Professor Simon Coulton, S.Coulton@kent.ac.uk
TISUK: Cluster RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of Trauma Informed Schools UK Training and Implementation
IPSOS UK, TONIC, University of Kent
Funder: Youth Endowment Fund/ Home Office – £1.3m
Start Date: November 2023 End Date: April 2026
Major studies have found that when children and young people have suffered multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), there is a significant risk of them developing mental health problems, behaviour problems, social and relationship difficulties and learning difficulties and engaging in criminal activity.
Trauma informed approaches in schools and the social buffering of emotionally available adults have been shown to interrupt this trajectory. TISUK delivers a multi-layered package of training to schools, to provide all staff with an understanding of the neuroscience and psychology of psychological trauma and how it manifests in behaviour, learning, relationships, and mental health problems.
This study is a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of training school staff in trauma informed practice compared with business as usual.
Read the research protocol here
Find out more about the project here
Who is involved
- Simon Coulton, CHSS, University of Kent, Trial Design Director
- Facundo Herrera, Ipsos UK, Project Director
- Peter Sakis, Ipsos UK, Project Manager
- Dr Jessica Ozan, Ipsos UK
- Dr Amanda Carr, TONIC