Understanding trauma-informed care and the position of residential care workers supporting children and young people in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Section A
Background. Children and young people (CYP) in the UK’s secure estate have commonly experienced multiple forms of trauma, contributing to increased adoption of trauma-informed care (TIC). Limited clarity remains regarding the conceptualisation of TIC in secure care.
Objectives. This scoping review explored the conceptualisation of TIC, by examining how trauma is understood, the extent to which TIC principles are reflected, and by identifying potential facilitators and barriers to TIC implementation.
Eligibility Criteria. Empirical and non-empirical sources published since 2000 concerning TIC in the UK’s secure estate for CYP were included. Sources were excluded if they did not concern UK secure settings for CYP, address TIC or meet specified publication criteria.
Sources of Evidence. ASSIA, Social Policy and Practice, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and PubMed were searched alongside Google, Google Scholar, and reference lists. Forty sources were included following title, abstract, and full-text screening, documented using PRISMA-ScR.
Charting Methods. Data relevant to the review questions were charted systematically in Excel and analysed using thematic synthesis.
Results. Trauma was predominantly conceptualised at a clinical level, though relational and systemic understandings were also prevalent. TIC principles were inconsistently reflected, with safety, trust, collaboration and empowerment most prominent, and peer support and cultural, historical and gender considerations less consistently evident. Workforce training, reflective supervision and leadership commitment emerged as key facilitators, while restrictive cultures, resource constraints, and fragmented systems were identified as barriers.
Conclusions. This review highlighted theoretical and practical tensions regarding TIC in the CYP secure estate, emphasising the need for more systemic and culturally responsive practice.

Section B
Background. Trauma-informed care (TIC) has increasingly been promoted within the UK’s secure and non-secure childcare settings, yet limited research has examined how staff experience TIC, particularly in relation to compassion, staff’s own adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and supervision.
Aim. This study aimed to explore staff’s perspectives and experiences of TIC, compassion, ACEs, and supervision, and to examine potential relationships between these concepts.
Methods. A mixed-methods design was employed to collect data from 57 residential child-care staff. Data were analysed using content analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results. Findings indicated overall positive TIC attitudes, and compassion was positioned as central to professional identities. High levels of ACEs were reported among participants, with connections between personal adversity and practice being both motivational and triggering. Supervision emerged as a significant predictor for TIC attitudes, with reflective and emotionally safe supervision described as valuable, while supervision perceived as lacking depth, meaning, or emotional safety was described as unhelpful.
Implications. Supervision was identified as critical; embedding reflective and supportive supervisory structures may enhance workforce wellbeing and strengthen TIC and compassionate practice. ACEs among participating staff were substantially more prevalent compared to the general population, highlighting the need for staff support.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Canterbury Christ Church University