East Riding Council has unanimously supported a motion to review and strengthen trauma-informed practice across its services.
The motion, brought forward by Liberal Democrat Councillor Eliza Whitaker and seconded by Councillor Gareth Shephard, will see a six-month review undertaken across all directorates to assess current practice and identify opportunities for greater consistency and impact.
Councillor Whitaker said: “This is about getting it right earlier, rather than paying for crisis later. We know that people’s experiences shape how they engage with services. When we understand that, we improve outcomes, reduce escalation, and make better use of public money.
“I’m really pleased to see unanimous support from across the chamber this is about better services for everyone.”
The review will examine existing trauma-informed practice, identify opportunities for improvement, and consider how approaches can be embedded consistently across council services.
Councillor Gareth Shephard added: “This is about shifting from asking ‘what is wrong?’ to ‘what has happened?’ and designing services that respond more effectively as a result. The unanimous support shows a shared commitment to improving outcomes for residents.”
The council will now bring forward a report within six months outlining findings and next steps.