Over the coming months we’ll be working with ACE Hub Wales to review and adapt our safeguarding standards, framework and training, to make sure they’re trauma- and adverse childhood experiences (ACE)-informed.
The review forms part of our commitment to providing safeguarding resources that are trauma and ACE-informed, helping people feel more confident in their safeguarding responsibilities and supporting trauma-informed practice across the sector.
The existing safeguarding materials won’t be completely rewritten. Instead, they’ll be updated and enhanced to reflect a trauma- and ACE-informed approach.
How will the review take place?
The review will involve a consultation process, supported by an expert reference group which will help guide the development of the revised materials. The group will make sure the safeguarding standards, framework and training reflect the latest evidence and best practice in trauma- and ACE-informed approaches. All materials will be reviewed and approved by Social Care Wales’s safeguarding oversight board.
ACE Hub Wales will support this process by benchmarking existing standards, frameworks and training against recognised good practice, using the Trauma and ACE (TrACE)-Informed Organisations Toolkit and the Trauma-Informed Wales Framework (2022) to underpin the work.
ACE Hub Wales will also provide supporting resources and an embedded training and resource offer.
The review will also place a strong focus on raising awareness of childhood sexual abuse. Stakeholders from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse will join the expert reference group and the review will include links to the Centre's resources. These resources can support staff to identify, respond to and prevent childhood sexual abuse, as well as support those affected by it.
The revised materials will be published on the Social Care Wales website in late 2027.