The SWIFT+R™ Crisis Model

The SWIFT+R™ Crisis Model is a 6-step, practical framework for safe and consistent de-escalation when a young person is in a state of fight, flight or freeze.

It gives your staff a clear, shared language for emotional regulation during crisis.

It was designed by our founder, Ash, based on her 5 years of frontline experience and her personal, lived experience in the care system. She saw that most crisis models fail because they're not "Neuro-Smart" - they overwhelm an already-distressed child with too many words, too much eye contact and too much pressure.

SWIFT+R™ is different. It's a "low-demand, high-safety" model. As we say in the training:

"The goal isn't to 'get control'; it's to give safety back to the young person and to yourself."

 

▷ Key Takeaways

• A practical, 6-step model for trauma-informed crisis response.
• Focuses on protecting dignity and restoring connection, not just managing behaviour.
• A "Neuro-Smart" design that reduces sensory and processing overload (e.g., W – Words Few).
• It's the "emergency harness" that integrates perfectly with the daily SPARK Care™ Framework.
• The ultimate goal: reducing incidents in residential care by building staff confidence and consistency.
  
  

▷ What Is the SWIFT+R™ Crisis Model?

This is the "emergency" layer of our care system. Where SPARK is the daily prevention, SWIFT+R™ is the in-the-moment response.

It's a structure that helps your staff stay regulated, which allows them to co-regulate the young person. It gives them a clear, simple plan to follow when they're in a high-stress "red-zone" moment.

 

▷ A Trauma-Informed Approach to Crisis Management

This framework is rooted in neuroscience. It understands that a child in crisis is in "survival mode." Their thinking brain is offline. You cannot "reason" with them.

That's why our model is built on body language, tone and predictability. We teach staff how to be a safe, non-threatening "anchor" in the storm, rather than another source of threat.

 

▷ The 6 Practical Steps of SWIFT+R™

This is the core of the framework. It's simple, memorable and fits on a pocket card for your staff to carry.

• S: Safe Stance: Soften the scene. Side-on posture, hands visible, lower your height. This non-threatening stance is the first signal of safety.
• W: Words Few: Low and slow. Use short, 3-5 word scripts. "You're safe." "I'm here." "We'll sort it." This avoids overwhelming their brain.
• I: Immediate Regulation: Don't talk, regulate. Offer one co-regulation tool now. "Water?" "Breathe with me." "Walk?"
• F: Focus & Adjust: Read the cues. Watch their body, their breathing, their eyes. Adjust your distance, tone or offer based on what you see.
• T: Time-In, Time-Bound: Stay present. This is not a "time out." It's "time-in" with a clear, safe micro-plan. "I'll stay with you 3 minutes, then we choose."
• +R: Repair & Reconnect: The most important step. Within 24 hours, you always return to restore dignity. "That was tough. We're okay. We start fresh."
  
  

▷ How SWIFT+R Improves Your Service

This framework is the key to improving behaviour management in care settings because it's built for your staff and your Ofsted requirements.

 

▷ It Builds Staff Confidence & Consistency

A primary cause of staff burnout and turnover is a lack of confidence in crisis moments. SWIFT+R™ gives your team a clear, shared plan. This consistency makes staff feel safer and more effective, which is essential for emotional regulation during crisis (for them and the child).

 

▷ It's Built for Repair, Not Just Response

The +R: Repair & Reconnect step is non-negotiable. This is what sets our model apart from procedural ones. It proves to the child that connection is unconditional, which builds the Belonging and Integrity pillars. It also gives you a powerful, restorative practice to evidence for Ofsted.

 

▷ How to Get SWIFT+R™ Training

We offer two clear pathways to get this framework into your home:

1) SWIFT+R™ Foundations Training: A 3-4 hour, live online workshop for up to 12 staff. This is our focused, standalone crisis-response training.

Book the £750 SWIFT+R Training

2) The 6-Month Pilot Programme (Founding Partner Offer) SWIFT+R™ is also included as an optional add-on module within our flagship 6-Month Pilot Programme, where we embed the full SPARK & SWIFT+R ecosystem into your home.

Learn About the 6-Month Pilot

▷ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the SWIFT+R Crisis Model?
A: It's a 6-step, trauma-informed framework for managing crisis moments calmly, safely and with dignity. It's the "emergency harness" for our daily SPARK Care™ Framework.

Q: How does it reduce incidents?
A: By giving staff a clear, confident and consistent plan for safe and consistent de-escalation. It teaches them to co-regulate using a "Neuro-Smart" approach (like W – Words Few), which avoids common triggers and reduces escalation.

Q: Who is it designed for?
A: Registered Managers, Deputies and frontline staff in residential care who are responsible for improving behaviour management in care settings and want a model that is relational, not just procedural.

Q: Does it align with best practice standards?
A: Yes. SWIFT+R™ reflects the same core principles promoted across the sector, including those emphasised by the Restraint Reduction Network™ and BILD ACT, by prioritising low-arousal de-escalation, dignity and restorative repair.