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.”

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!’”

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 is authorised 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!”

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.”