Description:

Cwm Taf youth offending service was commissioned, through the YJB Pathfinder strand of work to produce a range of resources for YOTs to assist them to develop trauma-informed practice, which works in conjunction with the AssetPlus framework.

Cwm Taf Youth Offending Service have adopted Relationship Based Practice (RBP) for working with children, which is a trauma informed approach. Underpinning the practice is the Trauma Recovery Model (TRM) (Skuse and Matthew, 2015).

The key characteristics of the Relationship Based Practice model are:

• It offers a tiered level of service depending on the individual’s child’s needs
• It is underpinned by the Trauma Recovery Model
• A TrACE (trauma and adverse childhood experiences) informed assessment process
• A timelining exercise
• A developmental mapping exercise
• An assessment of the child’s position on the TRM
• Consultation from a lead worker or psychologist
• A TrACE informed lens to multi-agency planning
• A set of recommendations are agreed sequenced as indicated by the child’s position on the TRM
• Case progress is regularly reviewed, and recommendations re-visited

Attached is the final guidance which looks at how Cwm Taf youth offending service have implemented a trauma informed way of working with children.

Implementing the practice:

In order for the trauma informed method of working employed by Cwm Taf youth offending service the following elements are necessary:

• ACEs awareness
• TrACE practice training
• Training of key team champions
• ECM training
• Adoption of the process – within the YOT
• Management buy in to work this way

Note: For further information around working in a trauma informed way with children, Cwm taf YOS have also developed the following tools:

Making Assessment Trauma Informed - Cwm Taf Pathfinder (July 2021)
Working with the Trauma Recovery Model - Cwm Taf Pathfinder (August 2021)
Pathway and Planning Assessment - Cwm Taf Pathfinder (August 2021)

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