Skip to main content

Course

Foundations of trauma-informed, relationship-based practice – an introductory course for everyone

Foundations of trauma-informed, relationship-based practice – an introductory course for everyone

About this course

  • 4 hours study
  • Level 0: Beginner
  • Gain a digital badge

Ratings

5 out of 5 stars

Sign up to get more

You can start learning at any time. By signing up and enrolling you can track your progress and earn a Statement of Participation upon completion, all for free.

View this course

Sign up to get more
    • Welcome to the Foundations of trauma-informed, relationship-based practice course.

      This free short introductory course will help you to understand the concepts of trauma-informed and relationship-based practice. We hope it will help you to develop a new way of thinking or become a stronger advocate for the positive ways you already value relationships.

      This course is suitable for anyone who is working with, supporting or caring for children, young people, and their families or caregivers. It is especially important if you know that the child or young person you are supporting is likely to have experienced trauma, such as they have needed foster care or they have had to become a refugee.

      Perhaps these are experiences that you have had yourself? The course also emphasises the value of looking after yourself and knowing where to find further help and support for anyone who needs it.

      The learning in this course is designed to be inclusive and, although it will not have a particular focus on individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, abilities, genders, or other specific experiences, it will primarily consider children and young people with lived experience of care. 

      The term ‘care-experienced’ refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care at any stage in their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked-after and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people. This care may have been provided in one of many different formal or informal settings such as in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or a supervision order at home.

      The knowledge you will gain from this course will be transferable and you will be able to apply what you have learned to a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds, living in a variety of different circumstances that you may support or care for.

      A digital badge for the course.

      You can gain a digital badge that shows that you have completed this course. To be awarded the badge you need to complete all sections of the course content and pass the end-of-course quiz.

      Staf is Scotland’s national membership organisation for all of those involved in the lives of young people leaving care. Staf is committed to its values: We Listen, We Care, We Love.

                        STAF logo           The Open University in Scotland logo


  • Gain a digital badge

    Gain a digital badge

    By studying the course you will have the opportunity to gain a digital badge – you need to click on the ‘Enrol’ button to be able to do the quizzes and earn the badge.

  • Course learning outcomes

    Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

    • Describe different types of traumas and the potential impact on physical, emotional, behavioural and mental health.
    • Identify the five trauma-informed principles and discuss how these can be applied to support trauma-affected individuals.
    • Explain how personal, community, and professional relationships contribute to positive emotional well-being and outcomes for those impacted by trauma, and particularly the care-experienced population.  
    • Apply positive relationship skills to enhance interpersonal connections and interactions. 
    • Discuss the significance of valuing and respecting an individual’s lived experiences and perspectives in effective trauma-informed, relationship-based approaches. 
    • Evaluate your own interactions and practices through a trauma-informed, relationship-based lens.

  • Course dates:

    First Published 28/03/2025.

    Updated 17/04/2025

Course content

Below is the course content. You can click on any section here and it will take you through to this section of the course.

Course Reviews

1 Ratings

1 review for this course

This course is rated 5

We invite you to discuss this subject, but remember this is a public forum.

Please be polite, and avoid your passions turning into contempt for others. We may delete posts that are rude or aggressive; or edit posts containing contact details or links to other websites.

Course reviews

  • Irene Mackintosh

    Irene Mackintosh4 April 2025 12:12

    Brilliant, reflective training focussing on impact of trauma & relationships with wide-ranging implications. Everyone should make space to think about issues raised in this training, & consider how we might all just try a wee bit harder to help & support each other in meaningful ways.

About this course

  • 4 hours study
  • Level 0: Beginner
  • Gain a digital badge

Ratings

5 out of 5 stars

Sign up to get more

You can start learning at any time. By signing up and enrolling you can track your progress and earn a Statement of Participation upon completion, all for free.

View this course

Sign up to get more

Download this course

Download this course for use offline or for other devices.

Course rewards

  • Earn a free digital badge if you complete this course, to display and share your achievement.