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Sensory tools for de-escalation work by reducing the sensory load on an overloaded nervous system or by providing regulated sensory input that supports a return to baseline arousal. Whether a specific tool helps or worsens an escalation depends on the young person's individual sensory profile, the stage of the escalation arc, and whether the tool is introduced in a way that adds demand.

A handover after escalation in supported accommodation transfers the incoming staff member's ability to respond well in the next shift. A handover that records only what happened gives the next worker an event summary.

Restraint as a last resort is not a standard that exists in policy alone. It is a standard that requires staff to have a genuine, practised alternative available at every point before that line is reached.

An escalation log that Ofsted inspectors trust records the neurological state, environmental context, staff response and recovery outcome of every incident not just the behaviour that was visible at the peak. Most supported accommodation escalation logs record only the peak.

Post-incident repair in supported accommodation is the process of restoring the relationship between a staff member and a young person after a distressing incident. De-escalation ends the incident. Repair determines what happens next: whether the young person's trust in the environment increases or decreases and whether the frequency of future incidents reduces or stays the same.