Developing a Trauma Informed Education Sector

Developing Trauma Informed Practice in Northern Ireland (NI)

This is a 1 day course either in Antrim or Omagh

The Early Intervention Transformation Programme (EITP) is part of the Delivering Social Change/the Atlantic Philanthropies Signature Programme.  It is key to enabling implementation of Programme for Government (PfG) by joint funding from DoH, DoJ, DfC, DfE, the Delivering Social Change Fund, and the Atlantic Philanthropies. EITP aims to improve outcomes for children and young people across Northern Ireland through embedding early intervention approaches. Work stream 4 EITP  ‘Working Better Together Professional Development – Trauma Informed Practice Project’ aims to strengthen the culture of inter-professional working practice by supporting professionals to train together in undergraduate, postgraduate and post qualifying settings, including in shared practice environments. The project focuses on cross sectoral collaboration aiming to embed commonality in prevention and early intervention approaches, using evidence informed practice and quality improvement initiatives.  Workstream 4 from the outset adopted 2 key outcomes from PfG which are:

• We care for others and we help those in need
• We give our children and young people the best start in life

This EITP project will enable SBNI and the  Education Sector to develop trauma informed practice to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of the children in NI and by so doing improve the educational outcomes for children and young people.

Legislation and Strategy to support Trauma Informed Education System

• Children and Young Peoples Strategy Draft 2019-2029
• Co-Operating to Safeguard Children and Young People Act 2015
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Act NI 2016
• Every School a Good School 2008
• Play Matters – Play for Parents Guide 2019

Infrastructure and skills development

The project identified Trauma informed Advisors within each organisation represented within the Education Sector, training was delivered to key priority groups such as EA, ETI and CCMS in turn strengthening referral processes and pathways, introducing shared language, development of policy and practice, shared ownership and buy in for need to change.  To ensure sustainability and collaboration EA set up a Trauma informed Practice Steering Group which assisted in co-design of materials for training within the authority.

Schools Development Programme

The SBNI held 7 workshops over a 2 week period in late September 2019; these events were attended by leaders from all types of nurseries, schools and colleges throughout Northern Ireland in total 242 leaders attended. The aim of the workshops was for leaders to:

• Explore models of trauma informed education settings
• Lay the foundations for our nurseries/schools/colleges to become trauma informed organisations
• Maximise effective communication, especially during transition times, between all parts of the education sector

There were several outcomes from these workshops as a result of raising awareness of trauma informed practice within the education sector.  These were:

• Immediate need for potential skills development for all front line teaching and support staff (focussing on early identification, appropriate responses and support pathways for children and young people at risk).
• Use of shared language across the sector
• Development of skills and confidence to enable front line staff to respond effectively and resist re-traumatising any person within their school community experiencing trauma.
• Development of trauma informed policies and procedures.
• Multi-agency collaboration to ensure swift effective intervention for children and young people

Sustainability of Trauma Informed Education Sector

Following extensive engagement, multidisciplinary awareness raising and training throughout the education sector, initiatives have been developed to maximise sustainability and development of trauma informed education sector including:

• Leadership programme for Education leaders to identify and develop new ways of working to further develop and sustain Trauma Inform Education System
• Identification of Trauma Informed Advisors within key supporting organisations
• Development of training materials to support professionals

Directorate of Education and Area Planning

In consultation with the Director for Education and Area Planning, it was agreed that the SBNI would facilitate Trauma Informed Practice training days throughout the directorate.  This will allow colleagues the opportunity to explore and develop knowledge and skills that will inform their support to schools in developing a ‘Trauma Informed’ Education Sector, familiarising themselves with support materials that have been co-designed by SBNI and EA respectively.