Stand2 Renews SECAmb Conflict Resolution Training Partnership

Violence against ambulance staff has been rising across the UK for years - a long-standing, sector-wide challenge driven largely by alcohol, drugs and patients in mental health crisis, rather than by any failing of crew training or preparedness. It's against that backdrop that Stand2 has renewed its role as South East Coast Ambulance Service's (SECAmb) specialist conflict resolution training partner, continuing a working relationship that began in 2024 and now covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the wider SECAmb region.

The renewal reflects a partnership now well into its second year, and sits alongside Stand2's wider work across the sector: the company has trained ambulance crews since 2003, and today also holds active training relationships with London Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service. That specialism matters more than it might first appear. Conflict resolution training built for a retail environment or a corporate office doesn't hold up in an ambulance context, where staff work alone or in pairs, in patients' homes, on roadsides, and in the back of moving vehicles - often with someone in genuine medical or psychiatric crisis, and no colleague within reach if things escalate.

If you're researching wider conflict management training options outside the ambulance sector, our full course overview covers every level in more depth.

Why This Matters: The Scale of the Problem SECAmb's Crews Face

SECAmb's own figures sit inside a national picture that's been getting worse for years, long before any single trust's training arrangements. National data from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) shows recorded incidents climbing from 15,430 in 2021/22 to 22,536 in 2024/25 - a rise of roughly 46% in just three years, and the highest number since comparable records began. AACE attributes the large majority of these incidents to factors entirely outside any crew's control: alcohol is the most common cause, followed by drug use and patients in mental health crisis. It works out to at least 62 ambulance workers abused or attacked every single day, across the UK.

That 52% figure is worth sitting with. It comes from the most recent NHS Staff Survey, and it's risen sharply from 38% the year before - meaning an ambulance worker today is more likely than ever to face violence on shift, not less, despite years of national campaigns and body-worn cameras now standard across every English ambulance service. Reported incidents range from common assault to attacks involving weapons - kicking, punching, head-butting and spitting all feature in AACE's figures - and nearly one in three ambulance staff nationally report experiencing unwanted sexual behaviour from a patient or member of the public in the past year alone.

For SECAmb's crews specifically, that risk plays out in patients' homes, on roadside verges, and in the back of moving vehicles - working alone or in pairs, often with a patient in medical or psychiatric crisis, and no colleague within reach if things escalate. It's a fundamentally different environment to almost any other frontline NHS role, and it's exactly the environment Stand2's ambulance-specific training is built for.

Specialist Since 2003 - Not the Biggest, the Most Specialist

Stand2 has never set out to be the largest conflict resolution training provider in the UK. Since 2003, the focus has been narrower, and more deliberate: becoming genuinely specialist in ambulance sector training, rather than treating it as one line among many industries served.

That distinction shows up in how the work actually gets done. Rather than take on as many organisations as possible, Stand2 works with a small number of ambulance trusts, which means real, ongoing relationships rather than one-off engagements - understanding each trust's region, workforce and pressures well enough to stay flexible even at short notice, rather than fitting every trust into an identical delivery template built for volume.

Against the backdrop above, that's not a marketing distinction. It's the difference between training that theoretically covers the right topics, and training built specifically around the reality of lone working, unpredictable environments, and patients in genuine crisis - which is the only kind of training that holds up when it's actually needed.

What SECAmb's Team Says About Stand2

Nothing makes the case for a long-term training partnership better than the people who've sat through it, year after year. Here's what members of SECAmb's team have recently said about working with Stand2:

"Stand2 gave great conflict resolution training to our ambulance service. Very useful for staff, not PowerPoint heavy and extremely interactive. The trainers were great, had all the answers and very supportive of us training."

"It's been a pleasure collaborating and working together over the last three years to embed this programme in our ambulance service!"

"Nice to see you again Paul, 3rd year running and we keep coming back to your company!"

"The session was led by Paul who is as always an excellent teacher. He shares his wealth of knowledge and experience in a meaningful and impactful way, whilst always considering the learners' experience and keeping the sessions fun and engaging."

"While covering a very serious topic it was done in a light hearted way and allowed for open and honest conversation. Great training, safe and realistic methods that work. I would highly recommend this course."

"A good course, well explained. The trainers are very experienced and interesting in their delivery. Thank you S2"

"Great course. Very interactive and informative. Highly recommended."

These reviews, and others like them, are visible on Stand2's Google Business Profile.

Two Decades of Ambulance Sector Specialism

Stand2 has worked with the ambulance sector since 2003, and today holds active training relationships with London Ambulance Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service. Every programme is medically reviewed and grounded in the same core principles: Safety First, Prevention Before Intervention, Ethical Decision-Making, Least Restrictive Practice, and Trauma-Informed, Context-Led practice.

If you'd like to find out more about Stand2's ambulance service training, or discuss how a similar partnership could work for your trust, get in touch with our team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Stand2's SECAmb Training

What is conflict resolution training for ambulance staff?

Conflict resolution training for ambulance staff covers recognising escalating situations early, de-escalating verbally wherever possible, dynamic risk assessment on scene, and safe physical techniques as a last resort - all adapted for the realities of lone working and unpredictable environments rather than a fixed indoor setting.

Why do ambulance crews need specialist training rather than generic conflict management courses?

Ambulance crews face a different risk profile to almost any other frontline role - working alone or in pairs, in patients' homes, on roadsides, and in moving vehicles, often with a patient in medical or psychiatric crisis. Generic conflict management courses, built for retail or office environments, aren't designed around lone working or the specific pressures of pre-hospital care.

How often do ambulance staff need to refresh their conflict resolution training?

Under the national Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) that most NHS ambulance trusts follow, refresher training is typically required on a three-year cycle, alongside the initial induction programme.

Does Stand2 work with other UK ambulance services?

Yes. Alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service, Stand2 holds active training relationships with London Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service, and has worked specifically within the ambulance sector since 2003.

Sources referenced

1. AACE, national violence and abuse incident data, 2021/22-2024/25.
2. NHS Staff Survey 2025, published by NHS England, March 2026 (fieldwork autumn 2025), as reported by Professional Security Magazine.