Attitudes towards trauma-informed care in residential out-of-home care

Abstract

The attitudes of staff working in residential care towards trauma-informed care were measured prior to the implementation of The Sanctuary Model, an organisation-wide model and 6- months post implementation. The attitudes of 31 staff working in residential care were measured using the ARTIC-35 (baseline) and ARTIC-45 (follow-up) scales. Results revealed that staff had positive attitudes at baseline and follow-up, indicating an inherent empathy for, and understanding of, the importance of trauma-informed care. Attitudes towards on-the-job behaviour, self-efficacy at work, reactions to the work and responses to problem behaviour and symptoms were adaptable, in which differences were found between and within roles, within age groups and between length of time in their current role. Findings from this study should encourage further inquiry into the relationship between attitudes of staff working in residential care and their understanding of trauma responses, application of this knowledge into practice and the social and health outcomes of children and young people in out-of-home care.