The TIO Newsletter As we edge towards Christmas, that grand old mix of We still have plenty to do, and it needs everyone’s buy in, sparkle, short days, and a bit of frantic juggling, I want to but the direction of travel is good. shine a light on the brilliant work happening across Extern. December can be a funny old month, equal parts lovely and exhausting, so mind yourselves. Be kind, be patient, Our six Trauma Informed Groups have been buzzing and treat people the way you’d hope to be treated on a busy away, and you can already start to feel the difference. day in a long queue. Those little moments make a world of Workspaces are beginning to feel more TIO, difference. conversations sound a little kinder, and even our policies are now being shaped with TIO in mind. These are small Thank you for all you have done this year. May the next steps, but they are real ones, and they’re adding up. few weeks bring a bit of calm, a bit of laughter, and maybe even the good biscuits appearing in the office. Looking Our managers have wrapped up the value based forward to seeing our TIO journey grow even stronger in workshops, so the next phase will roll out in the New the New Year. Year. When your session lands, please come along. This isn’t a tick box exercise, it is how we make sure everyone Until next time. feels part of an organisation that genuinely cares, shows Keep well compassion, and walks the talk.
In this edition
Transforming Our Workspaces Choosing the Right TIO Framework Helping Teams Communicate the TIO Way
·
Deirdre O'Driscoll, Director of Services
New Training Plan on the Horizon ·Quick TIO Facts for Everyday Life Your TIO Christmas Corner A Wellness Twist on the 12 Days of Christmas A Heartfelt Thank You as We Wrap Up 2025
ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP HOW WE’RE CREATING SAFER, CALMER SPACES ACROSS EXTERN Hi everyone, I wanted to share some exciting progress from our Environment Working Group!
📘 We’ve been developing a new booklet that will guide all projects when creating new spaces or refurbishing existing ones across Extern. These spaces are used by both service users and staff, so it’s important that they feel safe, welcoming, and supportive.
🤝 We’re working closely with SBNI to make sure this booklet reflects best practice and trauma-informed principles. It will include guidance on: 🎨 Wall colours 🖼️ Artwork 🛋️ Soft furnishings 🧑💼 Comfortable office layouts …and everything in between!
The goal is to help us all view our environments through a trauma-informed lens. The enthusiasm across projects has been incredible, and we’ve already seen some fabulous examples of trauma-informed design happening around the country. We’ll be showcasing some of these soon — so keep an eye out!
💡
Thank you to everyone who has been involved so far. Your creativity and commitment are making a real difference. Warm regards, Lorna & the Environment Team