Defensive Practice

This course is designed to help healthcare and social care professionals understand the risks of defensive practice and develop confident, ethical, and person-centred approaches that prioritise the needs of patients/service users while protecting themselves and their organisation.
Audience: Health and social care professionals across all settings. This session is for anyone who makes decisions in care delivery and may feel the pressure of scrutiny, complaints, or fear of blame.
Delivery Method: Face-to-face or virtual
Duration: Half-day

Introduction

This course supports healthcare and social care professionals to move away from defensive practice and develop confident, person-centred, and professionally accountable approaches to care. Participants will explore how professional standards, effective communication, and accurate documentation contribute to safer, higher-quality practice and stronger relationships with patients, families, and colleagues. Through practical examples and reflective discussion, the course builds confidence in decision-making, encourages openness and transparency, and helps professionals manage risk in a way that supports good care rather than fear-driven practice.

 

Course Content

  • Understanding defensive practice and why it can negatively impact care
  • Promoting professional standards and codes of conduct to support confident, ethical practice
  • Developing accurate, factual, and timely documentation to support good decision-making (not self-protection)
  • Strengthening clear and effective communication with colleagues, patients, and families
  • Raising and responding to concerns openly and appropriately
  • Maintaining healthy boundaries and professional relationships
  • Learning through case studies and scenario-based discussion to encourage reflective practice
  • Building confidence and resilience to reduce fear-driven practice and complaints anxiety

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

  • Understand what defensive practice is and recognise its impact on the quality of care
  • Apply professional standards and codes of conduct to support confident, ethical practice
  • Maintain accurate, factual, and timely records to support good care and sound decision-making
  • Communicate effectively to promote clarity, trust, and shared understanding
  • Recognise potential risks and address them proactively through good practice rather than fear-based decision-making
  • Demonstrate appropriate professional boundaries in interactions with patients, families, and colleagues

Course Benefits

  • Reduces legal and safeguarding risks
  • Promotes consistent, professional standards
  • Enhances accountability and transparency
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