The recovery phase

Trauma at work can have lasting consequences, and it’s important for leaders who manage teams through traumatic experiences to consider what impact it might have on their staff. It’s important to allow yourself and others who have experienced it a chance to recover. This guide, designed for NHS staff, explains the effects of trauma using the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing as an example and discusses what a managed recovery time might look like.

This might be especially important for NHS in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis; however, it might also be suitable for other industries or for use after other types of traumatic event.

It includes:

• an explanation of the types of mental health problem that may develop as a result of trauma,
• how to create flexible and sensitive support,
• identifying and supporting more vulnerable staff members, and
• reflections from an army GP on recovery from trauma that they have witnessed.

You can choose to make an account on the Our NHS People site, even if you do not work for the NHS. This allows you to track your progress through this guide and many others, and lets you return to the place you left off if you have to stop part way through a section. Click here to create an account or log in. However, you do not need to make an account to access it if you’d prefer not to.

To see the full list of guides available from Our NHS People, click here.