In September 2023, Rock Pool won a tender with Avon and Somerset Police to support them on our journey to being a trauma-informed police force where a trauma-informed approach becomes part of our ‘business as usual’ and a golden thread that runs through the organisation regardless of role or rank.
Training – We delivered a two-day training course to members of the in-house training team, introducing the key concepts of a trauma informed approach and how these might impact of their training delivery and lesson plans. We worked with the in-house training team to produce a trauma audit document which could be used ensure that current and future training was trauma informed.
Policies – we worked with the HR department to develop a trauma informed checklist for reviewing existing and establishing new policies.
Trauma Toolkit - we designed a draft ‘trauma toolkit’ to explain, support and
offer guidance to officers in the force who may be feeling they are
experiencing the impact of trauma in their work This was reviewed by a group of officers and is now part of the Avon and Somerset Pocket Book.
TIEs – we trained 16 officers to be Trauma informed Educators – who could act as advocates for trauma-based approaches, deliver an introduction to trauma course, tailor made for the needs of the Avon and Somerset Police service and acted as catalysts for change. These officers have each started to put in place a modest trauma informed project in their area of work and have set up a “Community of Practice” to support each other and the development of best practice.
Estates - We worked with the estates team to produce an audit tool which provided a clear framework for evaluating how well building adhered to trauma informed practice.
Strategy and Performance Monitoring
- The Rock Pool team worked with staff to develop a roadmap for establishing trauma-informed practice in the service. 2024-2027
- Provided benchmarks to UK and international examples of best practice in trauma-informed policing
- Worked through a co-production process with key policy staff to identify how the six principles at the core of trauma-informed practice (Safety, Empowerment, Trustworthiness, Collaboration, Inclusivity and Choice) could drive forward the development of trauma-informed practice in the service
- Helped identify progress through a checklist linked to the four phases of trauma practice for an organisation (trauma-aware, trauma-sensitive, trauma-informed and trauma-responsive)
- Produced a set of recommendations for resourcing the next stage of development