Agenda item

Following consideration of a report of the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing, the Community Policy Development Group has made the following recommendation, that:

1.    It be recommended to Full Council the degree of investment the Council would require towards becoming a Trauma Informed Council.

2.    Subject to recommendation 1 that it be recommended to Full Council a stepped approach be adopted, as set out in annex 1.

The Cabinet had before it, and noted, a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing  that provided information to Members about Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) becoming a Trauma Informed Council, with a trained trauma aware workforce, as requested by the Community Policy Development Group (PDG) held on 22 March 2022. It followed a recommendation of the PDG Working Group on Community Safety made at the meeting that the PDG investigate adopting this informal status and strategic approach as a Council.

The Cabinet Member for Community and Well Being outlined the following:

·         There was a risk that if not approved MDDC services would not suitably or satisfactorily accommodate the needs of our service users.

·         External training costs for the scheme were: £9000 for year 1 and £3000 for year 2, but there was an option for in-house trainers which would cost £2700 per person (x3 = £8100).

·         To become Trauma Informed (TI) provided a wider synergy with the Council’s Corporate Plan and Priorities which included: ‘Support and grown active tenancy engagement’ which ensured inclusivity of the most vulnerable within our tenants and communities; ‘Promote new/more integrated approaches to promoting good health and healthier living, especially in the context of planned new developments’; ‘Seek opportunities to address public health issues and disparities to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Mid Devon’ and ‘Promote community involvement in Council activity’.

·         That there were potential benefits some of which included: individuals and communities would feel that they were being listened to; that positive relationships would be formed and the Council/individuals are trusted and that people would feel safe and supported.

The Leader thanked the Cabinet Member for their presentation and opened the floor for questions, which were as followed:

·         The Leader asked if there was a figure in mind in terms of total costs, to which the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing explained that if in-house trainers were used then the overall costs would be circa £20,000.

·         The Leader also asked if this cost would be placed on the general fund or the HRA fund. The Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing explained that it was designed for all services where relevant and would benefit from the training. The exact split between the general fund and HRA fund would need to be determined. 

·         A Cabinet Member raised support for this training and applauded this direction. They also raised that trauma does not go away but was managed and if support could be given to those individuals then that could only be a good thing.

RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council: That

1.    The degree of investment the Council would be required to make towards becoming a Trauma Informed (TI) Council as set out in the report.

2.    A stepped approach is adopted, as set out in Annex 1.

(Proposed by Cllr D Knowles and seconded by Cllr C Slade)

Reason for Decision: There would be a risk that if this approach was not approved that MDDC services would not suitably and satisfactorily accommodate the needs of our service users. In addition, adoption of a TI approach supported the Council’s desire to be progressive and committed to providing a high quality and sustainable service. This modification to a TI service delivery linked closely with the promise for local engagement and participation, supported good health (because of improved understanding of barriers), promoted equality of service, and supported the values that are important to the Council.