About this Course

In 2019, the NHS Long Term Plan put forward recommendations for all mental health services to be trauma-informed.  Since then, CNWL Harrow, have been leading the way with their model of Trauma-Informed Care, operationalised by Dr Faye Nikopaschos (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) and Gail Burrell (Harrow Borough Director and Trust wide Perinatal Lead) for acute and community mental health services in the NHS. 

The three core components of the model include: 1. staff training on Trauma-Informed Care and Stabilisation interventions; 2. corresponding Trauma-Informed Stabilisation manual for service users; and 3. Team Formulation model, informed by the Power Threat Meaning Framework. Together the components support staff to develop their skills in both understanding and intervening from a trauma-informed framework.

Implementation of the CNWL model in Harrow services has shown significant reductions in the use of restrictive intervention and self-harm incidents on inpatient wards (Nikopaschos, Burrell et al., 2023) alongside increased staff compassion, understanding and confidence in applying trauma-informed psychological approaches (Nikopaschos et al., in press).  The project is now being adopted by services beyond CNWL both nationally and internationally, has received national recognition from NHS England and the United Nations has requested permission to disseminate one of the core workbooks from the Stabilisation Manual.  Dr Nikopaschos was also recently awarded the prestigious May Davidson award in recognition of this work.

Join us to learn more about Trauma Informed Approaches from the current experts in the field.

We are currently holding a waitlist for 2026 training. Please contact cnwl.step-up@nhs.net to be added to the waitlist. We also provide bespoke training, if this is of interest please contact us to discuss your requirement.

A four-day training complete training package, introducing participants to Trauma-Informed Approaches, formulation using the Power Threat Meaning Framework and intervention through Stabilisation, is offered by the pioneers of this approach, for mental health professionals as follows. 

  • Day 1: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Approaches and formulation with the Power Threat Meaning Framework (also offered as standalone training day)
  • Day 2: Developing psychological safety through Stabilisation – Part 1 (Skills: Self Compassion, Sensory Soothing, Mindfulness)
  • Day 3: Developing psychological safety through Stabilisation – Part 2 (Skills: Effective Communication, Breathing & Relaxation, Food & Sleep, Distraction & Distancing)
  • Day 4: Developing psychological safety through Stabilisation – Part 3 (Skills: Valued Activity, Grounding, Maintaining Wellbeing)

Bespoke packages can also be developed upon request for both mental health professionals as well as staff working in non-clinical settings (e.g. corporate services looking to improve staff wellbeing).

All participants will receive a professionally printed copy of CNWL’s TIA Stabilisation Manual – V3, included within the fee for this course. Additional copies can be purchased through the Step-Up platform.

All sessions run from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

 

Skills You Will Learn

  1. Develop your understanding of Trauma-Informed Approaches to Mental Health Care, and the associated research and theory.
  2. Develop your understanding of Trauma-Informed Approaches to formulation using the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF).
  3. Develop your understanding of and skills* in delivering a range of Trauma-Informed Stabilisation interventions from CNWL’s Stabilisation Manual – V3 

*Skills include: Self-Compassion; Sensory Soothing; Mindfulness; Effective Communication; Breathing, Relaxation & Imagery; Food & Sleep; Distraction & Distancing; Values; Grounding; Maintaining my Wellbeing

 

Structure of Each Day

Each day will comprise a combination of teaching, experiential exercises/ practice, and role plays.

Timings for the day will be as follows:

9.30am – 10.50am:  Teaching

10.50am – 11.10am: Break

11.10am – 12.30pm:  Teaching

12.30pm – 1.30pm:  Lunch

1.30pm – 2.50pm:  Teaching

2.50pm – 3.10pm:  Break

3.10pm – 4.30pm: Teaching

 

Further Details

Course fee: £1,000 per person
Duration: 4 non-consecutive days (dates to be confirmed)
Setting: face to face
Location: Central London, Euston Rd area (full address TBC)
Waitlist: please contact us on cnwl.step-up@nhs.net