Trauma Responsive Social Work Services Expert Advisory Group: minutes: September 2024

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• individuals providing social work services across Scotland from various practice areas
• Resilience Learning Partnership (RLP)
• Scottish Government (SG)

Items and actions

Overview

This was the nineth meeting of the Trauma Responsive Social Work Services (TRSWS) Expert Advisory Group. The purpose of this meeting was to inform the group of what is happening nationally and locally and to seek views of members.

Introductions, welcome and apologies

The meeting began by the Chair noting apologies from members.  All members gave brief introductions.

Note of previous meeting

The group agreed the meeting note from the last meeting in 19th February 2024.

TRSWS update

Programme Lead for TRSWS delivered a short presentation on the progress made so far on the programme. The presentation will be shared with members with this meeting note and can also be requested from the Secretariat.

Reflections and feedback from members following the presentation include:

• The Chair said it was great to see such positive feedback from the trauma skilled training delivered to newly qualified social workers
• Colleague from Aberdeenshire Council highlighted that they would be interested in linking in with the TRSWS team regarding the trauma skilled training offer for newly qualified social workers 
  • TRSWS Programme Lead highlighted that communications about this offer were issued to all 32 local authorities and that the team has been liaising with a number of local leads
• Colleague from Resilience Learning Partnership noted their team’s interest in being involved in trauma work that is being undertaken with universities
  •  TRSWS Programme Lead highlighted that the team are always keen to do more partnership work
• Colleague from Edinburgh City Council enquired as to whether there was anything the TRSWS team can do to help support the trauma agenda locally?
  • TRSWS Programme Lead highlighted that early leadership work has included learning on quality improvement and implementation science, which has helped leaders to better understand the journey that will be happening locally. There is still a lot the team need to learn but they are happy to share more information as the work progresses
• Colleague from Future Pathways highlighted that their team has recently produced a couple of learning reports that they would be keen to share with others. They also highlighted that they are looking to host social work placements soon and enquired if there were any specific workstreams that they could link in with regarding this
  •  TRSWS team suggested that it might be good to link in with the Improvement Service and offered to pick up further discussions about this work
  • Colleague from Resilience Learning Partnership highlighted that they have been trying to set up a lived experience network to share information and learning and would also be keen to link in on discussions with Future Pathways

Updates on local activity

Group members provided updates on work which is progressing in their local areas to embed changes within their social work services. 

• Colleague from Aberdeenshire Council highlighted that they are part of the Bairns Hoose Pathfinder Partnership and as part of this work they have applied for funding to seek an additional trauma post. The postholder will review the trauma roadmap, create an action plan and carry out a test of change that aligns with the Bairns Hoose standards. There has also been a lot of work undertaken with regards to supervision and staff wellbeing, with forums having been created to understand what is working well and areas for further improvement. Colleague mentioned that they are keen to link in with RLP in the future to seek input from people with lived experience
  • Colleague from Edinburgh City Council enquired as to what kinds of supports have been developed for managers with regards to supervision
  • Colleague from Aberdeenshire Council highlighted that there are practice forums set up that managers can regularly check in with
  • Colleague from East Dunbartonshire Council highlighted that they had taken a steer from Aberdeenshire and have begun to pilot wellbeing support plans within Justice Social Work Services. It was acknowledged that there has been some challenges with getting staff to engage with this work and there has been a lot of questions raised about what infrastructure is in place locally to support workers
  • TRSWS Programme Lead felt that this resonated with the work the team have had to do when designing the supervision learning product, specifically giving consideration as to where the boundaries are for supervisors
  • Colleague from East Lothian Council highlighted that their local approach has been to emphasise the wellbeing plans as a personal support rather than a tool for supervision and that this has really helped staff to take ownership of this work
  • Colleague from Resilience Learning Partnership highlighted that supervision is all about having shared responsibility between line managers/supervisors, staff members and the wider organisation

Actions

• TRSWS Team and Resilience Learning Partnership to pick up discussion regarding potential partnership working with universities
• TRSWS team to link in with Future pathways regarding Future Pathways plan to host social work placements and dissemination of learning reports
• Resilience Learning Partnership to contact Future Pathways regarding the lived experience network
• Secretariat to share slides from the TRSWS presentation