Psychologically and trauma-informed culture and systems

Psychologically and trauma-informed systems and culture

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.  Some organisations think of trauma-informed work as something that happens between frontline workers and people accessing services, but in order to be truly trauma-informed and to support frontline workers there needs to be a whole organisational response.

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 will help existing and aspiring leaders and managers to think through what culture means and how it's achieved, and provide an overview of various systems and processes that support a psychologically and trauma-informed organisation.

This one day course is a follow on from the one-day general introduction to psychologically and trauma-informed approaches, which participants will need to have attended or have a comparable understanding of trauma and its effects.

This can also be delivered as a consultancy package within organisations, including more in-depth work on each of the different aspects of the course.


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.  Participants will:
  • Identify what being a psychologically and trauma-informed organisation involves including looking at what culture is and how to set and achieve an appropriate culture.
  • Consider what factors need to be included in a psychologically and trauma-informed organisation policy and procedure (with model document provided).
  • Consider the roles of different people within the organisation in designing and implementing trauma-informed practice.
  • Examine some key areas in psychologically and trauma-informed practice, including human resources and workforce development, service design and work planning
  • Identify how equity, diversity and inclusion intersects with experience of trauma and how to implement trauma-informed EDI processes
  • Consider collaborative working and decision-making at different levels in the organisation and how to incorporate trauma-informed perspectives
  • Identify how to monitor and evaluate whether psychologically and trauma-informed practices are having an impact
Participants will come away with an action plan and 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 an Master's in psychology, and has worked with organisations that are developing trauma-informed practice since 2014.  

In-house cost: £875 for one day + trainer’s expenses

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