It ‘supercharged our ability to empathise’: Safeguarding practitioners’ experiences of a trauma-informed approach to child–parent separation

Abstract This article examines the experiences of practitioners involved in the ‘Child Coming into Our Care’ (CCIOC) process, a trauma-informed approach supporting children taken into care in England. Drawing on twenty-one semi-structured interviews, this study explores the impact of applying trauma-informed principles. The findings highlight four key areas: (1) Open information sharing provided a fuller picture of the child; (2) Constructing a shared narrative helped children understand their situation; (3) Becoming a participant in the transition and remaining thoughtful about the importance of familiar objects and routines helped to provide children with a sense of continuity; (4) Focusing on the child’s lived experience shifted emergency planning to be more child centred. The CCIOC approach created space for emotional engagement, helping practitioners consider how each child might be affected at every stage of separation. While acknowledging that trauma from family separation cannot be entirely avoided, practitioners found the approach meaningful, enhancing empathy and preparedness. Based on collaboration between researchers and practitioners, this study contributes to debates on trauma-informed practice, highlighting the value of child-centred multi-agency planning. It suggests reframing the CCIOC approach from ‘trauma reducing’ to ‘trauma responsive’ and advocates for further research on integrating trauma-responsive frameworks in child welfare practice.