As we edge towards Christmas, that grand old mix of sparkle,shortdays,andabitoffranticjuggling,Iwantto shinealightonthebrilliantworkhappeningacrossExtern
Our six Trauma Informed Groups have been buzzing away, and you can already start to feel the difference. Some workspaces are beginning to feel more traumainformed , conversations are opening, and even our policiesare now being shapedwith trauma-informedin mind.Thesearesmallsteps,buttheyarerealones,and theyʼreaddingup.
Our managers have now completed the Value-Based Workshops (VBBs), which are all about embedding our organisational values into everything we do. The next phaseoftheprogrammewillrolloutintheNewYear.
Whenyoursessionisscheduled,weencourageyouto attend Thisisnʼtjustatick-boxexercise–itʼsachanceto shapehowweworktogetherandmakesureeveryone feels part of an organisation that genuinely cares, demonstratescompassion,andtrulywalksthetalk.
Inthisedition
TransformingOurWorkspaces
ChoosingtheRightTraumaInformedFramework
HelpingTeamsCommunicatetheTraumaInformedWay
NewTrainingPlanontheHorizon
JoinOurFirstTrauma-InformedPolicyWorkshop
We still have plenty to do, and it needs everyoneʼs participation,butthedirectionoftravelisgood.
Decembercanbeafunnyoldmonth,equalpartslovelyand exhausting, so mind yourselves Be kind, be patient, and treatpeoplethewayyouʼdhopetobetreatedonabusy dayinalongqueue.Thoselittlemomentsmakeaworldof difference.
Thankyouforallyouhavedonethisyear Maythenextfew weeksbringabitofcalm,abitoflaughter,andmaybeeven thegoodbiscuitsappearingintheoffice.Lookingforwardto seeingourtrauma-informedjourneygrowevenstrongerin theNewYear.
Untilnexttime Keepwell ·QuickTraumaInformedFactsforEverydayLife AWellnessTwistonthe12DaysofChristmas AHeartfeltThankYouasWeWrapUp2025 YourTraumaInformedChristmasCorner
·
CongratulationstoMargaretMaguire,thewinnerofour“FindOurValuesˮwordsearchfromthepreviousnewsletter!
Welldone,Margaret,andthankyoufortakingpartinourchallenge–wehopeyouenjoyyour€20voucher
ENVIRONMENTWORKINGGROUP Hieveryone, IʼmexcitedtosharesomeprogressfromourEnvironmentWorkingGroup!
�� WeʼvebeendevelopinganewbooklettoguideprojectswhencreatingorrefurbishingspacesacrossExtern Thesespaces areusedbybothserviceusersandstaff,soitʼsimportanttheyfeelsafe,welcoming,andsupportive
�� WorkingcloselywithSBNI,thebookletreflectsbestpracticeandtrauma-informedprinciples,covering:
�� Wallcolours
�� Artwork
�� Softfurnishings
���� Comfortableofficelayouts …andmore!
Theaimistohelpusallviewourenvironmentsthroughatrauma-informedlens.Theenthusiasmacrossprojectshasbeen fantastic,andweʼvealreadyseensomebrilliantexamplesaroundthecountry.Weʼllbeshowcasingthesesoon sokeepan eyeout!
Thankyoutoeveryoneinvolvedsofar.Yourcreativityandcommitmentaremakingarealdifference. Warmregards,
Lorna&theEnvironmentTeam
MODELDEVELOPMENTTEAM HOWWESELECTEDEXTERNʼSTIOMODEL
Hieveryone,
Weʼvebeenexploringwhatatrulytrauma-informedorganisationlookslike-andhowwecanmakethatarealityatExtern.
�� Ourgroupreviewedawiderangeofframeworksandbestpracticesfrombothstatutoryandvoluntaryorganisations,and lookedatlocalpartnersalreadycreatinginclusive,supportivecultures.
�� ChoosingtheRightModel
Afterdiscussion,weagreedtheSafeguardingBoardforNorthernIreland(SBNI)toolkitisthebestfit. Whythismodel?
�� Groundedininternationalandlocalresearch
�� Includesreal-lifecasestudiesfromorganisationswealreadyworkwith
�� Providesapracticalroadmaptoembedtrauma-informedprinciplesacrosseverythingwedo
�� LookingAheadto2026
ThewiderTrauma-Informed SteeringGroupwillusethetoolkitʼschecklistto:
✔ Trackprogress
�� Identifyareasforimprovement
�� Buildasharedpictureofwhereweʼredoingwell andwherewecangrow
Weʼreexcitedaboutthisnextstepandwillkeepyouupdated.Ifyouhaveideasorwanttogetinvolved,weʼdlovetohearfrom you!
Thanks,
KirstyandtheModelDevelopmentTeam
LANGUAGETEAM Hieveryone!
OurLanguageGrouphasbeenbusycreatingsomethingwethinkyouʼllfindreallyuseful.
�� Wenoticedthatunderstandingtrauma-informedthinkingcanmakeabigdifferenceinpolicyandcommunication.So weʼvedevelopedanewguidetohelpteamsweavetrauma-informedprinciplesintopolicyupdatesanddevelopment.
�� WhyThisMatters
Thisguidemakesthings:
✅ Clearer
✅ Easierforteamstofollow
✅ Alignedwithtrauma-informedprinciples
Itʼsjustthestart!Next,weʼllrunworkshopstorefreshandreviseexistingpoliciestogether.
Hereʼsthelinktotheguide:
Clickhere
Thanks,
TRAININGGROUP GreatNewsfromtheTIOTrainingGroup
WeʼreexcitedtosharethatweʼveputtogetheratrainingplanandsentittoSLTforreview.Hereʼstheplan:
��Phase1:E-Learning
Atrauma-informedmoduletoraiseawarenessamongstaffandnewstarters-easytoaccessandunderstand
��Phase2:Hands-OnTraining
Bespoke,in-personTIOtrainingtailoredtoourservices,basedontheSBNImodel,toensuremaximumimpact.
��YourRole:LeadTrainers
Weʼllsoonrequestnominationsforstafftojointrauma-informed,Train-the-Trainersessions(Q22026)
Weʼreexcitedaboutthisjourneyandthedifferenceitwillmakeacrossteams!
Bestwishes,
Deirdre&theTIOTrainingGroup
REFLECTIVEPRACTICEGROUP Hieveryone,
HereʼsanupdatefromourReflectivePracticeSubgroup!Weʼvebeenmeetingregularlythroughout2025tosupport directserviceneeds.
��WelcomingNewFaces
Deirdre,TJ,Nickayla,andJennyhavejoinedCasey,Liz,andme,bringingfreshenergyandideas.Together,wefocus on:
�� Sharingbestpractice
�� Reflectingonlearning
�� Supportingteamstoembedacultureofreflectivepractice
�� ThisYearʼsHighlights
�� TwomoreteammembersinDroghedacompletedtheSHEPReflectivePracticecourse
�� 2025trialsessionscompleted,withafeedbackworkshopinDecember
�� EOSSLimerickwillstarttheirowntrialin2026
Weʼre excited to work more closely with other trauma-informed subgroups to strengthen awareness and make reflectivepracticecoretoourwork.
Thankstoeveryoneinvolved -yourcontributionsaremakingarealdifference! Warmregards,
Caoimhe&theReflectionTeam
BASELINEQUESTIONNAIREGROUPUPDATE Helloeveryone, TheBaselineQuestionnaireSubgrouphasbeenmeetingregularlyandisexcitedforwhatʼscomingin2026!
�� RelaunchingtheTrauma-InformedQuestionnaire
Weʼllberelaunchingthequestionnairetoseehowthingshavechangedsinceearly2025.Comparingresponseswill giveaclearerpictureofourprogressonbecomingtrauma-informed.
�� StageOne:BecomingTraumaAware
Thisstagefocusesonbuildingunderstandingandawarenessacrosstheorganisation-afoundationforlastingchange �� YourInputMatters
Yourfeedbackhelpsusseewhereweʼvegrownandwheretofocusnext.
Moredetailswillbesharedearlyinthenewyear staytuned! Warmregards, Clare&theBaselineQuestionnair
13THJANUARY2026
Anewyearbringsnewopportunities-andthisoneisallaboutmakingExternanevenmore supportiveplacetowork.
. Exploringourvaluestogether–whatʼsnext?
Overthepastfewweeks,weʼvebeenrunningvalue-basedbehavioursworkshopswith managers,helpingbringournewvaluestolifeandexplorewhattheylooklikeinrealpractice. Thegoodnews?Youʼrenext!
Thesefunandinteractiveworkshopswillsoonberolledouttoallstaff,givingeveryonethe chancetoexploreourvaluesandseehowtheymakearealdifferenceinourday-to-daywork.
Staytunedfordatesanddetails
WishtojointheTrauma-InformedWorkshop-emailjudith.brady@extern.org
When:
Monday13thJanuary,10am–2pm HydeParkHouse,Mallusk
Whatʼsitabout?
Ourpoliciesguidehowwesupporteachotherandthepeopleweworkwith.Thisworkshopisachancetolook atthemthroughatrauma-informedlens–makingthemclearer,kinder,andmoreeffective.
Whatʼsinitforyou?
•Bringapolicyyouʼdliketoreview
•Worktogethertoupdateandimproveit
•Learnpracticalwaystoapplytrauma-informedthinkingtoeverydaydecisions
Itʼsagreatopportunitytohelpshapehowwedothingsandensureourpoliciesreflectoursharedvalues.
Forfurtherdetailstojoincontact?
Emailjudith.brady@extern.orgtoconfirmyourplace.
THE12DAYSOFCHRISTMAS–WELLNESSTEAMEDITION Asweheadintothefestiveseason,theWellnessTeamthoughtweʼdbringalittleholidaycheerandTIOmindfulness.
So,getreadytohumalongaswecountdownthe12waystocareforourselvesandeachotherthisDecember:
OnthefirstdayofChristmas,theWellnessTeamgavetome… �� Onedeepbreathtosettleme
⏳ Twoquietminutes (AsacredgiftinDecember)
�� Threekindwords (“Youʼredoinggrandˮ)
☕ Fourwarmcuppas (Theuniversalregulationtool)
✨ FIVEGOLDENPAUSES (Noguilt.Allbenefit)
�� Sixteamsco-regulating (Oratleasttrying)
�� Sevengentlecheck-ins (“Howʼsthehead,honestly?ˮ)
�� Eightstaffde-escalating (Biscuitsandhumoursavingtheday)
�� Nineboundarieshonoured (Healthyteamssayno)
���� Tenbreathsbywindows (Theunofficialtherapysession)
�� Elevenlaughswithcolleagues (Thenervoussystemʼsfavouritesound)
�� Twelvedaysofkindness (Onesmallactatatime)
AWarmChristmasSign-Off
Thankyouforeverythingyouʼvedonethisyear Yourcare,yourpatience,yourhumour,andthewayyousupportone anotherarewhatmakethisworkpossible.Asweheadintotheholidays,Ihopeyoufindabitofcalm,abitoflaughter,and momentsthatfeelgenuinelyrestful.
