Trauma Informed Practice for Children & Young People

Unit 1:

Trauma, Brain Development & Attachment

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how early relationships with primary care givers impacts brain development

• Understand changes that happen to the brain during adolescence

• Understand the principles of attachment theory and how these apply in day-to-day practice

• Understand what is meant by relational trauma and how this can present in children

• Explore the principles of ‘therapeutic parenting’ and how we can apply these in day-to-day practice

Unit 2:

Child & Adolescent Development

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the different areas of child and adolescent development

• Understand the factors that can affect healthy development

• Understand the prevalence of difficulties among children who are, or are at risk of being, looked after

• Understand the difference between chronological and developmental age

• Understand social and cultural factors that can affect development, including difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ children

Unit 3:

Complex Behaviours

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand why children display complex behaviours

• Understand how developmental theories underpin complex behaviours

• Understand the term ‘formulation’ and how it helps us understand complex behaviours

• Learn theories about child development that enable us to understand complex behaviours

• Understand why children may lie or make false allegations

• Learn ways to work with children who may lie or make false allegations

• Understand why children self-harm and how to support them

• Understand the term ‘harmful sexual behaviour’ and how to support children with a history of this behaviour

• Understand why some children may engage in aggressive or violent behaviour

• Learn how to work with children who display aggressive or violent behaviour

• Understand how violent and, or aggressive behaviour impacts upon the wider team

Unit 4:

Resilience, Self-Care & Compassion Fatigue

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand resilience and its importance when working with children in care and children who have experienced trauma

• Understand how resilience and relationships are connected

• Understand the meaning of indirect trauma

• Explore their own triggers, signs of stress and reduced resilience

• Explore own self-care needs and support options

• Understand what self-regulation is and why it is important

• Understand compassion fatigue and how it impacts practice and relationships with children in care and children who have experienced trauma

• Understand the importance of reflective practice and supervision

Unit 5:

Trauma Informed Practice

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the concept of adopting a ‘trauma lens’ within practice

• Understand why we don’t say ‘what is wrong with you?’

• Learn how to apply the core principles of a trauma informed approach

• Understand the wider implications of safety

• Understand the concept of re-traumatisation

• Recognise a trauma informed environment

• Learn about ACEs and the importance of building relationships

• Be able to reflect on group living dynamics

• Understand how to work with breaks in relationships

• Understand the importance of positive endings

• Learn about restorative approaches

• Understand why formulation is critical within the care planning process

Unit 6:

Trauma Informed Leadership

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how trauma impacts organisations

• Understand the importance of positive role modelling by managers

• Understand how emotions affect the way we work

• Understand the concept of re-enactment and why it isn’t helpful

• Understand how secondary trauma can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout

• Recognise why leadership is important when adopting a therapeutic parenting approach

• Explore how supervision can help embed trauma informed practice

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