How we consider trauma
This blog is written by one of our Community Resolution Officers, Lucy. This post was last edited on 10 April 2024.
I recently attended training along with other Support and Enforcement, Neighbourhood and Customer Voice Officers on 'Trauma Informed Practice'. We spent a day learning about the wide impact of trauma, how to prevent triggers and instead empower someone when trying to support them.
Not everybody will react the same
Many people struggle with trauma. In previous roles at other organisations, I worked with drug users and I would estimate that 99% of drug users suffered some form of childhood abuse. It's a scary connection, but it's sadly accurate.
So, when we talk to someone, they not react in a way that we would like or expect to at times. It's important for us to remind ourselves of the impact of trauma and make allowances for it. Childhood trauma adults in all sorts of ways - anxiety, depression, substances misuse, addiction, or relationship issues.
It's a huge problem for the Trust when customers don't run up for appointments or refuse us access for essential safety checks. We absolutely do need to address this - and part of this is also a bigger question about what is going on for individuals, and what we can do to help.
Asking "What does this person need?"
'Trauma Informed Practice' means asking ourselves 'What does this person need?' instead of 'Why won't they let us do the work we need to do?'. It's important we approach all of these situations with understanding, sensitivity, and empathy - as well as making it clear when somebody's behaviour is unacceptable.
I always say that if you feel empathy for a child who has been abused, try and maintain that level of empathy when they grow up into a complex or traumatised adult. It's the same person.