Professionals from across Merseyside to host conference on the affects of trauma

Professionals from across Merseyside will come together at a special conference this week to better understand the impact trauma has on our work and daily life and explore how we can create a truly trauma responsive region.

Funded and hosted by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), the conference is designed to help those in attendance take the next steps in their journey to becoming ‘Trauma Informed Curiosity Champions’ and support the work to ensure organisations across the region are sensitive to trauma and can support their employees and the communities they serve.

The event will bring together more than 70 professionals from across the public and third sector who have already completed the MVRP’s free four-part trauma training focused on recognising the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) to help them to better understand and respond to the needs of the communities and the people they support.

Delivered by industry experts, the training focuses on supporting organisations and their employees to appreciate how psychological trauma and ACES can impact on individuals and highlights the implications it can have for their services.

At Friday’s conference at the Women’s Organisation in Liverpool, attendees will build on the knowledge they’ve already gained, helping them to develop an understanding of how to embed change on an organisational level, supporting emotional health and wellbeing for staff as well as for clients and service users.

Jane Pepa, MVRP Trauma Informed Lead Practitioner said:

 “What I really want to do is create curiosity champions that work together and have a greater understanding of the origins and impacts of trauma, for the betterment of the children and adults that we have across Merseyside.

“We are seeing people’s perception of trauma changing completely and this conference is another step on that journey.

“By understanding our own individual experiences we create a ripple effect which helps us change outcomes for the people that we work with.”

MVRP Director, Superintendent Georgie Garvey said:

 “It’s hugely inspiring and encouraging to see the overwhelmingly positive response we’ve had to our trauma informed training so far, and it continues to go from strength to strength.

“More than 2,000 people have already undertaken our training and this conference will let us build on this success by taking things a step further.

“We are determined to keep this movement going, to shape our culture and services to become more sensitive to trauma, and to help organisations to better support their staff and improve outcomes for the people who rely on us, so we can create a fully trauma-informed county.

Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:

 “It’s fantastic to see so many people coming together, committed to helping to build a truly trauma informed region. A region which is aware of and understands the devastating impact trauma can bring.

“Nobody is immune to trauma. It impacts us all, each day, in many different ways, so it’s vital we do all we can to be more responsive and compassionate, to recognise that everyone’s perception is different and that adverse childhood experiences can impact us for our whole lives.

“That is how we can offer greater protection to our young people and help people to live healthier, safer lives.”

Professor Zara Quigg, School of Public and Allied Health, at Liverpool John Moores University is due to open Friday’s conference, she said:

 “Adverse childhood experiences and trauma place huge impacts on children and our communities. We need to think and work differently if we are to effectively prevent harm to children and address the consequences of trauma across people’s lives.

“This training is a major step in transforming Merseyside into an ACE and trauma responsive region, that addresses the root causes of trauma and supports children, families and communities to thrive.

“Through our research, knowledge exchange and education delivery, Liverpool John Moores University is committed to this movement to improve outcomes for our local communities and beyond.”

The MVRP’s Trauma Informed Training is free and available to all Merseyside public services.

Since the course was launched in October 2023, more than 2,000 professionals from a wide range of organisations, including social care, education, police, probation, fire service and youth and community services have already signed up to take part.

Find out more about Trauma Informed Practice Training and book your place on an upcoming course in Merseyside here.

Find all the latest Liverpool news here.