NEWFOCAS Attends University of Chester Centre for Research & Education in Psychological Trauma (CREPT) - Formal Launch.

6 October 2011 12:00

Last week, in the Springfield Hotel, Holywell, Professor Turnbull, an experienced psychiatrist and one of the world's leading experts on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) delivered one out of the three day course on Trauma to carers and staff at NEWFOCAS, and their invited guests. The guests  including various Local Authority Social Work staff and two social work representatives from Agenzija Appogg, Part of the Maltese Foundation for Social Welfare. All were taking part the training entitled 'Being Mindfully Trauma Informed', put together collaboratively between NEWFOCAS and the CREPT Team. Dr Turnbull was a key contributor. NEWFOCAS, which has become increasingly experienced in therapeutic caring, has been working with CREPT in order to become fully Trauma Aware. We aim to become Fully Trauma Informed next year.

Here Professor Turnbull delivers an answering speech after Terry Waite, formally opened CREPT. Terry, himself the victim of severe trauma when he was held hostage in Beirut for five years, gave an empathic and informed speech on surviving his own experiences, the importance of not bottling emotions up, post trauma, and that specialist facilities and training in trauma awareness such as those offered by CREPT are crucial to the nations wellbeing and healing after trauma.

Professor Turnbull is part of the CREPT Team comprising, in addition to himself, Dr Stuart McNab, Rebekah Lewin, and Tony Parnell and they offer workshops, conferences and Continuing Professional Development Events.

NEWFOCAS training event for staff, and external guests run by CREFT on 28th - 29th September 2011, will run a third day, planned for 12th September 2011. Their Registered Manager Designate, Mike Thomas, was interviewed by local Press and Radio about these events, and commented about the very positive feedback after the first two days training and its importance in increasing our agencies understanding of the impact of Trauma on the child's developing brain. As NEWFOCAS moves to become a Trauma aware and then a Trauma Informed Agency, it is re-assuring to have the presence of such expert advice and guidance, close by, and we look forward to continuing our close working relationship in the future.