Spotlight on Trauma-Informed Practice

Strengthening our trauma-informed approach across the organisation

Trauma-informed practice continues to be at the heart of how SCRA supports children, young people and families. We recognise that many of those who engage with the Children’s Hearings System have experienced adversity, trauma or significant life challenges, and we are committed to ensuring that every interaction is informed by an understanding of these experiences.

What has been happening?
Throughout the year, we have continued to strengthen our trauma-informed approach across the organisation. Colleagues have participated in learning and development opportunities designed to increase awareness of trauma and its impact, helping to ensure children and families experience a service that is compassionate, respectful and responsive to their needs. We recognise that to reach our ambition to be a trauma-informed organisation across people, policy and practice training our trauma programme must extend much further than training alone.

We continue to strengthen our trauma-informed approach through close collaboration with Public Health Scotland’s National Trauma Transformation Programme delivery partners, including Public Services Delivery Scotland (formerly NHS Education for Scotland), the Improvement Service and the Resilience Learning Partnership.

Through our engagement with this work, SCRA has continued to build knowledge, skills and confidence across the organisation, helping to embed trauma-informed principles into everyday practice. This supports our commitment to creating environments where children, young people and families feel safe, valued and understood, while ensuring that trauma-informed practice becomes a sustainable and enduring part of how we deliver our services.

Here are some of the highlights:
Transforming Connections Trauma Training Page 34 in line with the NES Transforming Psychological Trauma, knowledge and skills framework, 84% of our staff have been trained by our team of internal Trauma Trainers to trauma skilled practice level.

Reflective Sessions
Planning is taking place to deliver regular reflective sessions supporting the transition from learning theory to implementation and embedding of trauma informed practice, increased confidence and consistency of staff in responding in a trauma informed way, support for staff wellbeing, stronger professional relationships, improved outcomes for children and young people as well as an organisational culture change.

Reflective Lens Session with Resilience Learning Partnership
Resilience Learning Partnership is a lived experience led organisation that work alongside organisations to explore and understand the role of lived experience in implementing Trauma Informed Practice. During February and March RLP ran a number of Trauma Lens session with staff providing a guided organisational assessment of current practice, highlighting what we already do well, barriers, gaps and challenges. These were followed up with Trauma Lens Reflective Sessions to inform the development of an action plan and gauge our readiness to start the journey on the National Trauma Transformation Programme roadmap for creating trauma-informed and responsive change.

Trauma Informed Justice Training
We are developing bespoke enhanced practice level Trauma-informed justice training for staff who have a role presenting, examining, interpreting or making decisions based on evidence relating to traumatic events or obtained from witnesses who may be affected by trauma.

Our trauma-informed journey is one of continuous learning, refection and improvement. By investing in workforce development, creating opportunities for reflective practice and working collaboratively with national partners, we are building the foundations for a truly trauma-informed organisation. This work will help ensure that children, young people and families experience SCRA as a service that understands the impact of trauma, responds with compassion and respect, and supports participation and positive outcomes.

As we move forward, we remain committed to embedding trauma-informed principles across our people, policies and practice, ensuring they become an enduring part of how we deliver our services and fulfil our commitment to Keeping The Promise.