London Borough of Redbridge - Trauma Informed Practice
Interface was commissioned by the London Borough of Redbridge to design and deliver a comprehensive three-year programme to embed Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP) across the Children and Families Service.
The programme aims to establish a whole-system approach that strengthens relationships, improves outcomes for children and families, and builds a confident, resilient, and reflective workforce.
The council’s ambition is for all practitioners and leaders to understand trauma and its impact, and to ensure that services consistently operate from a trauma-informed, child-rights-based perspective.
Programme Objectives
The programme focuses on:
- Embedding the principles of safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and choice.
- Developing the workforce to increase staff satisfaction, confidence, and retention.
- Reducing re-referrals to social care and improving placement stability.
- Supporting leadership to sustain a culture of trauma-informed practice.
Programme Design and Delivery
Interface designed and implemented a multi-layered programme tailored to the Redbridge context, combining leadership development, workforce training, and reflective practice support.
Leadership and Implementation Support
- Strategic consultation and implementation planning with senior leaders.
- A bespoke leadership development programme for Heads of Service.
- Ongoing support and challenge for Team Managers to sustain embedding.
Workforce Development
- Bespoke, face-to-face training for over 300 staff and managers across Early Help, Children’s Social Care, Fostering, Adoption, and partner agencies.
- A Train-the-Trainer pathway for Advanced Practitioners to build internal capacity and ensure sustainability.
- Tailored sessions for foster carers and multi-agency partners, promoting system-wide alignment.
Supervision and Practice Support
- Clinical supervision sessions providing reflective space for complex case discussions.
- Guidance for managers on recognising and addressing secondary and vicarious trauma, and supporting staff wellbeing.
- Facilitated peer learning and mentoring to embed trauma-informed principles in everyday practice.
Impact and Emerging Outcomes
Evidence highlights significant positive impact across the system.
“The trainer was absolutely brilliant — engaging, knowledgeable and compassionate.”
“This programme has really changed how I approach families and think about the impact of trauma.”
“It’s made me reflect on my own practice and how I can create safety and trust in every interaction.”
The training and supervision components have built a shared language and understanding across services, enhancing collaboration and supporting more consistent, compassionate practice.
Recent Feedback (October 2025)
Leaders describe the transformation as “revolutionary.”
- Having a shared language has fundamentally changed how teams work together.
- Practitioners report feeling safe enough to be vulnerable with peers — a significant cultural shift.
- Teams are solving problems collaboratively, guided by curiosity, compassion, and empathy.
- A rebalance of power has emerged, underpinned by mutual respect and a consistent focus on “what is right for children and families.”