Everyone in Wales could benefit from understanding trauma and adversity. Some of us may only need to understand what trauma and adversity is and the impact that it can have on individuals whilst others need to know how to actively support someone who has experienced trauma. Therefore, increasing knowledge and understanding around trauma and adversity is an important part of becoming trauma-informed but training alone is not enough to embed a trauma-informed approach.
In this area, you will find the practice levels, introducing what they are, resources to explain them and exemplars of training available in Wales at each level.
The Trauma-Informed Wales Framework has four defined practice levels. Every person in Wales will fit into one or more of these levels in their personal and professional lives. Find out more about which level you fit into and the training and resources available to you below:
Trauma-aware is a universal approach that emphasises the role that we all have as members of Welsh society, personally and professionally, and seeks to raise awareness and understanding. It challenges perceptions that maintain oppression and inequality, and highlights that people in all communities have a role to play in preventing ACEs, adversity and traumatic events, providing community-led responses to the impact of ACEs and trauma, and supporting resilience through connection, inclusion and compassion.
Learn MoreA trauma-skilled approach is embedded within the practice of everyone who provides care or support to people who may have experienced trauma, whether or not the trauma is known about. This applies to most organisations and services in Wales, and many working in and with the community.
Learn MoreA trauma-enhanced approach is used by frontline workers who are providing direct or intensive support to people who are known to have experienced traumatic events within their role, and encompasses ways of working to help people to cope with the impact of their trauma.
Learn MoreSpecialist interventions may be formal personalised and co-produced interventions that are offered within a range of settings, or specialist input to support organisations and systems to be trauma-informed.
Learn MoreWe recommend that you make an assessment of which practice levels you need through the ACE Hub Wales Self-Assessment Tool which will help to reflect and understand the progress your organisation is making in embedding Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (TrACE)-informed practice, and the development of a training strategy.