emerging safety evidence.

Post-incident review and learning

The standards require that certified training addresses what happens after a restrictive intervention: debriefing for staff, support for the person who was subject to the intervention, incident recording, root cause analysis, and feeding learning back into the proactive plan. Post-incident review is where the long-term reduction in restrictive practice happens, and certified training must equip staff and managers to conduct it effectively.

How to choose a BILD Act certified training provider

Certification is the baseline, not the ceiling. Within the pool of BILD Act certified providers, there is significant variation in quality, sector specialism, and the depth of support provided beyond the training room. Choosing the right provider requires looking beyond the certification badge.

Sector experience and specialism

Training for a children's home requires different sector knowledge than training for an NHS mental health ward or an adult learning disability service. The scenarios, the regulatory context, the client group's specific needs, and the safeguarding frameworks all differ significantly. Look for a provider with demonstrated, documented experience in your specific sector.

ProActive Approaches has over 30 years of experience in residential childcare and specialist education settings, which shapes how our trainers contextualise the standards for the specific situations your staff face.

Evidence of outcomes

Ask potential providers for evidence that their training produces measurable outcomes in services like yours. Certification confirms that a provider meets the standards; it does not guarantee effectiveness in your specific context. ProActive Approaches clients have documented an 80% reduction in incidents following our training programmes: an outcome that reflects the depth and quality of the training and the ongoing support we provide to organisations implementing what they have learned.

Ongoing support, not just a one-day course

Effective restraint reduction requires cultural change as well as skills training. A one-day course, however well-delivered, is unlikely to produce lasting change if it is not embedded within a broader organisational development process. Look for providers who offer follow-up support, organisational consultancy, and refresher training that builds on previous learning rather than repeating it.

Our BILD Act certified training is designed as part of a long-term organisational partnership, not a standalone event. We work with services to develop implementation plans, monitor outcomes, and adapt our approach based on what the data from your service shows.

BILD Act certification and safeguarding

Choosing a BILD Act certified provider is, at its core, a safeguarding decision. Poorly trained staff represent a risk to the people in their care: a risk of injury, a risk of trauma, and a risk of a culture that normalises restrictive practice rather than working to reduce it.

The regulatory expectations attached to BILD Act certification reflect a sector-wide recognition that restrictive interventions carry inherent risk, and that the only way to manage that risk responsibly is through training externally assessed against a robust, evidence-based standard. This is not a bureaucratic exercise: it is a commitment to the safety and dignity of people who are among the most vulnerable in our society.

Positive behaviour support as the foundation

The most effective certified training programmes are built on a foundation of Positive Behaviour Support: the evidence-based framework that focuses on understanding the function of distressed behaviour, building proactive strategies, and developing the environment and relationships that make crisis less likely. Our positive behaviour support training is integrated within our certified framework, ensuring that staff understand why restrictive practice should reduce, not just how to perform a physical technique safely.

Frequently asked questions

Is BILD Act certification the same as RRN certification?

They refer to the same process. The RRN Training Standards are owned and maintained by the Restraint Reduction Network. BILD Act is the body that certifies training providers against those standards. When a provider says they are RRN certified or BILD Act certified, they mean the same thing: their training has been assessed and found to comply with the RRN Training Standards.

What happens if a CQC-regulated service does not use certified training?

CQC has stated that using non-certified training where restrictive interventions are used is likely to constitute a breach of Regulation 18 (staffing). This can result in enforcement action, requirement notices, and potentially impact on the service's inspection rating. The practical risk depends on the specific circumstances of the service and the nature of any incidents that occur, but the regulatory expectation is clear and consistently applied since April 2021.

Do schools need BILD Act certified training?

Not currently. Schools regulated and inspected exclusively by Ofsted are not required by law or by Ofsted's inspection framework to use BILD Act certified training. However, certified training represents best practice and may become a formal requirement as the regulatory landscape evolves. Schools that adopt a certified programme now are better placed for future regulatory changes and, more importantly, provide their staff with training verified to produce genuine reductions in restrictive practice.

How often does BILD Act certified training need to be refreshed?

The RRN Training Standards set requirements for refresh intervals, which vary depending on the physical techniques included and the risk level of the service. As a general principle, physical intervention skills should be refreshed at least annually. The proactive and relational elements can be integrated into regular staff development throughout the year. Your certified provider can advise on the specific requirements for your service type and staff roles.

Can agency or bank staff attend BILD Act certified training?

Yes, and in CQC-regulated settings, they should. The regulatory expectation applies to all staff involved in the care and support of service users, not just permanent employees. Services relying heavily on agency staff who have been trained by a different certified provider should check that the training is current and appropriate for the specific context of your service. Providers trained to the same standard but in a different service type may need additional orientation before working unsupported.

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BILD Act RRN training certification provides independent assurance that your staff are trained to a verified, evidence-based standard committed to the reduction of restrictive practice. For CQC-regulated services, it is a regulatory expectation. For all services, it is the clearest signal that your training provider takes their responsibility to the people in your care seriously.

To find out more about ProActive Approaches' BILD Act certified programmes, contact our team or view our upcoming training events.