Measuring our progress and evaluating our success in becoming a trauma-informed nation.
This working group will build into the developing work around our roadmap to implementing the trauma-informed Framework. We will continue to co-create an inclusive mechanism, that adheres to the values and ethos of the Framework itself, to ensure that we are able to evidence the positive change we are implementing and the difference it is making to people, organisations, systems and society across Wales. We commit to involving and including people who experience services as well as those delivering them, through reflective practice and underpinned by the 5 principles of the Framework.
Dr Annette Leponis (BSc (HONS), PhD, DClinPsy) is the Deputy Director of Traumatic Stress Wales (TSW) and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
Annette started her career as a university tutor whilst completing her PhD. She then trained as a Clinical Psychologist, and since then has worked in adult mental health services for the majority of her career, providing and developing psychology services within community mental health teams. More recent work has involved the design, development and implementation of a psychology service to support NHS staff.
For many years, Annette has worked with people who have experienced trauma, developing a special interest working with those who have experienced severe and complex trauma. Annette is an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Europe accredited Consultant Supervisor, an accredited Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) Practitioner, and a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Practitioner. Her core values of compassion and kindness echo the values of TSW and the Trauma-Informed Framework Wales.
Jo is the Programme Director for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Criminal Justice and Violence Prevention at Public Health Wales. A former UK government Senior Civil Servant, Jo worked for the Home Office for twenty years with responsibilities in Violent Crime, Violence Against Women, Immigration and seven years as head of Wales and Devolution, before joining Public Health Wales. In 2018 Jo became Director of the ACE Hub Wales and then took on the PHW lead for the Police and Partners Early Action Together Programme, transforming systems to prevent and mitigate ACEs and promote Trauma and ACE (TrACE)-informed practice in Wales.
Her current role brings all these responsibilities together to develop a TrACE informed approach across public services, communities and society through the implementation of the Trauma-informed Wales Framework. Jo completed a PhD at Aberystwyth University on coercive control in conflict in 2023 and is a Visiting Professor at Wrexham University.
Small group of leads with specific expertise on developing a Theory of Change model.
Plans to expand membership to facilitate the further development and implementation of the theory of Change to support the monitoring and evaluation Framework co-production.
Spotlight sessions in the National Implementation Steering Group have taken place in November 2024 and May 2025; presenting on the progress of the group so far.