Mercy Community Services, Queensland.

Presented by Susan Russell, Hannah Wallis and Annaley Clarke

Organisational Change Through a Trauma Lens

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Trauma impacts on organisations the same way it impacts on individuals

‘Caregiving organisations

are repositories for trauma’ William A Kahn, 2014.

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Organisations can be

traumatised.

The impact of the trauma looks different. However, it has the same level of

debilitating effects.

Why is this important to us?

Mercy

Gov Inquiry

Amalgamation

New Organisation

Model

Recognise change and its impact

Empower staff at all levels to lead

Own our Vulnerabilities

Live out our Organisation Values

Change and move forward

Capitalise on our strengths and differences

Trauma Lens

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Parallel Process

When two or more systems – whether these consist of individuals, groups, or organisations – have significant relationships with one another, they tend to

develop similar:

Feelings Behaviours Thoughts

K. K. Smith, V.M. Simmons, and T.B. Thames, The journal of applied behavioral science, 1989. 25(1): p. 11-29.

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Parallel Process in Tough TimesClientsAggressiveStuckHopeless

StaffStressedCrisis DrivenFragmented Helpless (blame org/client)Scapegoat clients

OrganisationCrisis DrivenFragmentedHelplessAggressive/punitive StuckHopeless, demoralised

Organisation

Staff

Clients

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Parallel ProcessClientsHopefulSafeCapableEmpowered

StaffHopefulSafeClear directionWilling to changeEmpowered

OrganisationHopefulCompetentAdaptableAccessibleFuture Focused

Organisation

Staff

Clients

STAFF SATISFACTION

SURVEY

INQUIRY RESPONSES

NEW QUALITY

FRAMEWORK

EXAMPLES

Change

Management Plan and

implement

Include and

involve

Focus on continuous

improvement

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Everyone matters

- The launch of the new Mercy Community Services.- The organizational response to the state wide child protection inquiry.- The introduction of a client management data system.

EXAMPLES

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The Sanctuary Model - A Trauma Informed Care Model

• Whole of systems trauma informed model which promotes safety and recovery.

• This model says to service our clients, we must be equally focused on both the people who deliver service as well as the systems that provide these services.

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Trauma Informed Care ModelsHow this buffers the organisation from

trauma• Sanctuary Theories• Theories that help staff and clients

understand how adversity impacts on themselves and others. Includes collective disturbance and parallel process.

• Sanctuary Commitments Set of commitments for clients, staff and the organisation.

• SELFA problem-solving framework which is applicable to all individual, family, group or organisational settings. SAFETY, EMOTION, LOSS, FUTURE

• Sanctuary Tool KitSet of tools that are practical and simple interventions that mitigates the negative effects of chronic stress and adversity.

Organisation

Client

EXAMPLES

Sanctuary Roll Out

Local Implementation

Teams

Core TeamStaff

Implementation only

Safety, Emotion, Loss and Future

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