Cork to pioneer ‘trauma-sensitive’ services in Ireland

Organisations that provide frontline supports across Cork have reiterated their commitment to promoting a “trauma-sensitive” approach in the delivery of their services.

It was made during a pledge-signing ceremony in the council chamber at City Hall, during which emergency service providers committed to their continuing work in delivering services in a way that recognises the impact of trauma in people’s lives.

Cork City has been recognised as a pioneer in Ireland as a designated trauma-sensitive city. This is a city which understands that trauma, such as abuse, neglect, violence, or other overwhelming experiences, can affect how people think, feel, and behave.

The initiative is co-ordinated by an interagency trauma-sensitive forum chaired by Cork City Council.

This forum consists of key players including community organisations, Tusla, the Health Service Executive, Department of Social Protection, Cork ETB, the gardaí, Munster Technological University, and University College Cork.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Fergal Dennehy, said that the pledge-signing event will build on the work already done by the network of organisations in their aims to have trauma-sensitive service deliveries as the norm.

“The work of the interagency group aims to recognise and realise the impact of trauma on citizens by imbedding knowledge of this area into policies, standard operating procedures, and practices.”

Training events were held in 2018 and 2020 during which hundreds of practitioners gathered to learn from world renowned trauma expert Karen Treismann and which commenced Cork’s journey to becoming a trauma-sensitive city.

A new strategy in 2026 will deliver a range of events, as well as the continued roll out of online e-training, developed and funded by the Cork city trauma sensitive steering group, which provides an introduction to trauma-led service provision.