Why does Trauma Informed Practice matter?

The story behind this research starts as a Teacher in the Northwest of England. With 20+ years of experience seeing children trying to navigate the education system and  repeatedly falling though the gaps and stumbling over huge hurdles, placed there by insufficiently trained staff. With those staff repeating behaviours passed down from one generation to the next but not backed by evidence. After 20 years in education the patterns become overwhelming, seeing the same behaviour creating the same outcomes and seeing those same vulnerable children ostracised, isolated and even more vulnerable than when they entered the system of education, there has to be a better path. 

This research highlights when individuals are trained in spotting the signs of Trauma/ACES and Attachment (TAA) either in themselves or in others outcomes change. Trauma Informed Practice isn't just about TAA, this approach supports every child, every individual to reconnect with themselves, with each other. TIP is about connection, understanding, compassion, safety, collaboration, empowerment, resilience and cultural humility. This first piece looks at the impact 6 months after in depth training and what the data is telling us. Using a nationally recognised survey to measure pre-post understanding of brain physiology and biology in connection to TAA and developing individual understanding of Trauma Informed Practices (TIP).

Although this research enhances TIP understanding and there were improvements in every aspect including system wide knowledge, training, support and interaction and assessing safety and acceptance these areas require more research. It also highlights that system-wide change requires leadership engagement, structural workforce support for long term implementation of trauma responsive systems. 

It takes a village to raise a child and we need to empower everyone in that village with an in depth understanding of what behaviour is communicating, in that way every child has the opportunity for connection, warmth and possibility not just the ones who had that in the first place.