Strategies for creating a safer environment using the Timian 2.0 principles.
JL Academy partners with Timian Learning and Development to offer comprehensive solutions for organisations aiming to enhance their operations. Timian's certified Positive Behaviour Management programme focuses on healthy relationships and ethical standards, reducing potential risks.
They are endorsed by the Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) and certified by BILD ACT for quality and safety. Through our collaboration, we tailor programmes to your organisation's needs, providing ongoing support for successful implementation.
Contact us to explore Timian's transformative potential and create a secure, nurturing environment.
In any environment where interactions can become tense, understanding how to defuse and de-escalate a crisis is paramount. Whether in healthcare, education, or social care, these skills are crucial for maintaining safety and fostering positive relationships.
This guide, drawing on the comprehensive principles outlined in the Timian 2.0 Instructor Manual, will explore the core concepts and practical strategies for effective defusion and de-escalation.
The cornerstone of preventing and managing crisis situations is the development of healthy relationships. A sense of safety and trust is fundamental. When individuals feel safe, both physically and psychologically, the likelihood of a crisis diminishes significantly.
This foundation is built on three key ingredients:
A practical framework for responding to individuals in crisis. Not a rigid sequence, but a series of considerations.
Maintain at least two arm’s lengths. Respect proxemics (intimate, personal, social, public).
Body language speaks volumes. Keep an open, non-threatening stance. Sit if they are seated.
Unless necessary for safety. Unwanted touch can be perceived as a violation and escalate the crisis.
Your calm regulates their chaos. Maintain a measured tone, low volume, and even pitch.
Culturally specific. Mirror the individual’s level. Prolonged staring can be confrontational.
Redirect attention to safe subjects or activities. Do not present this as a conditional reward.
The primary actions shift as the situation evolves.
Action: Engage. Build relationships and understand preferences.
Action: Listen. Identify the trigger and use 'SPACED' to de-escalate.
Action: Engage/Redirect. Offer choices and diversions to help regain control.
Action: Protect. Ensure safety using the least restrictive interventions necessary.
Action: Support. Listen as they return to baseline.
After a crisis, debriefing is critical for learning. The Timian model advocates for a three-stage process:
Download our "15 Minute Blameless Debrief" guide. It includes the exact scripts and questions to turn incidents into insight.
Download Free ToolBy understanding and applying these principles, we can create safer environments for everyone. It is a continuous process of learning and reflection.