The training programme has been introduced in recognition of the growing need for workers across the housing, social care, and the third sector to be upskilled to realise, recognise, and to respond to people affected by trauma.

Link Group director of communities, Sarah Smith, said: “LinkLiving has been working with people affected by trauma for many years. 

“Traumatic events can take many different forms and the impact can be significant. As a nation, we are becoming increasingly aware that experiencing the impact of trauma is more common than previously understood. 

“As a workforce, we must respond by upskilling staff with the relevant knowledge and skills in relation to trauma. 

“To ensure we provide the best possible support we have developed a range of trauma informed training and invested in ensuring all of our colleagues are trauma informed.

“Whilst we have been providing training for local organisations to become more trauma informed for over four years, we are now delighted to be able to more widely share this knowledge and experience with other organisations in Scotland, through the launch of our LinkLiving Skills Academy.”

Trauma skilled practice training enables frontline workers such as housing officers and tenancy sustainment officers to gain knowledge and understanding of different kinds of trauma, the impact this can have on individuals, and the use of trauma-informed principles. 

The LinkLiving Skills Academy course is suitable for any frontline staff who are working with people on a regular basis who may be affected by trauma.

Trauma skilled practice training has been designed with the NES Transforming Psychological Trauma Framework, Level 2 ‘Trauma Skilled Practice’ in mind and will provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to realise, recognise, and to respond to trauma

100% of participants on previous courses either strongly agreed or agreed that the trauma training has provided them with the knowledge and skills to assist them in their role.

Lauren Scobie, senior housing services officer at Link Housing Association, said: “The training reinforced to me that as housing officers we do already to some extent work in a trauma informed style. 

“It also completely refreshed my approach in terms of how we communicate and interact with our customers.

“I’ve already adjusted my approach to situations since the training with positive results.

“The ‘do no harm but do know harm’ quote will stick with me always.”

The course runs over four half day sessions and includes a wide variety of content, activities and group discussions. Training is currently hosted online.