Traumatic Stress Wales webinar series

What are the webinars?

The webinars are tailored to the unique nature of children’s residential care, trauma and therapeutic support. They can help support the professional development and confidence of people working with children in residential settings, which in turn will improve the experience of those receiving care.

Webinar: Creating therapeutic environments for people who are neurodivergent or have experienced trauma

In this webinar we’re joined by Susanna Smith, an Environmental Psychologist and Designer at the Abodiology Studio.

Susanna has worked with children and young people for over 20 years, and specialises in creating environments that are therapeutically-informed, and trauma-responsive.

This webinar looks at:

• difference between a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive environments
• why environments are important
• why some environments can trigger existing trauma, or cause trauma
• why some environments can help to heal trauma
• how to create holistic spaces that encourage well-being and connection
• strategies to improve areas in residential care homes
• the changes you can make to your environments

Watch the video to learn more.

Webinar: Supporting neurodiverse young people who have experienced trauma

In this webinar we’re joined by Emma Reardon and Rorie Fulton from Autism Wellbeing.

This webinar looks at:

• how to recognise the difference between neurodivergence and trauma
• how people may behave differently if they’re neurodiverse or have experienced trauma
• how someone with autism or ADHD, or have experienced trauma, may experience sensory input differently
• how you can recognise signs of this within the workplace
• how to discuss neurodiversity or trauma, provide support, develop strategies and adapt environments all within the children’s residential setting.

Watch the video to learn more.

Webinar: Using compassionate and trauma-informed leadership in children’s residential care services

In this webinar we’re joined by Dr Lynn McDonnell, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Lead at Gwent Attachment Service. Gwent Attachment Service is a psychology service in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

This webinar looks at

• what it means to be a relationship-focussed, trauma-informed residential care setting
• how compassionate leadership can help you to create a setting with a positive culture and good staff well-being
• why it’s important for staff to keep learning and to develop skills
• how to set up systems that help you to keep working this way.

Watch the video to learn more.

Webinar: What does trauma-informed practice look like in residential children’s care?

In this webinar we’re joined by Dr David Trickey, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the UK Trauma Council. Dr Trickey is a co-director of the UK Trauma Council and has over 25 years’ experience in working with traumatised children, young people and their families.

This webinar looks at:

• explains what trauma-informed care means, and how it looks in child residential settings
• explains how traumatic events affect children and young people in residential settings
• shows you what you can do to support an environment in which children and young people are most likely to recover
• helps you to plan the next steps for you and your team to becoming more ‘trauma-informed’.

Watch the video to learn more

Webinar: Vicarious trauma and staff well-being in children’s residential settings

In this webinar we’re joined by Nici Evans from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse. Nici specialises in communication and interpersonal skills training, trauma, and working with victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

This webinar looks at:

• how trauma can affect children and young people
• how to talk to children and young people about their experiences
• how working in high-stress and emotionally-charged environments can affect practitioners and their well-being
• how to recognise the signs of stress, burnout, and vicarious trauma in yourself and other people
• how to create a personalised self-care toolbox.

Watch the video to learn more.

The views and opinions expressed in these webinars are those of the presenters, and not necessarily Social Care Wales.