Trauma Informed Practice.

An understanding of trauma-informed practice, and the need for professionals to adapt trauma and psychologically-informed approaches, has been identified in a number of Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) commisioned by Birminghams Safegaurding Adults Board.

The Birmingham Safegaurding Adults Board encurage Partners and their staff to work in a trauma informed manner with the people they are working with 

Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as harmful or life threatening. While unique to the individual, generally the experience of trauma can cause lasting adverse effects, limiting the ability to function and achieve mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being.

Trauma-informed practice can respond to individuals’ experiences by listening to and valuing people’s stories by creating safe spaces to talk, by showing an understanding of the traumas people have experienced, and by responding to their needs without creating new traumas.

Trauma-informed practice:

• puts people before protocols.
• does not try to make people’s needs fit into pre-specified boxes.
• creates a culture of thoughtfulness and communication, continuously doing their best to learn about, and adapt to, the different and changing needs of the individuals they work with.

In order to do this, it is crucial that services are willing and able to engage with complexity. As a result, trauma-informed practice is most usefully defined in terms of ongoing processes, approaches and values, rather than fixed procedures.

Trauma informed practice and approaches involves identifying and recognising the impact of trauma and ensuring services are delivered in ways which prevent further harm and re-traumatisation. Making sure the person is at the centre of practice and that professional practice empowers the person to make choices and to be the expert of their own care, support and safety planning.

Training and Resources 

NHS England have developed a suite of sessions to promote trauma-informed care across health and social care.

Trauma-Informed Care – elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

The Goverment Published Guidance on Trauma informed Practice

Working definition of trauma-informed practice - GOV.UK

In the West Midland Parners have been part of a Coalition Working on developing Trauma Informed Practice

The West Midlands Trauma Informed Coalition

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The term Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is used to describe a wide range of stressful or traumatic experiences that children can be exposed to whilst growing up.

ACEs range from experiences that directly harm a child (such as suffering physical, verbal or sexual abuse, and physical or emotional neglect) to those that affect the environment in which a child grows up (including parental separation, domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol abuse, drug use or incarceration).

There are many examples on the internet of the issues that can affect those who have experienced ACEs.

The following animations have been produced by Public Health in Wales and NHS Scotland to raise awareness of the impact of childhood adversity:

Adverse Childhood Experiences, NHS Scotland

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (Wales)