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.”
“Interface have been a key partner in strengthening practice across our Children’s Services. Their facilitators are highly skilled, knowledgeable and deeply committed to improving outcomes for children and families. The Trauma-Informed Practice programme they designed and delivered across the borough has had a significant impact, helping our workforce develop greater confidence, consistency and reflection in their practice. Their relational facilitation style and strong partnership approach have been instrumental in supporting cultural change, particularly through the transformational work with our Heads of Service group. Because of the success of the programme, we have asked Interface to continue supporting our Trauma Champions and to develop a Train-the-Trainer pathway to sustain the approach across the service.”
Assistant Director, London Borough of Redbridge Judy Daniels