John Brierley – Managing Director

As the Chief Executive, John has led the strategic growth and development of PRICE Training since 2008.

From a children’s social care and education background, John has over 30 years of practice and leadership experience across a range of direct and non-direct services for vulnerable children and adults.

John supports a number of social care organisations to improve the lives of vulnerable people and deliver quality outcomes, with a focus on corporate social responsibility and adding positive social value.

 “It’s about improving the quality of life for vulnerable people; PRICE Training has been a sleeping giant within the sector with so much expertise and now, with the arrival of the new RRN Standards, never has there been a more exciting time to redefine the restraint training landscape with innovative and creative approaches to supporting organisations to reduce the use of restrictive practices.”

Helen Dear – Training Co-ordinator

Helen looks after all course bookings and enquiries in her role as Training Co-ordinator. Having worked in the learning and development department of the NHS for 16 years, Helen is more than equipped to manage the busy administration, logistics and post-course support that comes with a high volume of courses.

“The COVID pandemic has certainly presented new challenges for us administratively, with courses being regularly re-scheduled. It’s been a tough time for all our customers as they try to ensure their staff are suitably trained whilst ensuring everyone remains safe and well through this difficult time.”

Rhea Ebank-Simpson – Research Assistant

Currently studying a Masters in Human Rights at Goldsmiths University, Rhea combines her studies with part-time work at PRICE Training and Age UK. Passionate about human rights, equality and social justice, Rhea contributes to ensuring PRICE Training keeps human rights on the agenda in her role as a part-time Research Assistant.

From writing articles, reviewing guidance and condensing research, Rhea is driven to explore the injustices throughout all aspects of life, notably with a keen interest in the concept of how vulnerable lives are commercialised.

Recently working for an independent domiciliary care provider, Rhea experienced how low paid staff were working under poor conditions, having to make up for ‘lost time’ in their own time. Witnessing how lost time never affected the company, motivated Rhea to do her dissertation on the commercialisation of vulnerable people.

PRICE Training are pleased to have such a driven and considered young professional as part of the team.

“I recently participated in the making of the PRICE Training technique videos, acting as a person being held. It was so insightful and allowed me to begin to understand the impact of being held against your will. Restricting someone’s liberty is a significant responsibility for others to take over another human being and it has inspired me to explore the human rights issues surrounding restraint. I hope to share my work through articles and reviews for PRICE Training.”

Danielle Greening – Administration & Digital Marketing

Danielle joined the team in 2020 in a dual role of administration and marketing support, ensuring all pre and post-course activities are recorded within the content management system. Degree qualified in marketing, Danielle also takes the lead on ensuring PRICE Training maintains a social media presence on Facebook and LinkedIn, planning and scheduling all media activity as well as keeping the website up to date.

“I’ve really enjoyed learning about what we do at PRICE Training and I’m learning every day about the wide range of sectors and setting we support!”

Linda Gresty – Director

From a psychology and social work background, Linda has held a number of leadership roles in social care and education settings both within the statutory and independent sectors. Taking the lead at PRICE Training on content development and accreditation, Linda places a great emphasis on the need for training to be service user specific as well as meeting the learning objectives of those who provide support. Linda ensures all PRICE Training courses comply with the Restraint Reduction Network Standards.

“When I was a children’s home RSW in the late 80s, I was first trained in restraint by the local Police!….. thankfully we’ve come along way since then, but there’s still more to do. The new RRN Standards have raised the bar even higher, so whether you are a mandatory or non-mandatory service, it’s now no longer good enough to just hold people safely and prevent them from harm. It’s about up-skilling teams to be creative and dynamic when responding to behaviours of concern as well as review the environments of those they support to ensure they are compatible with the individuals needs.”

Colin Matthews – Director

As a Principal Trainer, Colin primarily focuses on course delivery for instructor courses. Prior to becoming a trainer in 2010, Colin came from an operational management background in children’s residential childcare both the statutory and independent sectors. As a qualified social worker, he has worked in many challenging settings from secure facilities to high security children’s services, where violence and aggression is all too familiar. Colin’s training focuses upon ensuring that the knowledge and skills imparted are fit for purpose and heavily rooted in the realism to match the challenge frontline workers often face on a daily basis. Colin is authorised under the RRN certification scheme to deliver approved programmes across multiple sectors and settings.

“The physical part of what we do is no longer the predominant feature. Today, my job is about motivating workforces to feel confident and skilled enough to search for other solutions before relying on physical techniques. Of course, we don’t always have a choice, but the more we seek to understand behaviours, the better we can develop strategies to defuse and de-escalate situations that otherwise may end in restraint.”

Mike McBride – Director

Mike is the Operations Director of PRICE Training, balancing his role between primarily delivering training and supporting customers. With over 25 years’ experience in adult mental health and children’s residential care, Mike places customer support at the very heart of what we do. Taking a lead on the quality assurance of the physical components of PRICE Training courses, Mike seeks to uphold the highest standards of course delivery as well ensure the fidelity of the PRICE techniques are never compromised. Mike is the Lead Senior Trainer under the RRN certification scheme to deliver approved programmes across multiple sectors and settings.

“I love my job so much! Meeting some amazing people, practitioners and service users …. all of whom want the very best for their service and those they support. Some of the most rewarding pieces of work I get to do, are when we work in partnership with organisations to come up with creative solutions; for example, to offer support and guidance to prevent a placement breakdown and when we succeed, it doesn’t get any better than that!”

George Panayi – Trainee

Joining the team in early 2019, George is a former professional cricketer and has now started his training to become a  PRICE Trainer. Playing 1st class cricket for Warwickshire for 6 years, Covid-19 has unwittingly changed the direction of George’s career.

George is training to become a PRICE Instructor to support our sport and leisure customers whilst remaining involved in cricket coaching and playing in the Minor Counties.

With so many inner-city youth activities and country wide junior sporting clubs bringing young people together, equipping staff and volunteers with the right skills to appropriately respond to potential disruption and conflict is essential to the smooth-running events.

“I’ve learned so much since I joined PRICE Training and can’t wait to get out there and start training. As part of our job at Warwickshire Cricket Club, we would visit local schools within Birmingham and coach young people who were identified as on the fringe of exclusion or in need of positive role models. Some children would struggle to engage and their difficulties would play out as disruptive behaviour within the group. I wish I knew then what I know now!”

Gill Parker – Finance Manager

With over 30 years of experience in finance management within the care sector, Gill has looked after all PRICE Training’s financial operations since 2008. Under her watchful eye and attention to detail, Gill makes sure all monies come in on time and everyone gets paid on time! By ensuring the Directors always receive timely and accurate accounting reports, PRICE Training enjoys strong financial stability enabling it to absorb the typical peaks and troughs associated within our sector.

“I remember back in 2008 when John asked me to do just a few months temporary cover at PRICE Training alongside my other commitments; and here I am, still here! I’ve seen the business grow from strength to strength and it’s great to be part of such a kind and friendly team.”

Lewes Preece – Trainer

As a registered social worker, predominantly from a children’s residential care background, Lewes brings a diverse range of experience to the team. From holding supervisory positions within both children’s homes and independent fostering agencies to serving as a Special Constable with the West Mercia Constabulary, Lewes has been using the PRICE model since the mid 90s whilst directly working with children and young people. He subsequently became a PRICE Instructor in 2014.

With over 25 years’ experience of working in environments where exposure to violence and aggression can begin to feel like an occupational hazard, Lewes places a significant emphasis on the importance of using diffusion and de-escalation skills as the primary tools to resolve conflict.

Lewes is authorised under the RRN certification scheme to deliver approved programmes across multiple sectors and settings.

“From my experience, the best outcomes I have seen for many of the children and young people in care who have experienced past trauma, is when they have a secure base that is formed from consistent relationships with adults they can trust and rely upon.   You can still get behaviours of concern which may unfortunately result in the need to use physical interventions, but the quality of the relationship has a huge bearing on how such incidents are brought to a close.”

Jamie Price – Trainer

Having been a PRICE Trainer since 2016, Jamie has recently joined the team as a full-time Senior Trainer.  From primarily a residential school background, Jamie has worked as a Senior Behaviour Support Worker with pupils diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and autism. Placing a significant emphasis upon learners maintaining the quality and fidelity of the techniques, Jamie prides himself on ensuring course delegates leave his courses more than just competent but instead, excelling in their technical knowledge and ability. Jamie is authorised under the RRN certification scheme to deliver approved programmes across multiple sectors and settings.

“I always aim to make sure my course delegates leave feeling up-skilled and able to return to their organisations with a sound understanding of how to reduce the likelihood of an incident turning into a restraint. It’s equally important that they also feel confident when they do have to act and physically intervene; they can apply physical holds safely and with the person’s best interests at heart.”

Grant Quayle – Trainer

Grant has been a PRICE Trainer since 2015, having previously worked as a Classroom Support Teacher in a residential SEN school. Grant himself was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and received special educational support throughout his schooling.  It is this part of Grant’s life that has led him to pursue a career in behaviour support training. With his lived experience, Grant offers the team an invaluable insight into the emotional impact of restraint, as well as contributing to PRICE Training’s course design and content.

“As a kid, having been restrained many times myself, I hope I bring a different dimension to our training. As I have become older, I feel more comfortable and confident to share my experiences in the hope that others can learn about the impact restraint can have on an individual’s self-worth and life chances.”

Millie Tabram -Research Assistant

Having worked part time at PRICE Training since 2015, Millie has balanced covering a range of admin support roles with her study commitments. Recently, Millie kindly volunteered to ‘act’ as a young person in the filming of our technique recap videos, producing an Oscar worthy performance!

Currently studying a masters in Psychology, as well as working as a part time Residential Support Worker in a children’s home, Millie is keen to develop her understanding of behaviour and particularly how it can negatively impact on educational attainment.

Millie’s long-term ambition is to become registered with the Health and Care Professions Society as a Practicing educational psychologist.

“Children in schools today have so much more to contend with than any time in the past. Growing up through a technological revolution, with the proliferation of phones and social media, pupils face another layer of complexity when growing up. I’m particularly interested in the research around how this use of media is impacting on children’s educational attainment and subsequent behaviour in class.”

Julie Taylor – Director

As the Director for business administration, Julie ensures that PRICE Training provides a dynamic support to frontline trainers and customers. Having been a founding partner of the UK’s largest children’s services and safeguarding online procedures company, Julie brings a wealth of experience of sector specific content management, data recording and material resources. Julie takes a lead on supporting customer organisations around compliance with the Restraint Reduction Network Standards.

“It’s no longer acceptable to just record an incident or tally-up the number of incidents. If we are going to shine the light on restraint reduction, it is essential that organisations develop dynamic data recording systems that can inform practice and affect change. Our role is to support organisations to make sense of that data and ensure that subsequent training reflects what we have learnt.”

Sandra Whitworth – Trainer

Sandra comes from an adult social care background, having joined PRICE Training from Mencap. Sandra has been a Senior PRICE Trainer since 2015 and specialises in caring for adults who have profound multiple learning disabilities. From her previous role as a manager responsible for training and recruitment, Sandra places a significant emphasis upon ensuring our training remains contemporary and relevant to the needs of staff as well as reflective of the needs of the vulnerable service users they support.

“It’s so important across the spectrum of social care services, that staff feel supported by their organisation in what is often a physically and emotionally challenging environment. Quality training is at the very core of valuing staff and impacts directly on the people they support.”

Corrie-Ann Willetts – Trainer

Corrie-Ann comes from a learning and development background rooted in adolescent to adult life preparation services for adults with autism. She has been a Senior PRICE Trainer since 2015 alongside training in a range of other mandatory care sector courses (First Aid, Medication, Safeguarding and SPELL (an individualised and person-centred approach to support people on the autistic spectrum). Corrie-Ann promotes a person centred, holistic approach to behaviour support and she is authorised under the RRN certification scheme to deliver approved programmes across multiple sectors and settings.

‘I love delivering PRICE Training… and I think it’s important to have women delivering high quality restraint training in an industry that has traditionally relied on men presenting as the ‘subject expert!’”