Introducing trauma care into an organisation

Abstract

This chapter deals with some of the issues facing the Post Office businesses in setting up the trauma care programme. It also outlines a number of problems which had to be overcome before the programme was acceptable to both the organisation and the workforce. The Post Office has a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for its workers and, as the UK’s largest employer, has been looking for appropriate organisational responses both to reduce the incidence of trauma and to minimise the psychological damage caused to employees. When a traumatic incident reaches the proportions of a disaster there is a need for the community to join forces with the organisation to provide support for the victims and others involved directly or indirectly in the incident. The key responsibilities for handling trauma are set out in guidelines. These responsibilities include introducing risk management and auditing procedures, developing education and training programmes, providing post-incident support systems and employing public relations strategies.