Community Planning Partners sign trauma pledge

This is an archived article from 20 April 2023. 

The South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board has just signed the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Leadership Trauma Pledge.

NES is the education and training body for NHS Scotland. Their pledge aims to ensure that all partners are trauma informed and responsive.

Community Planning is based on the idea that if partners across sectors, work more effectively together, services will improve for those who access them.

In 2021, South Ayrshire Council made a commitment to recognise the impact trauma can have on people's lives and become more supportive to the needs of customers and staff.

Around 75% of people using Council services, say that they are living with the impact of trauma. Traumatic life experiences can have a negative impact socially, economically and can also affect our health.

 By signing the pledge, the Council and its partners have committed to adopting the national trauma principles of safety, choice, collaboration, trust, and empowerment.

Councillor Martin Dowey, Leader of South Ayrshire Council said: "Signing the pledge is an important milestone as we continue to grow as a nurturing and supportive organisation where customers and staff feel valued.

"We already deliver comprehensive training packages to ensure our staff are trauma informed and can recognise and help anyone who has undergone traumatic events."

Councillor Peter Henderson, Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Board said: "I am delighted that our Community Planning Partnership is joining other Councils and partners across Scotland by signing up to the National Trauma Pledge. This demonstrates our commitment to support the development of trauma informed systems and help potentially vulnerable people get the most out of our services."