Trauma Informed Practice
Trauma Informed Practice recognises and responds to the impact of trauma on individuals. It aims to create environments that are physically and emotionally safe, supportive, and empowering, particularly for people who may have experienced trauma in the past.
NOVAS is committed to providing support and services through the lens of Trauma Informed Practice (TIP). We recognise the multiple and complex traumas experienced by our clients and the vicarious trauma our frontline staff are exposed to through the delivery of their roles.
We try to create environments, culture, structures and policies that consider trauma and prevent triggering trauma responses among clients. residents and tenants.
The six principles of Trauma Informed Practice
- Safety
- Trustworthiness and Transparency
- Peer Support
- Collaboration and Mutuality
- Empowerment, Voice and Choice
- Gender, Culture and History
Trauma Informed Practice Training
In 2018, NOVAS co-developed trauma informed practice training for staff, management and volunteers of homeless services.
Since then, we have co-produced specialised training for TIP Reps, service managers and frontline staff. Our training helps us to identify and respond to trauma and trauma induced behaviours.
In 2026, along with our partners in the Dublin Homeless Network, we will role out TIP training to clients living in homeless accommodation, empowering them to understand and recover from the trauma they have experienced.
Trauma Informed Practice helps us to understand the trauma induced behaviours our clients often present with. It enables us to keep those with the most enduring trauma engaged in our services by creating environments where clients feel safe, respected and listened to.
Seminar in Trauma Informed Practice
As a leader in Trauma Informed Practice, NOVAS held its inaugural Trauma Informed Practice Seminar on Friday 25th October, with Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan delivering the keynote speech.
Sessions provided insight from a range of experts through lived experience, frontline practice and research across a range of fields including addiction, homelessness, housing, migration and inclusion medicine.
