Earlier this week, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, attended an event hosted by the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) on how to support people that have experienced trauma.
People who have suffered trauma often struggle in their relationships with a care provider and in accessing public services. By training staff to use a trauma-informed care approach the focus shifts from “What is wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you?” Health care staff who work in this way and have a complete picture of a patient’s life situation, past and present, can improve a patient’s engagement in their health care without the risk of retraumatising them.
The purpose of this event was to look at what trauma informed care is and to understand how this can be put into practice to support someone who has experienced trauma. Whilst the benefits for a trauma informed approach are hugely beneficial for the patient it can also help reduce staff burnout and excess costs for public services.
This event was open to people working in all roles across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region, including those working in voluntary sector organisations. People with lived experience of trauma and carers also attended the workshop.
Helen Cullen, Senior Project Manager for the No Wrong Door programme at the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board said: “The workshop was a great opportunity to bring together all those across the region who are working with trauma informed care and to share best practice.
“We were delighted that Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones was able to join us on the day and to share her thoughts on the approach we are taking to improve the care we provide our patients.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, said: “I was really pleased to open the conference in my role as the Senior Responsible Officer for Trauma Informed Care for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Partnership.
“This event was about bringing experts together under one roof to look at further embedding trauma informed practice across all public services.
“By doing this, we can increase feelings of safety and trust, and also continue to help break down barriers that some people going through trauma can experience when they’re trying to access public services.”
The NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board is working with the WAVE Trust, an international charity, dedicated to making the world safer by reducing the root causes of violence, including child abuse, neglect and domestic violence. Further information about the WAVE Trust can be found here.