Description: Created specifically for the US Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, this resource provides succinct guidelines for supervision in organisations where employees are exposed to vicarious trauma. Its recommendations for vicarious trauma-informed supervision fall under the following categories:
What's the evidence for this resource: The resource was developed by the Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice (now the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research) at Northeastern University, a reputable university in the United States. References are provided, though not every recommendation has a citation.
Potential uses and limitations: This resource provides brief, clear guidelines for supervision in a vicarious trauma-informed organisation.
Due to its brevity, this resource does not give instructions on how to achieve its recommendations. For example, one guideline is to "Design a workplace that is safe, fosters collaboration, demonstrates respect for diversity, and acknowledges the importance of addressing VT on a regular basis" (p. 1). Managers and other readers may need to find other resources for further guidance on achieving these recommendations.
Where it comes from: The resource was developed for the US Vicarious Trauma Toolkit by Northeastern University's Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice (now the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research), in collaboration with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.
The CPSU gratefully acknowledges the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, for allowing us to reproduce. in whole, the Supervision Guidelines for a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Organization. This article was prepared by the Office for Victims of Crime.
Description: These guidelines delineate a framework for the human resources policies and procedures that support a vicarious trauma-informed organization.
What's the evidence base for this resource: Developed by the US Dept of Justice Vicarious Trauma Toolkit team with the Northeastern University.
Potential uses and limitation: High level suggestions for human resource (People and Culture) departments, in regards to employment policies and staff well being provisions.
Where it comes from: The US Dept of Justice Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
The CPSU gratefully acknowledges the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, for allowing us to reproduce. in whole, the Human Resource Guidelines for a Vicarious Trauma-Informed Organization. This article was prepared by the Office for Victims of Crime.
Description
Although this is published as an academic journal article, it outlines a useful supervision framework. The intent of the framework is to assist supervisors and supervisees explore vicarious resilience, post-traumatic growth and altruism that can arise from supporting clients who have experienced significant trauma.
Authors: Hernandez, P., Engstrom, D., and Gangsei, D, 2010
What's the evidence base for this resource
Article published in a peer reviewed journal.
Potential uses and limitations
Practical questions and ideas for supervisors to explore the positive aspects of trauma-related work.
Primarily intended for therapists/counsellors but could be adapted for other contexts.
Where it comes from
Published in the Journal of Systemic Therapies, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2010, pp. 67–83.
Made publicly available through the Heal Torture organisation.
Description
This organisation for humanitarian workers provides information, training, and literature on vicarious trauma, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and resilience.
Link to Headington Institute, Vicarious Trauma section
What's the evidence base for this resource
The training material and other resources have been developed by a highly experienced group of clinicians and researchers with extensive expertise in the trauma field.
Potential uses and limitations
The main focus of the Headington Institute is workers and organisations providing humanitarian aid.
However much of the material would be useful across a range of contexts.
Includes a fully downloadable training package including worksheets, handouts and video links.
The role of organisational responses is noted and some suggestions are made, however are not as detailed as the sections focussing on self-care.
There are some useful questions to guide reflection for managers and supervisors.
Where it comes from
The Headington Institute partners with humanitarian relief and
development organizations and emergency responders, before, during, and
after deployment in order to ensure the wellbeing of individuals. Our
team of psychologists, many with over 30 years of clinical experience,
bridge cutting edge academic research with practical application at the
field level, in order to strengthen the impact of humanitarian response
and promote the long-term wellbeing of humanitarian personnel. Based in the US.
Description: Fear based models of PTSD have dominated research and clinical approaches to PTSD since the 1990s. The role of overwhelming horror, injustice, embitterment and shame emerge as alternative pathways to traumatic stress injury and the role of such emotions in addition to exposure to ‘life threat’. This session will provide attendees with an overview of research in moral injury which aims to expand treatments for PTSD to better address role of these forms of traumatic stress injury.
What's the evidence base for this resource: Professor Zachary Steel is a recognized academic researcher at the University of New South Wales. We have a high degree of confidence in the information presented.
Does not provide any advice on how this could be addressed at an organisational/primary prevention level.
Where it comes from: Recorded as part of WorkSafe Tasmania PTSD: "Mental Health Matters" Conference, 14th October 2019
Content Warning: These videos address issues relating to post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. Please be aware that presentations may contain content and imagery that may be confronting or cause distress.
Description: A brief overview of the signs of vicarious trauma and burnout. Focused on workers in the family violence sector.
What's the evidence base for this resource: Does not directly cite any research or literature. However the information is broadly consistent with the evidence base and accepted practice.
Potential uses and limitations: Includes some simple tips for worker self-care and prevention at an individual level. Does not discuss primary prevention.
Where it comes from: (from the site) "The Lookout is a place where Victorian family violence workers and
other professionals in universal and mainstream services can find
information, evidence-based resources and services to help them respond
to family violence". The Lookout has been developed by the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) and Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic) with funding from the Victorian Government as part of its commitment to addressing violence against women and children.
Description: Literature summary and discussion of key themes related to vicarious trauma.
Topics include:
Section one: DefinitionsWhat's the evidence base for this resource: While intended to be accessible to workers in the field, this resource does include a reasonably thorough amount of referencing to credible research and academic literature.
Potential uses and limitations Offers a variety of perspectives, from clinical to ethics-centred, to generate discussion and reflection. There are some general suggestions regarding supportive organisational practices, as well as personal self-care practices. Some of the infographics at the end are not particularly useful or relevant. Is a relatively lengthy read, although sections can be read individually.
Where it comes from: Australian based website livingwell.org.au which provides support and information to men who have experienced sexual abuse.
Description: Useful model for a checklist of work related incidents that contribute to cumulative trauma.
What's the evidence base for this resource: Adapted from an academic research article published in the peer reviewed journal Traumatology.
Potential uses and limitations: Worksites can devise their own checklist based on their specific
context, identifying critical and potentially traumatic events that
occur in their site. The examples provided are of critical incidents, but could be adapted to the specific kinds of traumatic material encountered in a worksite, to provide a quantitative survey of trauma exposure.
WARNING: THE CHECKLIST ASKS DIRECT QUESTIONS ABOUT CRITICAL INCIDENT SCENARIOS THAT MAY BE CONFRONTING AND/OR DISTRESSING.
Where it comes from: Peer reviewed journal Traumatology.