Trauma-Informed Justice Modules

Being ‘Trauma Informed’ means being able to recognise when someone may be affected by trauma, collaboratively adjusting how we work to take this into account and responding in a way that supports recovery, does no harm and recognises and supports people's resilience.

Being 'Trauma Informed' is underpinned by the 5 R's:

• Realising how common the experience of trauma and adversity is
• Recognising the different ways that trauma can affect people
• Responding by taking account of the ways that people can be affected by trauma to support recovery, and recognise and support Resilience
• Opportunities to Resist re-traumatisation and offer a greater sense of choice and control, empowerment, collaboration and safety with everyone that you have contact with
• Recognising the central importance of Relationships

These two e-learning modules are designed to support the learning of anyone who has a role with victims and witnesses in the justice process.

Module 1 provides foundation level knowledge about what trauma is, how it can affect victims and witnesses, and the role that any of us can play, no matter our job, in minimising re-traumatisation.

 Module 2 builds on module 1, providing further knowledge about the ways that trauma can affect us, and supports the development of skills in recognising the signs that a witness may be affected by trauma, and in how to adapt the way you work to support someone to give their best evidence without causing any further harm.

This is a free resource provided by the Law Society of Scotland in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland's National Trauma Transformation Programme.