7 Reasons Why Training is of Paramount Importance for Looking After Young People Dealing with Trauma
Trauma can manifest in various ways and can be complex – the solution can’t be solved through experience alone.
Proper training is needed to equip care workers with a deep understanding of trauma’s impact on a child’s emotional, psychological, and behavioral wellbeing. This knowledge allows them to respond to children’s needs with empathy and sensitivity which is why it’s vital that you ensure that your social care staff have access to high quality training to equip them with the skills needed to deliver exceptional care.
Care workers learn to recognize trauma triggers and understand how trauma can influence children’s reactions and behaviors. With this awareness, they can respond in a supportive manner and de-escalate potential crises effectively. Training in trauma-informed care enables workers to adopt an approach that prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment. They can create an environment that fosters healing and growth, avoiding retraumatization and minimizing triggers.
Specialised training equips care workers with trauma-specific interventions and therapeutic techniques to address the unique needs of traumatized children which can vary on a wide scale. For example, parenting techniques are vital for residential care givers who require the skills to respond sensitively to the child’s needs, promote secure attachments, and support the child’s healing journey.
Operating with specific interventions can support the child’s emotional processing and promote healing. Children with trauma often struggle with forming secure attachments due to previous experiences of broken trust. Training enables care workers to help children cope with intense emotions, reduce anxiety, and develop emotional resilience and build trustful relationships; all fundamental to the child’s healing process.
Caring for traumatized children can be emotionally demanding and challenging. Without possessing the necessary skills to cope with a demanding role, it can lead to mental and physical health problems, particularly burnout and anxiety. Forbes reported that in 2019 3 in 5 healthcare workers experienced burnout, a figure that can be expected to have risen with the higher strain on the industry since the turn of the pandemic. Training emphasizes the importance of self-care for care workers, teaching them coping strategies and resilience-building techniques to prevent burnout and secondary trauma.
Traumatised children may be sensitive to certain environmental factors and skills are needed to identify and modify triggers in the living environment to create a safe and calming space for the child. This care will often require collaboration with other professionals, including therapists, social workers and educators where effective communication and collaboration can be taught to help provide holistic support for the child.
Finally, it’s important to recognise that trauma can be experienced differently across cultures. Training emphasizes cultural competence, enabling care workers to understand and respect the cultural context of the child’s experiences.
Ultimately, high quality training helps caregivers and caregivers can offer the best possible care and support to young people dealing with trauma, helping them navigate their experiences and build resilience. This includes having the understanding to deal with the specific needs and challenges that young people facing trauma may have, and it teaches them how to create a safe and supportive environment. Being equipped with the strategies and techniques will help them to address the unique needs of each individual such as trauma-informed approaches, therapeutic interventions, and self-care practices.
By receiving proper training, caregivers can offer the best possible care and support to young people dealing with trauma, helping them navigate their experiences and build resilience.
Training helps caregivers understand the specific needs and challenges that young people facing trauma may have, and it teaches them how to create a safe and supportive environment.
Think Tank Academy is a leading training academy specialising in social care with a mission to empower excellence in care provision. Are staff are all experienced in care and are trauma informed and this is instilled in our training.
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This post was written by Michael McMahon