Trauma-informed insights: Second Step at the international trauma-informed care in practice conference 2024 

Second Step’s dedication to advancing trauma-informed practices was highlighted at the 5th International Trauma Informed Care in Practice online conference in December. Organised by St Andrew’s Healthcare and sponsored by the British Psychological Society and The Centre for Developmental and Complex Trauma, this year’s theme, Treatment approaches and paradigms for complex trauma & co-existing needs, aligned closely with Second Step’s Psychological, Adversity, and Trauma (PAT) informed approach. 

Psychologists Graham Ball and Lauren Hawksley attended on behalf of Second Step, showcasing their innovative integration of psychological support into Somerset services. 

Presenting groundbreaking work 

Graham and Lauren shared a presentation which explored the impact of integrating psychologists into two of Second Step’s Somerset services: Step Together and Family Safeguarding. These teams support people facing homelessness, multiple disadvantage, or challenging family circumstances, using reflective practices and psychological thinking as cornerstones of their work. 

A recent services evaluation looked at ‘What can be learnt from having psychologists working within homelessness services and safeguarding services in Somerset?‘ Using focus groups, thematic analysis, and insights from 18 participants, the study highlighted the transformative influence of psychologists on staff confidence, resilience, and service culture. 

Lauren said: “When we heard that the focus for this year’s conference was exploring new models of working with people with complex trauma and co-existing needs, it felt like a no-brainer to submit the evaluation that Graham has been working on. Sharing these findings with a wide, international cohort of trauma-informed professionals felt really important.” 

Key findings and reflections 

The evaluation revealed several benefits of embedding a psychologist in a team who use a trauma-informed approach. These included: 

• Collaboration and credibility: Psychologists helped bridge communication gaps between agencies, elevating the teams’ standing within other services 

• Staff support and client outcomes: Reflective spaces and psychological guidance improved staff resilience and enriched client interactions 

• Organisational growth: The inclusion of psychological thinking led to a change in the ways things were done, embedding trauma-informed practices into everyday operations. 

Despite the financial challenges in sustaining these roles, staff consistently emphasised the value and far-reaching impact of psychological support. 

Looking ahead

Second Step’s involvement in the conference underlines the importance of sharing evidence-based insights with the broader trauma-informed care community as it helps improve and expand the thinking in this important area of work. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from Graham’s evaluation highlights the potential for expanding the PAT model. Graham concluded, “By engaging with global audiences at events like this, Second Step not only learns from others but also amplifies its voice as a leader in trauma-informed care.” 

To find out more about PAT, visit our page on becoming Psychological, Adversity and Trauma Informed.