A Safe Space That Builds Trust

At Behaviour Challengers 555 Service, the team supports young people who often display high levels of emotional and physical behaviour that can challenge. Their mission is simple but vital: to create an environment where every young person feels safe, supported, and understood while maintaining safety across the whole setting.

Since introducing the Safety Pod in September 2025, the team has seen a remarkable transformation in the way they support behaviour and wellbeing. Looking carefully through the design options, the team chose to customise the Safety Pod in their signature orange colour; a choice that proved powerful. The young people already associated the colour orange with trusted adults in the setting, and that same connection helped them to immediately trust and feel safe with the Pod itself.

This familiarity made the Safety Pod feel like an extension of the supportive environment the team works so hard to create. For many young people, it quickly became a space where they could take control of their own emotions, choosing to sit inside the Pod when they felt anxious or unsettled.

“The young people have taken to the Safety Pod really well and are able to take themselves to sit down when they recognise they’re feeling anxious or unsettled,” the team explained. “It’s helped them become more independent in the way they manage their own feelings and behaviours.”

Reducing Restraints and Protecting Dignity

Before the Safety Pod, staff sometimes had to use standing restraints to manage unsafe situations. While always done with care, these interventions could be physically demanding and emotionally difficult for everyone involved.

With the Safety Pod in place, however, the team noticed a huge decrease in injuries and a significant reduction in restraint time. The pod offers a less invasive way to support safety, one that allows for quicker de-escalation and helps maintain the dignity of the young person in crisis.

“The Safety Pod feels much less invasive” the staff shared. “We’re able to de-escalate much faster and with far less attention drawn to the young person. It really helps us protect their dignity.”

Supporting Staff Wellbeing

The benefits haven’t been limited to young people. The team has also seen a major improvement in staff wellbeing. Physically, the strain of interventions has reduced; emotionally, staff report feeling more confident and less anxious about managing challenging situations.

“Our staff team feels much more supported,” they said. “Their wellbeing at work has hugely improved since the introduction of the Safety Pod.”

A Calmer, Safer Environment

Above all, the Safety Pod has helped create a calmer, safer environment across the entire scheme. It has become a recognised “safe space”- a place where young people can feel calm, safe, and relaxed even when emotions run high.

By encouraging independence, reducing restraint, and improving staff wellbeing, the Safety Pod has become much more than just a piece of equipment. It’s a symbol of the 555 team’s commitment to compassion, dignity, and emotional safety- values that lie at the heart of everything they do.

With special thanks to Paul Wilson and his inspiring team at 555 Challengers for providing such valuable insight into the impact of Safety Pods on wellbeing across their service.

Is your facility equipped to provide the safest, most compassionate care possible? Discover how Safety Pods can transform your care environment- visit www.safetypodinternational.com to explore our full range of products and services designed to protect and support both young people and care staff.