Promoting Better Outcomes
By James Hourihan | Director, JL Academy
In sectors such as health, social care, and education, there is a growing recognition of the profound impact trauma has on the individuals we support.
It is no longer enough to simply manage behaviours. To provide truly effective support, we must understand the root causes of distress. Trauma-informed training has emerged as a crucial approach to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide effective support, avoid harm, and promote positive outcomes.
Understanding Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is an approach that recognises the widespread impact of trauma and aims to create a safe, supportive environment. It shifts the fundamental question from “What is wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you?”
This shift involves understanding and responding to the signs and symptoms of trauma to avoid re-traumatisation and actively promote healing.
The Purpose of Trauma-Informed Training
Why is this training essential? It serves several critical purposes in modern care settings:
- Enhancing Awareness: It increases understanding of diverse trauma types and their impact on physical, emotional, and psychological well-being (SAMHSA, 2014).
- Building a Culture of Safety: It underscores the necessity of establishing environments where individuals feel secure, respected, and empowered (Bath, 2015).
- Improving Communication: It equips professionals with the skills to communicate effectively, fostering trust with those who have experienced adversity (Bloom & Farragher, 2011).
- Preventing Re-traumatisation: By understanding triggers, professionals can modify their practices to avoid actions or language that could inadvertently cause further harm (Harris & Fallot, 2001).
The Cycle of Incident Management
One of the key goals of training is understanding how to manage incidents without causing further trauma. At JL Academy, we view this as a four-stage cycle. Training ensures that staff are competent at every stage, not just during the crisis:
- Preparation: Proactive planning and environment management.
- Incident: Managing the event safely and ethically.
- Hot Debrief: Immediate post-incident checks for safety and well-being.
- Post Incident Debriefing: Formal reflective learning to prevent recurrence.
Key Elements of the Curriculum
Effective trauma-informed training typically covers these core components:
- The Neurobiology of Trauma: Understanding how trauma affects the brain and subsequent behaviour.
- The 6 Principles: Safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity.
- Recognising Signs: Identifying how trauma presents in behaviours and emotions, often disguised as “defiance” or “withdrawal.”
- Communication Skills: Mastering active listening, empathy, and validation techniques.
- Vicarious Trauma: Strategies for professionals to manage the emotional toll of their work and prevent burnout.
5 Benefits of Adopting These Practices
Implementing this training leads to measurable improvements in service delivery (Hodgdon et al., 2016):
- Improved Engagement: Individuals are more likely to engage with services when they feel safe and understood.
- Reduced Challenging Behaviours: Addressing underlying causes rather than symptoms leads to positive coping mechanisms.
- Enhanced Emotional Well-being: The approach actively supports resilience and healing.
- Increased Staff Satisfaction: When professionals feel equipped to handle complex needs, job satisfaction rises, and burnout decreases.
- Better Overall Outcomes: From educational attainment to health markers, trauma-informed interventions work.
Conclusion
By investing in trauma-informed training, organisations create more supportive and effective environments. This leads to better outcomes for the individuals we serve and a healthier, more resilient workforce.
Learn more about trauma-informed training?
Get in touch with JL Academy Ltd to discuss training options. We offer tailored programmes to meet your organisation’s specific needs. Contact us today to find out how we can help you implement effective trauma-informed practices.
James Hourihan BScEcon, MScEcon, MIoD, FRSA
Director, JL Academy Ltd
References
- Bath, H. (2015). ‘The three pillars of trauma-informed care in residential treatment’. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 24(3), pp. 17-21.
- Bloom, S. L., & Farragher, B. (2011). Destroying sanctuary: The crisis in human service delivery systems. Oxford University Press.
- Harris, M., & Fallot, R. D. (Eds.). (2001). Using trauma theory to design service systems. Jossey-Bass.
- Hodgdon, H. B., McAlister, A., & Madigan, S. (2016). ‘Trauma-informed care in child welfare: A systematic review of intervention and implementation research’. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 17(2), pp. 191-207.
- SAMHSA. (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884.
