Based on the findings of the NPM, human rights standards for the use
of time-out rooms can be summarised as follows:
The use of time-out rooms in institutions and facilities for persons with
disabilities:
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.
Placement in time-out rooms is not necessarily a milder measure.
Careful use is necessary.
82
Human rights standards
for the use of time-out
rooms
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents