Trauma-informed practice
In our latest Academic Insights paper, Dr Kieran McCartan (linkedin.com/in/kieran-mccartan-45b89813) summarises the evidence base around trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the lives of people who have committed offences. A trauma-informed approach is promoted which seeks not to re-traumatise with blame and sanction, but to recognise individual strengths and skills, build confidence and re-educate. It is a person first, service user centred approach that is rooted in desistance and strengths-based models, recognising that the causes and impact of trauma are individualised. To fully adopt such an approach requires organisations to think carefully in terms of policy, practice, place and people. Crucially, staff need to be supported, supervised, and enabled in a pro-active way, while individual service users need to be at the centre of the process, allowing their voices to be heard and enabling them to move forward at a sustainable pace.
"Reducing the impact of ACEs takes time and may not totally eradicate harmful behaviour for everyone. For most, we can expect harm reduction, for many desistance, and for some we anticipate risk management, not cure. But the earlier we introduce holistic, supportive, and appropriate social-emotional interventions, the greater likelihood of reducing the impact of ACEs and trauma across the lifespan."
The paper can be accessed via the link below.
Independent advisor, Strategic Director for National Approved Premises Association CIC
4 年In other words, practitioners should do the Right Thing with the Right Individual in the Right Way at the Right Time, and managers should do everything they can to make that individualised good practice more likely to happen?
Executive Director at Just Us: A Centre for Restorative Practices
4 年Where is the link?
Employee Owner-Chief Operating Officer/Social Worker responsible for coordinating operations across the Seetec group
4 年Framing a trauma informed approach in terms of policy, practice, place and people is really helpful, this insight could be used by the probation reform team that has a strand looking at culture for the unified model. There is also an opportunity to look at key performance indicators for the service, are they based on research and evidence such as this, if not why not. In KSS we have rolled out a trauma informed approach, alongside the enabling environments framework.
International Policing Advisor, Independent Investigation Consultant
4 年Thanks for posting Robin Moore A whole system approach is needed across housing drug treatment and mental health services Along with family support and training. The problem is as you point out these are not quick fixes and results will take time, up front funding commitments in the long term can enable some of those support processes to be put in place