Teachers and social work staff in Argyll and Bute have been undergoing training to become more trauma aware in order to help support children and young people affected by adversity and traumatic experiences.
Argyll and Bute Council is one of just three local authorities selected by the Scottish Government to take part in the pilot trauma training programme.
Delivered in line with the Scottish Psychological Trauma Training Plan, developed by NHS Education for Scotland, the training helps to create a workforce that recognises when children or young people are affected by trauma so they can get the support they need.
The Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said: “People can be affected by all kinds of trauma: there is no rule book. That is why it is so important that those working closely with our children and young people are able to recognise the signs of someone who is suffering.
“The training is not just about identifying a child or young person affected by a traumatic experience, it is about staff having an understanding of what they are going through, what they are feeling, why they are acting a certain way. It is about showing compassion and helping guide them to the care they need to recover.
“This training is a positive step that will lead to changes to practice and improve outcomes for our children and young people.”