Cambridge University Hospitals – Relational Practice & Trauma-Informed Training
We were commissioned by Cambridge University Hospitals to design and deliver bespoke training and facilitation for a multidisciplinary team working with vulnerable children and families. The service provides long-term care from pre-birth through to adolescence (16–18 years), so staff wanted to strengthen their relational approach, ensuring inclusivity and better outcomes for children and families over many years of contact.
Participants included a wide range of staff — administrators, nurses, occupational therapists, consultants, and surgeons — reflecting the complexity of care and the importance of a whole-team approach.
The training explored how values such as inclusivity, trust, and collaboration underpin relational and trauma-informed practice. It also addressed how clinical decision-making and family experiences are shaped by identity, culture, and systemic barriers.
By the end of the training, participants were able to:
- Analyse how social identities and unconscious bias affect clinical decision-making and equitable care
- Identify how beliefs shape perceptions of congenital differences, treatment decisions, and acceptance of variations
- Understand how patients and families navigate healthcare pathways and the impact of trauma on decision-making
- Recognise the long-term nature of care involving multiple MDT practitioners and the need for coordinated support
- Develop culturally responsive communication strategies and navigate common clinical challenges
Why it was helpful
The training equipped staff with the tools to:
- Approach care through a more relational and inclusive lens
- Provide consistent, trauma-informed support across different disciplines
- Build stronger relationships with families through culturally responsive communication
- Work more collaboratively across professional boundaries, reducing fragmentation in care
This bespoke programme strengthened the team’s ability to deliver compassionate, coordinated, and inclusive care for children and families navigating complex healthcare journeys.
Feedback received
“The facilitators created a safe and supportive space for our multidisciplinary team to have open and thoughtful conversations about identity, bias, communication and the experiences of the families we work with. Their facilitation style ensured that colleagues from all roles felt able to contribute, and the interactive activities were highly relevant to our day-to-day work. The sessions gave the team valuable time to reflect together, strengthen our relational approach and identify practical ways to improve how we support families across the service. The impact was so positive that we have invited them to return and deliver further sessions with another team.”
Commissioning Lead, Cambridge University Hospitals
“This was a really thought-provoking and engaging couple of days. The activities and discussions helped us reflect on how our perspectives, experiences and communication styles influence the way children and families experience our service. It was particularly valuable to hear different viewpoints from colleagues across the team and to have the space for open, respectful discussion. I came away with practical ideas I can apply in my everyday interactions with patients and families.”
Clinical Team Member