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In a first, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) is bringing together a range of experts, service users, and justice partners to consider how we can provide a trauma informed service to people throughout Northern Ireland.
Probation’s Chief Executive Amanda Stewart said: “Our staff have identified a growing issue with high number of people on our caseload having been exposed to trauma and dealing with the impacts of that trauma. For example, over 72% of people entering probation have a problem in relation to emotional wellbeing and half of people have a mental health problem. That is why we are bringing together a range of partners and experts in the field of trauma from throughout the island of Ireland to help us identify and understand how to deal with this issue”.
Amanda continued: “Offending behaviour does not happen in isolation, there is nearly always a context to it. Understanding why people offend enables us to prevent re-offending and protect the public. The reasons why people offend are very often linked to an individual’s life-course and development, with past experiences having an impact upon why they have offended. For example, we know that people who have suffered adversities in childhood like neglect, abuse, or lack of support are much more likely to enter the justice system. If we can recognise and understand the impact of past events on the lives of people who commit offences, we can support them to move away from crime and help to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society.
Concluding the Chief Executive said: “We also know that working in this difficult environment can have an impact on the wellbeing of our staff and that is why we want to support our own people and build a positive working environment so that we can effectively deliver services to those who most need it”.
Director of the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, and keynote speaker at the event, Helen McKenzie said that: “To be truly trauma informed we need not only to focus on the people who seek support but equally on the people and systems who provide that support. By applying a trauma informed approach, we are recognising that everyone has a role to play in supporting opportunities and life chances for people affected by trauma and adversity.”
You can also access the Powerpoint presentations below
- PBNI Staff Conference 28 March 2023 Powerpoint Presentation - The Journey Towards a Trauma Informed System from Keynote speaker Helen McKenzie, Director of Operations, Safeguarding Board NI.
- PBNI Staff Conference 28 March 2023 Powerpoint Presentation - Importance of nervous system awareness when working with people on Probation from Research Fellow Dr Jane Mulcahy.
- PBNI Staff Conference 28 March 2023 Powerpoint Presentation - Applying a trauma lens in Probation Practice from Marcella Leonard, Leonard Cunsulting.
- PBNI Staff Conference 28 March 2023 - Powerpoint Presentation on Trauma Informed Art Therapy from Dr Caryl Sibbett and Eileen McCourt.
