We will support children and young people to help them thrive and reach their full potential.
The Scottish Government made a commitment to preventing adverse childhood experiences and to supporting resilience and recovery of all children and adults affected by psychological trauma. Part of this commitment included investment of over £3m since 2018 to establish a National Trauma Training Programme, led by NHS Education for Scotland, to support a trauma informed and trauma responsive workforce and services.
Shetland Islands Council signed the national Leadership Pledge of Support to confirm our ongoing commitment to embedding trauma informed principles and practice to support anyone affected by psychological trauma.
In October 2021, the Scottish Government announced funding to local authorities for 2021-22 and 2022-23 to support the implementation of this programme. Each local authority received two payments of £50,000.
The council’s Chief Social Work Officer agreed that £21,229 of this funding would be allocated to Workforce Development for 2022-23 to cover additional staff time required to further trauma-informed training and practices. This has been in place since June 2022. The remaining funding is to be used to progress other aspects of this work including supporting partnership working, engaging with those with lived experience and commissioning external trauma training providers for further roll out of high quality training.
This approach is crucial for improving the lives of children and families as part of the implementation of The Promise and for fulfilling children’s rights set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A Trauma Champion Network, consisting of senior leaders from local authorities, health boards, health and social care partnerships and other key community planning partners, is helping to progress trauma-informed practice in local areas and share learning across geographical and professional boundaries. The council’s Chief Social Work Officer is Shetland Islands Council’s trauma champion.