National Trauma Transformation Programme: Trauma-Informed Substance Use Pathfinders – Learning Report

Progress and Sustainability of the Trauma-Informed Substance Use Pathfinders

The Pathfinder services were already progressing trauma-informed work without always realising it. It is important for staff morale that these actions are recognised as progress on their journey to becoming trauma-informed. By including several smaller actions in implementation plans that do not require a lot of staff time, it can make the journey feel less overwhelming for staff. Examples of this were the co-produced outputs designed with people with lived experience of trauma and adding training plans into induction packs. Small changes can make a big difference.

A lot of progress can be made in a short period of time, for example nurses had already started providing Safety and Stabilisation work (including normalising, psycho-education, Safety and Stabilisation skills). Staff were reporting using more trauma-informed language and asking themselves more about ‘what had happened’ to a person rather than what is ‘wrong’ with them.

A major challenge for the pathfinder areas going forward will be keeping the momentum started through the project. Many of the implementation activities have been started, however clear progress will only be apparent in a year or two, when this is reviewed and continued change is evidenced. The TIPIG implementation groups are scheduled to continue meeting every 6 weeks, and document and guidance working groups have been implemented.

Motivators for sustainability include continued stabilised staffing levels, addressing wider system constraints that are direct barriers to trauma-informed principles, a continued focus on staff wellbeing and the trauma training staff have received (and will continue to receive in induction packs and with Safety and Stabilisation training).

Staff buy in and commitment to the journey will be the determining factor in success, as will an ongoing commitment demonstrated by leaders at all levels of an organisation, to help overcome the challenges outlined above.