Guiding Principles & TIC Tips
There are six guiding principles for TIC:
- Safety
- Trustworthiness and transparency
- Peer support
- Collaboration and mutuality
- Empowerment and choice
- Cultural, historical, and gender issues
“We have to make sure we’re not triggering people and that we provide comfort and safety. Staff do this by building relationships with residents, helping them feel
secure, creating community, and making sure that they have an opportunity to have close friends, even if that means a lunch table or a good relationship with their roommate,” said McLaughlin. “We also have to ensure that residents have a place to speak up and voice their excitement, dreams, fears, concerns, etc. That is why building community starting on day one is so important. The social worker can play a big part and be that voice.” McLaughlin further noted that residents who come to our facilities need to see them as places where they feel safe.
Tips for Effective TIC
- Having a huddle when a new resident is admitted. McLaughlin said, “When you do this, you can get everyone on board at the same time, and they get a rundown on the best ways to offer care and comfort that residents need without re-traumatizing them.”
- Train, train, and train some more. “One misstep is not training staff enough on trauma-informed care or assuming that they understand trauma. Training and education should be more than just an annual event or a part of onboarding,” McLaughlin said. Instead, it should be built into the culture by using daily events as teaching moments – what we call “just-in-time” training. Training should include interactive elements such as role playing and case studies. “These kinds of things can make a difference and be eyeopeners for staff,” she suggested.
- Realize that residents may not talk freely about trauma. “Some of our older residents aren’t verbose about things that have happened in their lives. They don’t want to talk about it or they’ve learned to dismiss it,” McLaughlin said. “Acknowledge there is an issue and that it may be important to talk about. Encourage them to get help and let them know support is available. Make sure residents feel comfortable and know the facility has taken efforts so they won’t be triggered or re-traumatized.” And while we shouldn’t badger people, it is useful to check in with the individual and revisit the issue.
- Don’t forget to protect staff. Create a culture where team members can talk about what they are thinking and feeling. People should be able to express how TIC is affecting them without fear of being judged or penalized. They should have an opportunity to switch out of a role that is a problem to them.