Bail supervision: national guidance

Annex 2 Key principles of trauma-informed practice

The Scottish Government's Trauma-informed practice: toolkit (2021) outlines the five key principles underlying trauma-informed practice. The toolkit notes that although there may be differences in terms of their application, it is widely acknowledged that these principles are relevant across the public sector and its range of services:

1. Safety

Efforts are made by an organisation to ensure the physical and emotional safety of clients and staff. This includes reasonable freedom from threat or harm, and attempts to prevent further re-traumatisation.

2. Trustworthiness

Transparency exists in an organisation's policies and procedures, with the objective of building trust among staff, clients and the wider community.

3. Choice

Clients and staff have meaningful choice and a voice in the decision-making process of the organisation and its services.

4. Collaboration

The organisation recognises the value of staff and clients' experience in overcoming challenges and improving the system as a whole. This is often operationalised through the formal or informal use of peer support and mutual self-help.

5. Empowerment

Efforts are made by the organisation to share power and give clients and staff a strong voice in decision-making, at both individual and organisational levels.