NS5106 | Trauma Informed Practice in Health and Social Care

Professional Development Course for Health and Social Care practitioners who are in practice.

At the DCU School of Nursing, Psychotherapy, and Community Health - September to December 2024

This course is aimed at practitioners who are working in environments where trauma has an impact on the people and communities they work with and on workers themselves. Contemporary health and social care policy recognises the place of trauma in having a significant impact on people’s health and living experiences. Moreover, understanding people’s life experiences and health conditions through a trauma lens can ensure that the care provided is trauma informed.

This module will explore the impact of trauma on individuals, families, communities, and systems; physically, psychologically, behaviourally and energetically. Health and Social Care Practitioners will firstly examine their knowledge and experience of normal trauma responses and then similarly when the normal trauma response is interrupted or is ineffective for various reasons, including the impact of this on people’s lives. The module will draw on best practice in relation to implementing trauma informed care in professional practice, inclusive of strategies and techniques that will protect practitioners from vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.

On successful completion of this course:

• Participants will explore the impact of trauma on individuals, families and systems and how this can impact upon their physical, psychological, behavioural and energetic lives;
• Participants will develop a critical awareness of trauma as a potential underpinning process for multiple health, relationship and behavioural related conditions;
• Participants will appraise the impact of unresolved trauma as it occurs and continues to impact upon people throughout their lifespan and how trauma responses can be renegotiated;
• Participants will critically discuss how systemic trauma patterns can impact upon families, communities and organisations;
• The module will provide health and social care practitioners with up-to-date, evidenced based knowledge to critically develop their theoretical and practical understanding and applying the principles of Trauma Informed Care;
• Participants will demonstrate the confidence and competence to engage in relationships and with interventions conducive to Trauma Informed Practice.

The Course is a 10 credit module at NFQ level 9

The course will take place in DCU over six full days two weeks apart on the following dates:  

2nd Oct; 16th Oct; 30th Oct; 13th Nov; 27th Nov; 11th Dec

Dates are subject to change

Entry Requirements: 

Applicants will have a level 8 NFQ qualification or equivalent (as assessed against recognition of prior learning criteria). Applicants will be working in a health or social care environment.

Fee: 

€1,250. Deadline for applications: 5.00pm, Friday 28th June 2024

For further information, contact: Dr Líam Mac Gabhann at liam.macgabhann@dcu.ie

To obtain an application form, download at this link or email: science@dcu.ie