Joint training initiative launched for childhood trauma

Officers from the States of Jersey Police (SoJP) and Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) attended an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Awareness and Becoming Trauma Informed training day yesterday. 

The training funded by SoJP and Jersey’s Children’s Commissioner provided 20 attendees with an increased awareness of what Children’s Rights are, why they are important and a broad understanding of trauma caused by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and its impact across an individual’s life course. As well as, knowledge of brain development, the impact of toxic stress and what is meant by the taking a Trauma Informed Approach. 

Children’s Commissioner Deborah McMillan said: “A trauma-informed approach can make an enormous difference when dealing with challenges in policing, education and children's social care. I am really pleased to be able to provide this training here in Jersey, and I hope that it will have a positive impact on frontline services.”

Early life experiences are the foundational building blocks for development, learning, and health throughout a person’s lifetime. Trauma can have a long-term effect on well-being and functioning for children, adults, families, and our community.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull commented: “This joint training initiative forms part of our States of Jersey Police’s mission to better understand and to engage with young people positively, whilst working in partnership with other agency colleagues, and we hope to hold further events in the future.”  

Mark Owers, Director of Safeguarding and Care, at Children, Young People, Education and Skills added: “The experiences we have early in our lives and particularly in our early childhoods have a huge impact on how we grow and develop, our physical and mental health, and our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It is really important that everyone who works with children, young people and their families understand this and provide the right help and support to allow them to grow and develop and reach their full potential. I would like to thank the States of Jersey Police and the Children’s Commissioner’s Office for supporting this training for colleagues across the Government of Jersey and partner agencies.”

The purpose of training is to increase our collective ability as an Island to support individuals who have experienced traumatic events through the provision of supportive trauma-informed strategies and services.