Trauma Informed Training
Building staff confidence through a train-the-trainer model
Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland piloted a trauma-informed train-the-trainer programme in 2024–25 to build staff confidence and capacity across services. The programme was developed and led by Sarah Henry, Workforce Development Advisor (and Trauma Lead), ensuring it reflected best practice while being tailored to Shetland’s context.
Context
Many people in Shetland live with the impact of trauma, whether through childhood experiences, loss, abuse, or other difficult life events. Staff across services often encounter people affected by trauma but may not always recognise the signs or understand how best to respond. A trauma-informed approach helps organisations provide safer and more effective support, reduces the risk of re-traumatisation, and promotes recovery.
The Scottish Government’s Trauma Informed and Responsive Nations and Services plan calls for every organisation to build trauma-informed capacity. Locally, Shetland’s pilot aimed to meet that challenge in a sustainable way. By using a train-the-trainer model, the project created a group of practitioners able to embed knowledge within their own services and share learning across sectors.
The programme
Staff from different agencies were invited to take part in a two-day course delivered by the Scottish Trauma Training Programme. This was followed by a series of local workshops where participants practised delivering material, gained feedback, and built confidence to run their own sessions. Trainers were supported through mentoring and reflective practice, ensuring they felt ready to cascade learning.
Impact
Evaluation showed a marked increase in knowledge and confidence. Before training, only 24% of participants felt confident delivering trauma-informed sessions. After the programme, this rose to 94%. Almost all participants reported that their understanding of trauma had increased, and 97% said the training had already influenced their day-to-day work.
Feedback was strongly positive:
“Excellent and delivered by knowledgeable trainers.”
“Everyone should attend this!”
“Very relevant to my role – it gave me practical strategies.”
Participants valued the safe space to reflect on their own practice and to discuss how trauma-informed approaches could be embedded in their organisations. Several had already started sharing learning with colleagues, helping to spread awareness and consistency across services.
Next steps
The pilot confirmed that a train-the-trainer model can work in Shetland, creating a sustainable pool of skilled trainers. Next steps include further mentoring, ongoing evaluation, and opportunities to strengthen trauma-informed approaches across health, education, social care, and voluntary sectors. By embedding these practices, Shetland can build more compassionate services and improve outcomes for individuals and families.
Contribution to the Shetland Partnership
- Participation: Enabling staff across services to share learning and build trauma-informed practice together.
- People: Supporting recovery, resilience, and more compassionate services for those affected by trauma.
- Place: Embedding consistent trauma-informed approaches across Shetland’s organisations and communities.
- Money: Building local training capacity, reducing reliance on external trainers, and supporting long-term sustainability.