CHSS Professor Simon Coulton is leading a new randomised controlled trial together with IPSOS UK and TONIC. Funded by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) and Home Office, TISUK will consider the impact of Trauma Informed Practice on young people’s behaviour and wellbeing.
Major studies found that when young people have suffered multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), there is a significant risk of developing mental health and behaviour problems, social, relationship and learning difficulties and engaging in criminal activity. Trauma informed approaches in schools and social buffering of emotionally available adults have been shown to interrupt that 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.
The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) funds promising projects in England and Wales that aim to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence – especially those aged between 10 and 14-years old. To find what works, the YEF evaluates every project it funds. They use this knowledge to scale up effective programmes, spread good practice and guide decision makers on which services or approaches are likely to keep children and young people safe.