Nation Update: Wales

July 2021

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

Key takeaways

1. Traumatic Stress Wales is a new initiative to improve access and quality of mental health interventions for people of all ages affected by trauma.
2. The whole-school approach Framework uses statutory guidance to promote a more consistent approach to mental health across schools, local authorities and partners.
3. The Cafcass and care services online database links primary, secondary and mental health data to create research opportunities to fill knowledge gaps.
4. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) policy review finds overwhelming support for the ACEs framework.

Traumatic Stress Wales

Traumatic Stress Wales is a new NHS initiative to improve access and quality of mental health interventions for people of all ages affected by trauma across Wales. The initiative functions as a hub supporting the health boards across different regions and sectors across Wales.

Traumatic Stress Wales is working to improve the quality of interventions by:

• Working closely with networks and services to develop knowledge and skills frameworks
• Setting up broad cross sector networks for sharing good practice
• Supporting local practitioners to develop training, knowledge & skills
• Developing psychoeducational resources
• Creating training for evidence based psychological therapies

Learn more

• Traumatic Stress Wales website
• ACE Support Hub

Wales’s whole-school approach to emotional and mental well-being 

An ACE-informed whole-school approach was piloted within three primary schools in Wales in 2017. Another pilot funded direct contact with mental health professionals in 3 regions of Wales. While many schools in Wales have since adopted a whole-school approach, a significant number have not. Recognising the inconsistencies in schools’ approach to supporting pupils’ health and wellbeing, the Whole School Approach programme developed statutory guidance. The Framework aims to promote a more consistent approach across schools, local authorities and partners across Wales. The new Curriculum for pupils and Teacher training as well as a new Additional Learning Needs Bill has cemented a trauma informed approach to mental health and wellbeing as fundamental to Education in Wales.

Learn more

• Framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental well-being (March 2021)
• Welsh Parliament’s Children, Young People and Education Committee’s Mind over matter: Two years on report (October 2020)

Cafcass case record database research

The Cafcass and care services data linked to the SAIL Databank website created new opportunities for researchers. The online database links primary, secondary and mental health data. The Nuffield FJO data partnership with the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University and the SAIL Databank at Swansea University, will be reviewing the mental health needs of children, young people and their parents.

New data analysis highlights include:

• Maternal health, pregnancy and birth outcomes for women involved in care proceedings in Wales: a linked data study

Learn more

• Cafcass Data
• SAIL Databank
• Nuffield Family Justice Observatory

Policy review: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

The findings from the Public Health Wales study ‘The prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences and their impact on health-harming behaviours in the Welsh adult population’ in 2015 led to the Welsh Government’s decision to develop and prioritise an ACEs policy. This directly led to the establishment of the ACE Support Hub. A review of the Welsh Government’s ACE’s policy was undertaken to see if the current policy was achieving the aim of ensuring all children had the best start in life and opportunity to achieve their potential. The review consists of (1) a literature review of the evidence base and (2) a stakeholder discussion on the ACEs policy. Based on the findings, Re:cognition, the independent consultants, presented four options in the review for the Welsh Government’s consideration. The review concluded that there is overwhelming support for the ACEs framework and the Welsh Government’s decision to prioritise action on ACEs.

Learn more

• Review of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) policy: report
• Adverse Childhood Experiences and their impact on health-harming behaviours in the Welsh adult population (2015)
• ACE Support Hub

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