What Is the NHS Conflict Resolution Course?

The NHS Conflict Resolution course is "Conflict Resolution - Level 1," the statutory e-learning module in the UK Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF), developed by Skills for Health.

It's mandatory for all frontline NHS staff and professionals whose work brings them into direct contact with the public, usually completed via e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) or a trust's own platform.

The module covers the causes of conflict, techniques for managing aggressive or challenging behaviour, and the legal boundaries of reasonable force. It's a short e-learning session plus an assessment, refreshed roughly every three years.

Passing it satisfies the statutory requirement, but it's self-paced and online - not a substitute for hands-on practice. Trusts typically pair it with in-person training like Stand2's Managing Challenging Behaviour Training for Healthcare, which builds on the e-learning with real de-escalation scenarios. For staff outside a specific sector pathway, our full conflict management training course covers the same practical skills in more depth.

What is reasonable force in terms of self-defence for NHS staff?

NHS staff have the same right to defend themselves as anyone else.

Under UK law, you can use force if you honestly believe it's necessary to protect yourself or someone else, provided the force is reasonable in the circumstances as you saw them at the time.

There's no set list of what counts as reasonable. Each situation is judged on its own facts: the threat you faced, the options available to you, and whether the force stopped once the danger had passed.

The e-learning explains these principles, but it can't teach staff how to apply them safely under pressure. That's where our training comes in.