Intro to trauma-informed management

An introduction to trauma- and psychologically-informed management

All organisations supporting people will be working with those who have experienced trauma.  Research also indicates that people who have experienced trauma are more likely to be drawn into working in helping professions, so organisations will inevitably have staff and volunteers who are also affected.

Read Ideas to Impact's blog setting out how this work was delivered as a year-long programme with New Dawn New Day in Leicester to a group of organisations providing or advising about safe accommodation.

This course is best delivered over two days, as whole days or half days, to enable people to take in information and take some action between sessions, it can be delivered as full days or half days.  A version can also be delivered in a day as a faster paced course.


Whilst there has been increasing awareness of taking a trauma-informed approach to work with people accessing services, there has been less focus on how to manage organisations to support this work, as taking a whole systems approach is crucial to support workers working on the frontline.  Additionally, good trauma-informed management is good management in general, so even if trauma isn’t a focus in your organisation, participants will learn more generally about psychologically informed management that will benefit their practice.
This course incorporates leadership and management research plus evidence about psychology and the physiology of trauma with personal and practical experience.  It is aimed at anyone who manages or supervises people (including volunteer managers) whether that’s line management or through projects, or anyone who wants to move into management.
  • Why is it important to know about trauma in the workplace?
  • What is trauma and how does it affect people including effects on the brain and body?
  • Reframing how we look at trauma-conditioned behaviour.
  • Why does this matter for the workforce and how to recognise problems
  • What is attachment and how does this affect people at work?
  • What is vicarious trauma and what steps can you take to recognise and address it?
  • How resilience is experienced in groups and relationships, how to encourage workers to be proactive about their wellbeing, and some tools to recognise when people need more support.
  • What are trauma-informed principles and how do they relate to the workforce?
  • Why psychological safety in the workplace is vital to supporting worker engagement, performance and wellbeing and how to develop it.
  • What factors are important for worker engagement and performance, and how do these relate to psychological needs and trauma-informed practice?
  • Looking at some workplace case studies with a trauma-informed lens (either trainer devised studies or participants can suggest actual situations they have experienced a week in advance of the course).
Participants will come away with some tools to use in the workplace, and some next steps to implement trauma-informed practice into their organisations.

Please be aware that the nature of discussion about trauma can lead to realisations about participants own experiences and can bring up strong feelings.  Participants will be encouraged to take breaks if they need it.  The trainer will be available during part of lunch and after the session to signpost participants to various resources.  It is also important that there is provision for participants to talk to their own managers or other workplace provision as needed.

Course facilitator: Becky Nixon.  Becky has personal and professional experience of trauma, is undertaking a Master's in psychology and has worked with organisations that are developing trauma-informed practice since 2014.  

In-house cost: £900 for one day or £1,600 for two days + trainer’s expenses

If you are interested in attending an open version of this course, or consultancy around any of the topics, please email becky@ideastoimpact.co.uk or use the contact form below.
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