Trauma Informed Edinburgh Development Session

on the 12th January a development session was held to bring together colleagues who have been identified has having particular knowledge, skills and interest in furthering trauma-informed approaches in Edinburgh, to discuss and share ideas around how to begin this work. There was a particular focus on collectively developing a vision for a trauma-informed Edinburgh and identifying the steps required to work together to support this, who needs to be involved, and the priorities and actions that are required in the short-term to create a strong foundation for furthering this work in the longer term.

Attendees heard from Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick on the current work of Thrive and how we can view this work through a trauma lens before a powerful performance from Bee Asha at Spit it Out focused on trauma and healing. Rowena McIntosh, Trauma Project Manager, Improvement Service gave an overview from the national perspective, with Claire Ryan-Heatley, Trauma Lead Officer, Edinburgh City Council giving an overview of the Trauma Ambassadors and The Passionate About Trauma Network.

There were a several key themes which emerged from the day:

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Ensuring that people with living / lived experience voices are heard and are part our delivery mechanism; building on collective advocacy and user led initiatives

Partnership and collaborative working underpinning all we do

The need to develop a shared language and cultural change of how we think about trauma through community capacity building

Training education and ongoing support for staff and managers across statutory, third sector and private providers

The importance of staff wellbeing staff wellbeing, support, supervision

Spotlighting good practice and scaling up what works well

The need to strengthen communities’ resilience and trauma awareness

Making places and spaces that make communities trauma informed

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The Edinburgh Trauma Partnership Strategic Planning Group will now consider these themes and develop a draft action plan.

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