Nation Update: Scotland

December 2020

A brief update on learning and best practice in the field of childhood trauma in Scotland. Discover information and ideas about how to best support children and young people after experiences of trauma.

How can we support children and young people who have experienced trauma during a crisis, like the coronavirus pandemic? What ways can we approach developing evidence-based frameworks and guidelines with and for children and young people and currently under-represented communities? We look to Scotland to see how a national trauma-informed approach can support crisis response, recovery planning, and radical change in the ‘care system’.

The Independent Care Review

In February, after 3 years of intense and detailed work, the Independent Care Review published ‘The Promise’ (PDF), a report laying out a new approach to Scotland’s ‘care system’. Through five foundations and over 80 calls to action, ‘The Promise’ aims to significantly improve the quality of looked after children’s experience of care and to make sure ‘vulnerable children feel loved and have the childhood they deserve’. Hours after its release, the Scottish Government committed to implementing its recommendations and acknowledged the uniqueness of the Review because of its inclusion of the voices of the care-experienced community. Over three years the Review listened to 5,500 people – more than half were children, young people, and families. In addition, people with experience of care made up half the Review’s co-chairs and working group members. The report delivered a core message that children must be listened to and involved in decision-making about their care. Alongside ‘The Promise’, the Care Review also produced:

• The Plan (PDF) – explaining how change must happen
• The Money (PDF) and Follow the Money (PDF) – explaining how Scotland can invest better in its children and families
• The Rules (PDF) – how the current legislative framework must change

Active listening and engagement must be fundamental to the way Scotland makes decisions and supports children and families

THE PROMISE (PDF)

Policy focus – Children’s rights and Scotland’s trauma-informed approach 

Building on the Independent Care Review’s Promise to protect children and their rights, a bill to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in September 2020. This legislation will incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into the law of Scotland, giving children’s rights the highest possible protection. In September’s Programme for Government 2020-21, the Scottish Government restate its commitment for a third consecutive year to preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and supporting resilience and recovery of all adults and children affected by trauma. An important element of this prevention strategy is the National Trauma Training Programme coordinated by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) which will receive two more years of funding.  Launched in 2018 and having already developed a range of engaging and accessible resources and undertaken pilot work with key services, the NES programme is seen as being one of the main drivers in Scotland’s ambition to ensure a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive workforce. Current priority areas are high volume delivery of training to professionals working in health and social care, as well as bespoke projects for maternity services and the workforces serving children and young people in the ‘care system’.

Trauma is everyone’s business.

national trauma training programme

New resources and training from Scotland

Now, anyone, no matter what their location or role is, can freely access nearly all of the National Trauma Training Programme’s resources on the newly launched website. You will find animations, workshops and learning modules to help you develop trauma-informed practice. This includes resources for those working alongside or serving people affected by trauma as well as resources for those who support the recovery of people affected by trauma. For those working with children and young people, the Sowing Seeds animation explains the impact of trauma and how to adapt your way of working to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people. It is always important to remember that some of the symptoms commonly associated with trauma can have other causes, for example ADHD or Autism. This means we should always consult with a trained clinician before labelling children and young people.

The COVID-19 crisis – research and response

A team at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow conducted the ‘Social Distancing – how are families coping’ study on the mental health impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and families in Scotland. The study suggests – as other studies across the UK – that many families are doing much better than expected, although some were doing worse. In particular, the study highlighted the immense pressure on some families to balance children’s care and education with work responsibilities during the first national lockdown. In response to the study, the team co-produced with families and schools the ‘Scottish Model for Safe Education (SMS-Ed) (PDF) ’. The SMS-Ed is an alternative model in the event of schools closing again that provides a plan with options to help local communities balance risk of infection against the risks to families’ wellbeing.

The Scottish Government has made significant progress towards creating a trauma-informed workforce and services, thus supporting the national response to the crisis. Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health – transition and recovery plan outlines the response to the mental health impacts of the crisis. The plan includes:

• an expansion of the aforementioned National Trauma Training Programme to support organisational recovery
• a commitment to a collective response to Covid-19 being framed within a culture of trauma-informed principles and understanding
• the development of tailored resources for staff
• establishment of a programme of research and a sharing of good practice across Scotland.

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