Health Committee letter on trauma-informed approaches to youth violence

The London Assembly Health Committee has written to the Mayor of London with recommendations on how to strengthen trauma-informed approaches to youth violence.

An investigation by the Committee explored how trauma-informed practice is being used by agencies in London as part of a wider public-health approach to youth violence.

The link between trauma and violence is rooted in the understanding that adverse childhood experiences can impact how children and young people experience the world around them, respond to situations and engage with services.

The Committee also heard that the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has played a key role in promoting trauma-informed approaches in London and has sought to embed trauma in its own programmes of work.

The Committee has made three recommendations, including:
 

• The GLA Public Health Unit and London Violence Reduction Unit should make their framework on trauma-informed practice publicly available, and support its implementation through proactive engagement with London health and care services and the Metropolitan Police Service, to increase understanding of trauma and ensure strong take-up amongst front-line practitioners.
• The London Violence Reduction Unit should create and maintain an online library of evidence on the impact of trauma-informed approaches to reducing youth violence.
• The London Violence Reduction Unit should share with the Committee the latest information about the Behavioural Insights Team's evaluation of the hospital based youth work programme and the work carried out by Social Finance Limited to support delivery organisations. This information should include the key objectives, plans for implementation and timescales of the work.