Evaluating trauma informed care training for services supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage

Abstract

Purpose

Implementing trauma informed care (TIC) for individuals facing homelessness and multiple disadvantage is proposed to help both service users and staff work effectively and therapeutically together. However, the effectiveness of implementing TIC via training is debatable. This study aims to explore the effects of a four-day TIC and psychologically informed environments training package in such services.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis explores the effect of this training on the degree of TIC as measured by the TICOMETER, a psychometrically robust organisational measure of TIC. The study examines group and individual level changes from before training and again at six-month and one-year follow-up time-points.

Findings

At the group level analysis, three of the five TICOMETER domains (knowledge and skills, relationships, and policies and procedures) were higher when compared to pre-training scores. The remaining two domains (service delivery and respect) did not improve. Individual-level analysis showed some participants’ scores decreased following training. Overall, the training appeared to modestly improve the degree of TIC as measured by the TICOMETER and these effects were sustained at one-year follow-up.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are limited by the design and low response rates at follow-up.

Practical implications

Training is necessary but not sufficient for the implementation of TIC and needs to be complemented with wider organisational and system-level changes.

Originality/value

This paper is the first UK study to use the TICOMETER.

Citation

Burge, R., Tickle, A. and Moghaddam, N. (2021), "Evaluating trauma informed care training for services supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage", Housing, Care and Support, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/HCS-01-2021-0002