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The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a Delphi study of trainers in the prevention and safer management of violence in mental health settings that sought to identify and clarify what represents best practice at a European level.

A Delphi method was used to garner the views of a sample of 54 trainers involved in the training of managing violence and aggression on a draft charter of best practice.

A high level of agreement was found with the suggested indicators of best practice but the levels of agreement varied in some key areas and respondents identified a series of omissions from the charter and a number of potential challenges to its implementation.

The sample was restricted to Europe and further research is planned to seek the views of a wider sample.

The charter will provide a reference document for best practice in the interim.

Its implementation will require trainers to consciously identify the ethical implications not just of the content of their training buts its overall approach.

The study is presently unique in its focus and context but further research in this area is underway designed to complement this study.