National Preventive Mechanism The use of time-out rooms in institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities: Human rights standards for the use of time-out rooms • may not be the result of inadequate individualised care, insufficient medical or psychiatric care or unsuitable settings; • presumes a crisis intervention plan and de-escalation training for the staff; • is solely for the temporary protection of the person in question or other persons in the event of acute aggression against third parties and is not a permissible measure to discipline or sanction other abnormal behaviour; • should be as brief as possible, with constant observation and the opportunity for calming conversations; • must occur in an environment that is free of fear, stimulus-free and with no risk of injury; • must be documented and reported to the representative(s) of the residents as a measure to restrict freedom; • must be accompanied by observations and analyses of interaction that can show the interaction between the behaviour of the persons involved and actions/reactions of staff or other residents. ¾¾ Placement in time-out rooms is not necessarily a milder measure. ¾¾ Careful use is necessary. 133