Understanding what adversity does to development and behaviour — the ACEs evidence and its limits, toxic stress and the survival brain, trauma showing up as fight, flight, freeze and fawn, the shift from 'what's wrong with you' to 'what happened to you', regulate–relate–reason, PACE, environments that feel safe across settings including supported living, boundaries that still hold, and staff who stay regulated.
What this course covers
- Explain ACEs and toxic stress without treating adversity as destiny
- Recognise trauma responses — fight, flight, freeze, fawn — behind behaviour
- Use regulate–relate–reason and PACE in everyday moments
- Shape environments and routines that feel safe, including supported living
- Hold warm boundaries, avoid retraumatising practices, and protect your own regulation
How much does Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs training cost?
£4 per person on Care2Learn, with no minimum order and no subscription. If your team needs a full training matrix rather than one course, a subscription at £2 per learner per month covers every course in the catalogue — see the 2026 price comparison.
Who needs it
Frontline staff and keyworkers in children's homes, supported accommodation and supported living, foster carers' supervising teams — and any adult service supporting people whose behaviour carries a history. Completion is recorded with the date taken and the date it is next due, so it appears correctly on your training matrix and can be evidenced at inspection.
What the learner receives
A certificate in their own name carrying the CPD Aligned seal, showing the completion date and the renewal date a year later, downloadable at any time. The record belongs to the learner, not just the employer — it travels with them rather than sitting in one provider's system.
Related courses
Providers usually assign these alongside Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs.
- Effective Key Working with Young People — 45 min online, £4 per person
- Self-Harm & Suicide Awareness — 45 min online, £4 per person
- Positive Behaviour Support — 45 min online, £4 per person
- Mental Health Awareness — 45 min online, £4 per person
You can also browse the full catalogue, or read about the Care Certificate for staff new to care.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs training take?
About 45 min of e‑learning, across 12 sections with 15 assessment questions. Learners can stop and resume at any point, and it works on a phone.
What does Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs training cover?
By the end of the course a learner should be able to explain ACEs and toxic stress without treating adversity as destiny; recognise trauma responses — fight, flight, freeze, fawn — behind behaviour; use regulate–relate–reason and PACE in everyday moments. The full list of learning outcomes is set out above.
Is Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs CPD Aligned, and how is it assessed?
Yes — the certificate carries the CPD Aligned seal. The assessment is multiple choice with a pass mark of 70%; attempts are recorded and learners can retake it. Renewal is set at 12 months from the completion date, so the course reappears on your training matrix when it is due.
Is this only relevant to children's services?
No. The course is framed around young people — ACEs, the survival brain, PACE, regulate–relate–reason — but trauma-informed practice applies wherever people's histories shape their present, and staff in adult services will recognise the same patterns. Supported living settings are addressed throughout.
Does this count towards the Care Certificate?
No — this is a standalone course rather than one of the Care Certificate standards. The Care Certificate is available as its own guided course for staff who are new to care.
Add Trauma-Informed Practice & ACEs to your team
£4 per person, or included on a £2 per learner subscription.
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