Trauma-informed care in Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities

Background 

Trauma informed care has been increasingly explored within services over recent years both in health and social care, as well as criminal justice. Broadly speaking, a trauma-informed approach to care can be described as one which ‘aims to provide an environment where a person who has experienced trauma feels safe and can develop trust’. Embedding trauma-informed care means ensuring that clinicians and other professionals are equipped with a sufficient understanding of trauma, and that policies around care provision are informed by an appreciation of trauma, as well as concepts such as retraumatisation and revictimisation. In being trauma-informed, services can improve the care they provide and reduce avoidable harm. 

The Observatory has therefore identified an urgent need to better understand trauma in the context of race; to assess the effectiveness of trauma-informed care through the lens of race and racism; and to explore best practice in developing race-aware trauma informed care. 

Aims 

There is an urgent need to better understand trauma in the context of race; to assess the effectiveness of trauma-informed care through the lens of race and racism; and to explore best practice in developing race-aware trauma informed care. In examining trauma informed care, this project will: 

• Explore existing literature around trauma-informed care, race and racism in the delivery of trauma-informed care, and experiences of systemic trauma.  
• Engage meaningfully with individuals with relevant lived experience.  
• Work alongside trauma-informed services to explore practice, impact, and outcomes.   
• Develop resources aimed at service providers to promote effective trauma informed care for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.