Fall Prevention Awareness

Course Overview

Fall Prevention Awareness Training gives care staff the practical, evidence-based knowledge to understand why falls happen, how to identify and manage the risk factors that contribute to them, and what to do when a fall occurs. It is not a passive course. It builds the habit of thinking about falls prevention as part of daily care rather than a response to an incident after it has happened.

Falls are not random events. They are the predictable outcome of unmanaged risk, and in health and social care settings, that risk is present every day in the environment, in the individual’s changing condition, in the medication they take, and in the habits of the staff supporting them.

One of the most consistent and dangerous responses to a fall is also one of the most understandable: a care worker sees someone on the floor and immediately tries to lift them. It is instinctive. It feels like help. But lifting a person who has fallen without first assessing for injury, without appropriate equipment, and without following a safe system is one of the leading causes of secondary harm following a fall. It can turn a manageable incident into a serious one. And it is entirely preventable with the right training.

This course also addresses the patterns that lead to repeated falls. A risk assessment completed at the point of admission and never reviewed. A care plan that does not reflect what happened the last time the individual fell. Environmental hazards that have become so familiar nobody notices them any more. These are not failures of intention. They are failures of the system, and they are what this course is designed to interrupt.

The course reflects NICE guideline NG214 (Falls: assessment and prevention of falls in older people, 2023), NICE CG161 (Falls in older people), NICE Quality Standard QS86, and the expectations of the Care Quality Commission under Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment) and Regulation 17 (Good Governance). It aligns with NHS England’s falls prevention programme and current guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.

Course Details

  • Duration: Half day (3 hours)
  • Delivery: In-person at your venue, or live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams
  • Certificate: CPD-accredited certificate of achievement in Fall Prevention Awareness
  • Refresher: Every 1 to 2 years, or sooner following a significant fall incident, changes to an individual’s condition, or identification of practice gaps through supervision or audit
  • Group size: Flexible for team training

Who This Course Is For

This course is right for any care staff whose role involves supporting individuals at risk of falls, including:

  • Care assistants and support workers in care homes, supported living, and domiciliary care
  • Senior carers and team leaders
  • Residential and nursing home staff
  • Domiciliary care workers, including those supporting individuals alone in their own homes
  • Nurses and healthcare assistants
  • Registered managers and supervisors responsible for falls risk assessments and care planning
  • Personal Assistants supporting individuals through Personal Health Budgets, Continuing Healthcare, or Direct Payment arrangements

Why This Fall Prevention Training Matters

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions among older adults in England. NICE guideline NG214, published in 2023, sets the current evidence-based standard for falls assessment and prevention, and its message is clear: falls in older people are not inevitable. They are the result of identifiable, assessable, and manageable risk factors. The role of care staff in identifying those risk factors, acting on them, and updating care plans when circumstances change is one of the most direct contributions to preventing serious harm.

For an older adult, a fall is rarely just a physical event. Hip fractures, one of the most common serious consequences of falls in older people, carry a significant mortality risk. Beyond fractures, falls cause loss of confidence, reduction in mobility, increased dependence, and psychological harm that can outlast the physical injury by months or years. An individual who falls and is not properly supported through the aftermath may become so fearful of falling again that they restrict their own movement, reducing the activity that would help them stay stronger and more independent.

CQC Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment) requires providers to ensure that care is delivered in a way that protects individuals from avoidable harm. Falls that result from unassessed risk, from care plans that have not been updated, or from staff who do not know what to do when someone falls are, in most cases, avoidable. CQC inspectors look at falls data, post-fall review processes, risk assessment quality, and whether staff can describe what they would do if someone fell in their care. A service that cannot demonstrate a systematic approach to falls prevention and post-fall response carries direct regulatory risk.

The immediate response when someone falls also matters clinically. Attempting to lift a person from the floor without first assessing for injury, and without appropriate equipment or a trained second person, is not safe care. It risks further injury to both the individual and the care worker, and it is directly contrary to current guidance. This course ensures care workers know what to do, and what not to do, in the critical minutes following a fall.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

  • Explain why falls happen and identify the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that contribute to them
  • Recognise individuals at higher risk of falling, including those with specific conditions, medication profiles, or environmental circumstances that increase risk
  • Understand the physical, psychological, and social impact of falls on individuals and why fall prevention is inseparable from person-centred care
  • Carry out environmental risk awareness in care settings and identify hazards that are frequently overlooked because of familiarity
  • Understand the correct immediate response when a person falls, including why attempting to lift without assessment and equipment is unsafe and what to do instead
  • Contribute to falls risk assessments that are specific, current, and reflect the individual’s actual circumstances rather than a generic template
  • Understand when a care plan must be updated following a fall and why failing to do so creates repeated risk
  • Record and report falls accurately, including what information is clinically relevant and why documentation quality matters
  • Support post-fall recovery in a way that maintains confidence, dignity, and independence
  • Understand how post-fall review and learning from incidents reduces the likelihood of recurrence

Course Content

Content is adapted to your setting and client group, but typically covers:

  • The scale and impact of falls
  • Why falls happen
  • High-risk groups
  • Environmental risk awareness
  • Falls risk assessment
  • The correct response when a person falls
  • Post-fall care
  • Updating care plans after a fall
  • Recording and reporting
  • Learning from incidents
  • Promoting safe independence

How the Course Is Delivered

Sessions are practical, discussion-based, and grounded in the real situations care workers face. The aim is not just awareness of why falls happen but a genuine shift in how staff think about falls risk as part of daily care. Delivery includes:

  • Real-life scenarios drawn from care settings, including the immediate response to a fall and the post-incident review process
  • Environmental risk-spotting exercises that challenge learners to see hazards that familiarity has made invisible
  • Discussion of falls risk assessment quality and what makes a care plan effective rather than formulaic
  • Reflective discussion on the habits and assumptions that allow risk to go unmanaged
  • Time for questions, because falls prevention consistently generates them once learners start applying the principles to their own setting

Certification and Validity

On completion, learners receive a CPD-accredited certificate of achievement in Fall Prevention Awareness.

A refresher is recommended every 1 to 2 years, or sooner following a significant falls incident, a change in the condition or care needs of an individual being supported, or where supervision, audit, or CQC feedback identifies gaps in falls prevention practice. Many organisations align falls prevention refreshers with their health and safety and risk assessment training cycles.

In-House and Bespoke Training

We adapt delivery to your setting, your client group, and the specific falls risks your team encounters.

We can build content around:

  • Your internal falls policy and incident reporting system
  • The specific risk factors most prevalent in your service, including dementia-related falls, post-operative mobility, or medication-related risk
  • Domiciliary care contexts, including lone working, home environment assessment, and escalation without immediate senior support available
  • Your care plan documentation and what good falls-related care planning looks like within your systems
  • Combined delivery with Moving and Positioning People, Health and Safety Awareness, or Safeguarding Adults for a joined-up programme

Course Location and Service Areas

We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue across Manchester, Greater Manchester, and the wider North West. We also deliver nationally, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.

For teams in multiple locations or with remote workers, this course is available live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, with no drop in quality or interaction.

All sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors. Every trainer holds an Enhanced DBS certificate.

FAQs

Is falls prevention training a legal requirement?

Falls prevention is not a standalone legal requirement by name, but it is directly embedded in employer duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CQC Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment), which requires providers to ensure care is delivered in a way that protects individuals from avoidable harm. Falls that result from unassessed or unmanaged risk are, in most cases, avoidable. CQC inspectors treat falls prevention as a core element of safe care delivery and look specifically at whether staff are trained, whether risk assessments are current, and whether post-fall reviews are completed.

What should a care worker do immediately when someone falls?

Do not attempt to lift the person from the floor. This is one of the most important things this course addresses. The correct immediate response is to stay with the individual, keep them calm, assess for injury, call for appropriate assistance, and ensure the person is kept warm and comfortable while help arrives. Attempting to lift without assessment, without appropriate equipment, and without a trained second person risks further injury to both the individual and the care worker. This course covers the correct post-fall response clearly and in practical detail.

How does this course support CQC compliance?

The course directly supports compliance with CQC Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment) and Regulation 17 (Good Governance). It builds the knowledge and practical awareness CQC inspectors expect care workers to demonstrate around falls identification, risk assessment, post-fall response, and care plan maintenance. Training records from this course, alongside falls data and post-fall review documentation, form part of the evidence that inspectors examine when assessing a service’s approach to fall prevention.

Does this course include moving and handling?

This course focuses on falls awareness, prevention, and post-fall response. The correct response to a fallen individual, including why you must not attempt to lift them unaided, is covered. For practical moving and handling skills, including hoist use, sling selection, and safe transfer techniques, see our Moving and Positioning People course.

Related Courses

Book or Enquire

To book Fall Prevention Awareness Training or request a quote for your team, use the enquiry form on this page or contact us directly.

Our Commitment to Quality and Compliance

At Prima Cura Training, all courses reflect current UK guidance and best practice.

All trainers are experienced professionals with relevant qualifications and ongoing CPD. Because many of the organisations we support work with vulnerable individuals, all trainers hold Enhanced DBS checks.

This course is reviewed against updates from NICE, NHS England, the Care Quality Commission, the Health and Safety Executive, and current UK legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Course content aligns with NICE guideline NG214 (Falls: assessment and prevention of falls in older people, 2023), NICE CG161, and NICE Quality Standard QS86.

You can read more on our Quality Assurance and Compliance page.

Reviewed by Stephanie Austin, Owner and Lead Trainer, Prima Cura Training | 25+ years in health and social care | 15+ years as a trainer | Last reviewed: April 2026 | Next review: April 2027

This page is for general guidance only and reflects current UK legislation, NICE guidance, and sector best practice as of the date of review. It does not constitute clinical or medical advice. Fall Prevention Awareness Training is an awareness-level course and does not replace organisation-specific falls risk assessments, individual care plans, or clinical falls assessment by appropriately qualified healthcare professionals. Where an individual has fallen and an injury is suspected, emergency services should be called, and the individual should not be moved until assessed by a clinician. Care workers must always act within their role and in accordance with their organisation’s policies and procedures.

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