Trauma informed self care : building reilient staff and teams

Many health organizations are incorporating trauma informed care (TIC) principles into their workplaces as one aspect of preventing and managing workplucc violence. These principles arc based on the five core values of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment (Fallot & 1-larrris 2009) Such a trauma informed approach is supposed to be applied at the service user, staff and organisational levels. However many current training workshops and initiatives around stress management, burnout and vicarious trauma for health stafT faced with violence focus mainly on changing staff attitude and skills, resources or situation. In practice ofien such trainings do not incorporate up to date information and practice on trauma informed care as it relates to staff and so oficn make little difference in reducing staff stress and related vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue levels