“It's a Whole School Approach; It's Not Just Me” Practitioner’s Views on Trauma-Informed Care Within Aotearoa New Zealand Primary and Intermediate Schools

Abstract

The experience of trauma can result in long-term adverse outcomes for children. It can present itself in youth as behavioural, social and cognitive difficulties. Trauma-informed care is a growing area of interest, given the benefits it offers to organisations and the clients they support. Within the education system, it has been recognised as allowing for better mental health and education outcomes for students who have experienced trauma. Despite the growing use of trauma-informed care within education systems internationally, this area is highly under-researched in the context of Aotearoa, New Zealand. This study looked at the experiences of Aotearoa intermediate and primary school counsellors and social workers regarding the impact of the implementation (or lack of implementation) of trauma-informed care approaches in their schools. Five participants from across Aotearoa were interviewed. Then, using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis, three themes were identified within a social constructionist epistemology: Trauma-informed care in practice, The practitioner within the school, and trauma-informed care effectiveness. Primarily, what stood out from the findings was that trauma-informed care frameworks were utilised within Aotearoa schools to differing degrees. Some schools are engaging in this effectively from the perspective of school counsellors and social workers. These practitioners felt well supported, as there was a shared language around trauma and school-wide application of trauma skills being utilised. However, there were also issues with some staff not applying trauma-informed care practice, as well as training not being consistent or maintained. This study highlighted how trauma-informed frameworks can influence the work of practitioners in schools, as well as their general well-being (i.e., vicarious trauma, increasing staff support). As part of the recommendations from this study, the importance of a trauma-informed care framework specific to Aotearoa being developed is reflected.