20/11/2025
By Shelley Nelson FIEP, Learning and Quality Manager at the IEP
Frontline advisers are working with participants who bring a wide range of life experiences to their job search. Many are managing long-term stress, housing instability, caring responsibilities, health challenges, or past events that can affect how they engage with support.
Across the sector, there’s a growing recognition that these experiences — including trauma — can shape how someone behaves, responds, and progresses. But “trauma-informed practice” can sometimes feel abstract or like a specialist concept reserved for other services.
In reality, it’s becoming a core part of employability practice, and advisers already use elements of it every day without naming it.
Why this matters now
Services are seeing:
- Higher levels of anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout among participants
- Increased avoidance behaviours (missing appointments, not answering calls)
- Strong emotional responses to what appear to be simple requests
- A widening gap between programme requirements and participants’ capacity to engage
These aren’t signs of disinterest. Often, they’re rooted in people trying to navigate a system while carrying experiences that shape how safe or in-control they feel.
Three trauma-informed approaches advisers can use right now
Here are small, everyday shifts that help build trust, reduce conflict, and support progress:
1. Predictability creates safety
Uncertainty can be a major trigger. Clear explanations of what will happen in an appointment — and why — can significantly reduce anxiety.
Try: “Before we get started, here’s exactly what we’ll cover today.”
2. Choice reduces power imbalance
Trauma often involves a loss of control. Offering simple choices helps participants feel more empowered.
Try: “Would you prefer to start with your CV or look at training options?”
3. Curiosity reduces escalation
If someone reacts strongly or shuts down, a curious tone can prevent misinterpretation.
Try: “I noticed that seemed uncomfortable — is there a different way we could approach this?”
These techniques aren’t time-consuming; they simply reframe interactions in a way that helps participants feel heard and safe.
Where learning fits in
Many advisers tell us they often suspect trauma may be present but don’t feel fully equipped to recognise it or adjust their approach confidently. That’s why trauma-informed practice is becoming such an important skill set in our sector.
For those who want to deepen their understanding, we’ve recently launched a short eLearning programme introducing the foundations of Trauma-Informed Practice in employability settings.
Find out more here https://www.myiep.uk/introduction-to-tip/ or book on at our new store here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ieplearningacademy/store