National Trauma Transformation Programme: workforce survey 2024

Executive Summary

Background and Approach

This report presents the main findings from a survey carried out with the workforce in Scotland exploring awareness and attitudes to psychological trauma and trauma-informed practice. The survey was carried out between 4-29 March 2024 by the Improvement Service as part of the National Trauma Transformation Programme.

The research aimed to measure self-assessed levels of confidence, knowledge, skills and understanding of psychological trauma and trauma-informed practice across different sectors of the workforce. It also explored uptake and awareness of resources provided as part of the National Trauma Transformation Programme (NTTP). A previous survey^[1] was carried out in 2021 exploring the same topics. This more recent survey was designed to allow comparisons and track changes over time.

The survey was distributed through multiple channels and networks to reach across the whole workforce within the public and third sectors. Responses were also received from those working within the private social care sector, although these sectors were not directly targeted.

A total of 5,075 responses were received, an increase from 3,590 in 2021. Responses were received from all 32 local authority areas; from the public, private and, third sectors; from a wide range of service areas including children and families, mental health, and social care and social work; and from people performing a variety of job roles and responsibilities including senior staff, elected officials, and practitioners.

Compared to the 2021 survey, a greater proportion of respondents worked in the public sector (88% as compared with 73% in 2021) and thus a smaller percentage were from the private and third sectors. This, together, with other changes in respondent demographics may have had some impact on how responses have changed since 2021.

Self-assessed confidence and experience

As in the 2021 survey, respondents were asked to assess their confidence in four areas: understanding of the 1. concept and 2. impact of psychological trauma, 3. understanding of the concept of trauma informed practice and 4. confidence in applying these in practice.

• Just over half of respondents reported being extremely or very confident in both their understanding of psychological trauma and its impact, compared to around 45 percent in 2021.
• A slightly lower proportion (44%) reported being extremely or very confident in understanding the principles of trauma-informed practice, and only 39 percent reported confidence in applying these principles. In both cases, however, these represent an increase of at least ten percentage points since 2021.
• Reported confidence in all four areas was significantly higher in 2024 than it had been in 2021.
• Responses varied by sector, service area and job role. Significantly more of those working in the third sector reported being very or extremely confident than those in the public sector, across all four statements. Higher levels of confidence were also seen in those working in roles focused on violence against women and equalities, mental health, and alcohol and drugs. Amongst job roles, senior managers tended to report higher levels of confidence across all of the statements.

Trauma-informed Organisations and Services

The next section of the survey asked respondents for views on how trauma-informed their organisation is. Respondents were asked whether they agreed with eight statements about their workplaces and whether they agreed that the key drivers of trauma-informed practice were embedded within the organisation or service. These statements were drawn from: A Roadmap for Creating Trauma-Informed and Responsive Change. Not all of the statements were directly comparable with those asked in 2021. Responses in this section were mixed. There were higher levels of agreement with the statement that staff wellbeing is prioritised (58%) and that feedback is continually used to improve how services are designed and delivered (48%), while agreement with other statements was substantially lower. Only 22 percent of respondents agreed with the statement “our organisation’s budget includes a long-term commitment to embedding a trauma-informed and responsive approach”, with a further 21 percent responding “don’t know” to this statement.

Responses also varied by sector. As with the previous section, those working in the third sector were more likely to agree with the statements, while those working in the public sector were less likely to agree. There was also variation in responses when grouped by service, with respondents working in some service areas, particularly violence against women and equalities, alcohol and drugs, and mental health, more likely to agree. Senior managers were also more likely to agree with the statements than those working in other job roles.

Barriers to Trauma-informed Practice

Respondents were asked to select any barriers to working in a trauma-informed way. The most commonly selected option was a lack of time to undertake training (45%). This was followed by organisational capacity and prioritisation (39%), and limited time to put training into practice (34%).

When asked what support would be required to overcome these barriers, some respondents noted that additional finance and capacity would be required. There was also an ask for more training and in different formats, such as more face-to-face delivery, and sharing of good practice in implementing trauma-informed approaches.

Uptake of the National Trauma Transformation Programme

Respondents were then asked about their awareness and use of NTTP training and resources.

• Forty two percent of respondents said they had been aware of the NTTP prior to completing the survey, an increase of 10 percentage points since 2021.
• Forty eight percent of respondents reported completing some form of NTTP training, an increase of 22 percentage points since 2021.
• Uptake of NTTP resources differed by sector, service, and role. Fifty four percent of those working in the third sector had completed a NTTP session, compared to 48 percent of public sector employees.
• Employees working within certain service areas were also more likely to have previously heard of and completed NTTP training sessions. In particular, more than 60 percent of respondents working in violence against women and equalities, mental health, alcohol and drugs, and learning and development had completed at least one form of training.

Impact of the National Trauma Transformation Programme

There were also significant differences in responses to survey questions when comparing respondents that had participated in NTTP training or information sessions, with those who had not.

• Across all four statements of self-assessed confidence, those who had completed an NTTP session were more likely to report that they were very or extremely confident in understanding the concept and impact of trauma, and the concept and application of trauma-informed principles.
• Around 70 percent of those who had completed NTTP training said that they were extremely or very confident in understanding both the concept and impact of psychological trauma, compared to around 37 percent of those who had not.
• Sixty four percent of those with NTTP training said that they understood the principles of trauma-informed practice compared to 25 percent of those without, and 58 percent of those with training stated that they were confident in applying trauma-informed principles in their work compared to 22 percent without.

There were similar differences around statements on whether the respondent’s organisation was trauma-informed. For example, respondents who had taken part in an NTTP session were more likely to agree with the statement “staff wellbeing is valued and prioritised” (at 65% compared to 51%). Similarly, the statement “our organisation’s budget includes a long-term commitment to embedding a trauma-informed and responsive approach” (at 29% compared to 15%).