Residential care worker perceptions on the implementation of trauma-informed practice

Young people in residential out-of-home care are one of the most traumatised, vulnerable, and disadvantaged groups in the Australian community. Residential care workers are trained in trauma-informed practice, to provide quality care to young people in residential care through a trauma-informed lens. However, limited research exists on perceptions of residential care workers on the implementation of trauma-informed practice in the Australian context, and whether it is sufficient to support young people in residential care. This qualitative study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to better understand worker perceptions and experiences when implementing trauma-informed practice in residential care, and explore any perceived barriers or recommendations to implementation in this context. Seven participants were recruited and interviewed. The results demonstrated that workers apply some elements of trauma-informed practice into everyday practice, such as self-awareness, providing a safe environment, and giving the young person choice and control. However, participants perceived that they lacked the training to support positive behaviour changes and engaging young people with trauma to develop adaptive skills to become more independent. It was also found that participants rarely referenced or identified their own trauma-informed actions and aligned these principles to practical aspects of their role, even when incidental trauma-informed approaches were being used. Understanding the experiences of residential care workers provides insight into the functional day-to-day delivery of trauma-informed practice, demonstrating which aspects are translatable, and which areas workers may benefit from further training to improve practical and contextualised application.