Why do we need a Trauma Informed Statement
There is a growing recognition of the pervasive impact of trauma on health and wellbeing. Trauma can affect anyone, irrespective of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, and often results in normal human reactions to dangerous and distressing experiences. The effects of trauma on an individual’s physical and mental health, as well as general wellbeing, are significant and can influence lifestyle choices that may lead to further harm. However, despite the universality of trauma, denial, dismissal, and victim-blaming attitudes persist, particularly towards those from minority or disadvantaged groups who are at higher risk of exposure to traumatic experiences and often lack sufficient recognition or support for their health and wellbeing needs.
There is a pressing need to move from a blame-oriented perspective of asking, “What is wrong with you?” to a more compassionate inquiry of “What has happened to you?” Recognising that trauma is a common experience that can affect anyone strengthens the call for all public services to adopt a trauma-informed approach. Understanding that trauma has far-reaching impacts on behavior, growth, health, and wellbeing, it is crucial for all public services to respond empathetically and supportively, making trauma-informed care everyone’s responsibility.
Our Statement
Dolphin Homes acknowledges the widespread prevalence of trauma and its profound impact on mental health. Trauma affects everyone, including staff, friends, family members, and members. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of our organisation are trauma-informed. We recognise that trauma can manifest in various ways and that each individual has unique support needs. We are dedicated to responding to trauma with an informed and empathetic approach, aiming to minimise distress and prevent re-traumatisation.
Our trauma-informed approach is guided by the six principles identified in the Hampshire Trauma Informed Care Concordat.
- Safety:
Dolphin Homes prioritises physical and psychological safety for both staff and supported people and families throughout the organisation. We promote the development and maintenance of safety in all interpersonal interactions, striving to understand what safety means to supported people and their families, supporting them to achieve it.
We openly value and focus on wellbeing ensuring that plans are evidence-based, person centered, trauma-informed and promote feelings of safety.
- Trustworthiness and Transparency:
We ensure that decisions regarding organisational operations, support services, and service boundaries are made transparently, with the goal of building and maintaining trust among staff, supported people and their families, and the larger community. Consistently offering a high standard of care is central to developing trust.
We will make sure we do what we say we will do.
- Choice and Collaboration:
Recognising that trauma often involves a loss of control and choice, Dolphin Homes supports people in participating in decision-making and goal-setting to determine the support they need. We value each person’s unique experience and strive to provide choices to staff, supported people and their families.
Healing occurs within collaborative relationships. We value shared power and decision-making among staff and between staff, supported people and . We acknowledge that every staff member contributes to the delivery of a trauma-informed service.
Support plans are created and updated with the supported person and will focus on their needs and aspirations. Assessments will be shared in accessible formats. We ensure that we engage with stakeholders and value their contributions.
- Decision Making:
One of our underpinning values is the principle that everyone has the right to make decisions about all aspects of their life. We ensure that peoples preferred method of communication is used to enable them to make informed decisions about their life. Staff are trained in follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Best Interest Decision making process.
- Empowerment:
Believing in the resilience and potential for recovery from trauma, Dolphin Homes seeks to empower staff and supported people by recognising their strengths, celebrating success and providing opportunities to build on these and develop new skills. Staff act as facilitators of recovery, not controllers.
Dolphin Homes promote positive risk taking and recognise this is a collaborative process which involves the person and those supporting them.
- Organisational Leadership:
Dolphin Homes understand that Trauma Informed Care is a whole organisation, continuous approach.
We will ensure that we provide staff with appropriate Trauma Informed Care training, with competency assessments to ensure they have the understanding about how to implement this into their practice.
We will provide the necessary resources to meet the principles in this Trauma Informed Statement.
We strongly believe that reflective practice and supervision is a powerful tool for supporting both staff and supported people to not only learn from successes, but identify areas that could be done differently.
These principles guide Dolphin Homes in our mission to provide services that positively impact mental health and wellbeing, inspire hope, promote recovery, and address stigma and prejudice in our communities.