Victims Taskforce papers: November 2024
These papers relate to the Victims Taskforce meeting on 21 November 2024.
Part of
Workstream 2: trauma informed workforce update paper – November 2024 (paper 4)
Workstream progress
1. Following the workstream’s last meeting in June, Scottish Government justice analytical officials (JAS) worked with NES and developed a logic model to identify the key outcomes of the project. The logic model (Annex A) informs the reporting, monitoring and evaluation strategy as the group moves towards an implementation plan, with agreement from the members
2. Lynn Burns and Vicki Bell were appointed as co-chairs of the workstream in August, taking over from the Scottish Government’s temporary chairing arrangement.
3. The last meeting of the group was held in October and a collective approach was agreed to measure the outcomes set out in the logic model.
4. A monitoring form measuring both outcomes and activities is currently under development by JAS and NES. The form sets out an evaluation framework for organisations to measure short, medium and long term progress towards the 6 aims as set out in the Knowledge & Skills Framework. It seeks to measure progress in terms of activities as set out in the National Trauma Transformation Programme roadmap, as well as progress in terms of the outcomes set out in the logic model. The plan is for workstream members to use this form to share their activity, progress towards outcomes and any learning arising. The workstream as whole may also use it to summarise progress to taskforce.
5. Members were asked to provide feedback on the form, and additionally identify potential or actual sources of information that would be used to evidence organisational progress towards outcomes. JAS and NES are in the process of finalising the form based on these responses, and it is our intention to circulate the final version to members in December for completion by the following month.
NES e-Modules
6. As part of a package of work to implement and embed the Trauma Informed Justice Knowledge and Skills Framework across the justice sector, and in partnership with victims and witnesses and workforce members nominated by the workstream, NES has developed two e-modules that launched via a webinar on 06 November 2024.
7. Module 1 is designed to give learners the introductory knowledge to support a trauma-informed justice system. Module 2 covers the knowledge required by anyone working within the justice sector who has regular and direct contact with victims and witnesses. The e-modules are accessible to people who work in the justice sector and by people with people affected by crime through NES’s learning platform Turas.
Questions for the Taskforce’s consideration
- Is the Taskforce content to note progress on monitoring approach for the implementation of the knowledge and skills framework?
- Is the Taskforce content to note the launch of e-modules that can be uploaded to organisations’ learning management systems?
- Do members have any reflections on how their respective organisations will use the e-modules to support implementation of the Knowledge and Skills Framework?
Annex A – Workstream 2 logic model
Inputs
- cross sector joint leadership and organisational commitment to stated vision & agreed outcomes, and to long-term culture & systems change.
- safe & supportive organisational culture that can welcome feedback & support continued improvement and systemic change
- time and resource for workforce & leaders to and engage with wellbeing support, trauma training & implementation
- financial investment (e.g., releasing workforce for training & supporting changes in practice, service design & delivery)
- commitment to measuring progress against agreed outcomes
Activities: (more detail in part 2 of the Roadmap)
- developing trauma-informed leadership and culture, with clear implementation and accountability structures
- strengthening care support and wellbeing for workforce, and prevention of vicarious traumatisation
- embedding opportunities for feedback from all witnesses and members of workforce for continuous improvement
- creating opportunities for power sharing with witnesses
- developing the knowledge, skills and confidence of workforce to adopt trauma-informed and responsive practices.
- taking a trauma-informed lens to examine legislation, policies, processes, and service design and delivery through a trauma informed lens
Short term outcomes: Changes expected from initial phase (stages 1-3 of the Roadmap)
- the organisation has a better understanding of current resilience and wellbeing of the workforce, areas of risk in terms of vicarious traumatisation, and proactive & reactive supports required
- members of workforce are more likely to feel better equipped to recognise the impact of working with traumatic material and witnesses affected by trauma on self, colleagues & teams
- managers and members of the workforce are more likely to understand the knowledge, skills & training they require within their role in order to:
- recognise and minimise risk of harm and re-traumatisation
- maximise opportunities for recovery,
- support effective participation of witnesses
as well as have the support required to translate that into practice
- witnesses are more likely to experience services and systems that proactively welcome feedback about their experiences to support continuous improvement
- leaders are more likely to share a clear vision & understand, drive, and inspire a trauma-informed culture and approach across their sphere of influence
Medium term outcomes: Changes expected from implementation phase (stages 3-5 of the Roadmap)
- members of workforce are more likely to report that their resilience and wellbeing is proactively supported, and risk of vicarious traumatisation is reduced
- members of workforce are more likely to:
- recognise & understand the impact of trauma on witnesses
- have the skills to minimise the risks of re-traumatisation and maximise opportunities for recovery
- adapt how they practice to maximise effective participation of witnesses to give the best evidence possible
- witnesses are more likely to consistently report a justice journey that feels safe, predictable and easy to navigate, & experience a greater sense of collaboration, choice, trust, and empowerment throughout
- witnesses are more likely to feel empowered to collaboratively influence change across services and systems
- services and systems, environments, policies, relationships and ways of working start to adapt in ways that recognise the prevalence and impact of trauma on witnesses, in line with framework
Longer term outcomes / impact: Eventual outcomes anticipated from full implementation
Workforce resilience is supported (Aim 5)
- members of workforce feel safe & supported at work, supporting them to effectively and confidently practice in a trauma informed way.
Witnesses are able to participate effectively (Aim 4)
- witnesses are enabled to participate to the fullest extent possible and give the best quality evidence they can.
- the impact of trauma on witnesses and their evidence is more likely to be recognised, understood & adapted to.
Victims’ voices are heard
- witnesses feel feedback about their experience has been welcomed and heard.
The recovery of witnesses is supported where possible (Aim 3), and they feel like they have been treated with compassion
- where required, witnesses and their families are able to access specialist therapeutic services or interventions appropriate to their recovery needs
- witnesses experience systems, processes and relationships that are supportive to recovery throughout their justice journey.
Harm is minimised (Aim 2) and victims feel safe
- witnesses and their families are protected from further harm, and any experience of re-traumatisation is avoided where at all possible
Culture and systems change through leadership (Aim 6)
- culture across the organisation reflects an understanding of what trauma is, how it can affect victims and witnesses and why it is important for a justice system to respond in these trauma informed ways
- witnesses and members of workforce alike are more likely to experience physical environments, processes and procedures as safe, predictable and supportive, designed and delivered with an understanding of trauma in mind, fairly balancing the rights of both accused and complainer