March On Stress

March on Stress both adheres to and upholds the following TRiM Code of Conduct and TRiM Standards in both our training and crisis response practices. We are committed to promoting the Code of Conduct and Standards to our clients through training and consultancy.

TRiM Code of Conduct

Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a process which aims to support people who have been exposed to traumatic situations. It is not a medical initiative; however TRiM Practitioners, Managers and Instructors should abide by this code of conduct in the same way that medical practitioners abide by the rules of good medical practice.

All TRiM Practitioners, Managers and Instructors are to abide by the following code:

• TRiM interventions, including but not limited to risk assessments, should only be undertaken by individuals who have successfully completed a TRiM course delivered by a suitably qualified and current TRiM instructor according to the TRiM standards below.
• TRiM interventions should only be carried out if the person doing so is comfortable with the duty and considers that the role they are undertaking is consistent with their personal levels of training, expertise, education & experience.
• Confidentiality about TRiM work should be maintained at all times. TRiM workers should only speak about their TRiM work to TRiM colleagues or supervisors who 'need to know'.
• TRiM Practitioners and Managers should ensure that they inform people they support with a TRiM intervention about their approach to confidentiality and ensure they are aware of the sorts of situations in which confidentiality might be broken.
• TRiM interventions should ensure that conversations that might re-traumatise individuals are avoided wherever possible.
• Appropriate notes relating to TRiM interventions should be recorded and stored securely paying appropriate attention to data protection requirements and respecting the need to maintain confidentiality.
• It is imperative that having conducted an initial assessment, the TRiM Practitioner completes the 1 month follow up or informs their TRiM Manager they are unable to do it so that another TRiM Practitioner can be assigned to complete the follow-up.
• Where a TRiM Practitioner/Manager does not feel able to carry out TRiM work, for an emotional or other reason, they should tell their supervisor about the limitation as soon as they can and should, under no circumstances, continue using TRiM to help others until they have recovered a good state of personal wellbeing themselves.
• All TRiM work should be carried out with the aim of helping others whilst avoiding causing harm.
• TRiM Practitioners and Managers should ensure they access appropriate supervision where they feel unsure about an issue.
• TRiM Practitioners, Managers and Instructors should remain up to date with how TRiM has evolved and should not carry out TRiM work or instruction if they consider their experience is lacking or their skills are out of date. In particular TRiM work should be conducted in accordance with the TRiM standards below.

TRiM Standards

TRiM Practitioners will:

1. Have completed a recognised TRiM Practitioners training course;
2. Comply at all times with the TRiM code of conduct;
3. Seek supervision from a TRiM Manager or other suitably qualified person (e.g. Healthcare professional) where they are not clear about any TRiM related work they carry out.
4. Stay 'in date' by:
   • Carrying out three or less risk assessments per year and undergoing annual refresher training;
     OR
   • Carrying out four or more risk assessments per year and completing a refresher training package every two years.
5. Practitioner refresher training can be carried out by an 'in date' TRiM Manager or through attendance at a course led by a qualified TRiM instructor.
6. Refresher training must include (a) a reminder of the TRiM code of conduct and (b) an opportunity to practice TRiM risk assessment skills under the supervision of a TRiM Manager or Instructor who must provide feedback. Subject to satisfactory completion of the refresher course a dated certificate, or TRiM Log Book entry clearly signed by a qualified TRiM instructor, will be issued by the person leading the refresher training.

TRiM Managers will:

1. Will have completed a recognised TRiM Practitioners Course and TRiM Managers course;
2. Ensure TRiM Practitioners within their organisation receive the supervision they require as they carry out their TRiM duties;
3. Ensure that TRiM Practitioners within their organisation meet the standards as above and comply with the TRiM code of conduct;
4. Continue to develop their knowledge and experience through continuous professional development (CPD) by attending, as a minimum, two trauma-related events/training courses during each two year period e.g. in-house TRiM conference; TRiM Manager refresher training; UKPTS conference; ESTSS conference or other appropriate*;
5. Ensure they receive TRiM Manager refresher training from a reputable, evidence-based TRiM training provider every two years*.
6. Provide Trauma and TRiM Awareness briefings, within their organisation only, where required. TRiM Managers must be ‘in date’ to provide such briefings.

TRiM Instructors will:

1. Have completed both TRiM Practitioner & TRiM Managers Courses;
2. Have considerable experience of carrying out TRiM interventions (in a Practitioner role) and having managed others carrying out TRiM interventions (in a Manager role) and experience of working with personnel and organisations who have experienced traumatic events;
3. Hold a formal national or organisational teaching/instructor qualification or have suitable teaching experience and be working towards gaining a formal/nationally recognised teaching qualification*;
4. Hold, or be working towards, a BTEC Level 5 in Trauma Risk Management;
5. Continue to develop their knowledge and experience through continuous professional development (CPD) and attending at least one trauma-related event/training course per year*
6. A lead instructor or Sole instructor (instructing a course of 8 or less) must instruct three TRiM courses per year and an assistant trainer is required to assist on at least one 'two instructor' course to remain in date. Where an instructor goes out of date they should discuss any desire to revalidate their training with a suitably qualified TRiM training provider**
7. A TRiM Instructor should have at least one ‘quality assurance’ check with a suitably qualified TRiM training provider per year**

 

* Evidence of compliance with these criteria needs to be hard copy (e.g. certificate or TRiM log book) or on e-media (e.g. pdf, photograph etc). Oral reporting of evidence is not deemed to be suitable.

**For Instructors wishing to train TRiM by March on Stress, this validation and/or quality assurance must be through March on Stress.