5B021E - Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Practice 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 5B021E
Module Title: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Practice
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Interventions
Faculty Sub Group: Psychology
Module Leader: Klara Price
Module Team: Victoria Markham, Emily Groves
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are:

1.    To develop students’ ability to identify how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma impact on children and young people’s development and wellbeing.   

2.    To apply students’ knowledge of trauma-informed practice to evaluate ways to support children, young people and families.

Content Summary

Build brighter futures by understanding how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma shape young lives.

In this module, we’ll explore the powerful impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, stress, and other adversities on the development of children and young people. You’ll discover how these experiences affect the brain, behaviour, and wellbeing — and, most importantly, what we can do to support individuals who have experienced ACEs and trauma and promote resilience.

This module embeds national and global frameworks for defining and understanding trauma-informed practice.

We’ll explore the following:

ü  How ACEs can affect children and young people throughout their lives, and what can be done to change that story.

ü  Brain development in the early years – understand how early adversity can shape (and reshape) young minds.

ü  Preventing and mitigating the effects of ACEs – learn how positive, nurturing environments can make all the difference.

ü  How ACEs and trauma are translated into research, policy and practice.  

ü  Trauma-informed practices – see what this approach looks like in Wales and beyond and how it can guide work with children and young people

 

By the end of this module, you’ll be trauma-aware and confident in your knowledge of a trauma-informed approach.

Join us to learn how understanding trauma can help build healthier, happier futures for children and young people across Wales and beyond.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Scheduled Learning and Teaching 56
Guided Study 10.5
Summative Assessment and preparation 60
Independent self-directed learning 173.5
Total Hours Selected 116

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Explain how ACEs and trauma impact on the development and wellbeing of children and young people.
LO2 Apply trauma-informed practices when working with children and young people in various contexts.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 Exam; Synchronous on-site assessment; Classroom test – time constrained (onsite) 120 N/A 50 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 2 Exam; Synchronous on-site assessment; Classroom test – time constrained (onsite) 120 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 2

Reading List

Home - ACE Hub Wales

Traumatic Stress Wales: Home - All Wales Traumatic Stress Quality Improvement Ini

Trauma-Informed Wales

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Attitudes

Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale

Validation of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale (ARTIC) - PubMed

Sources of resilience and their moderating relationships with harms from adverse childhood experiences: ACE_Resilience_Report_Eng_final2_.pdf

An evaluaton of the Adverse Childhood

Experience (ACE)-Informed

Whole School Approach: Report

Potential effects of adverse childhood experiences on school engagement in youth: a dominance analysis: Potential effects of adverse childhood experiences on school engagement in youth: a dominance analysis | BMC Public Health | Full Text

Adverse Childhood Experiences and their impact on

health-harming behaviours in the Welsh adult population: Report phw.nhs.wales/files/aces/aces-and-their-impact-on-health-harming-behaviours-in-the-welsh-adult-population-pdf/

Adverse Childhood Experiences and their association

with Mental Well-being in the Welsh adult Population: Report phw.nhs.wales/files/aces/ace-and-their-association-with-mental-well-being-in-the-welsh-adult-population-pdf/

Trapped On The Streets: Understanding
Rough Sleeping In Wales (2018) - report Trapped on the streets: Understanding rough sleeping in Wales - Shelter Cymru

Understanding the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in male offender population in Wales: The Prisoner ACE survey – Report  phw.nhs.wales/files/aces/the-prisoner-ace-survey/

Best-selling Trauma Research Author | Bessel van der Kolk, MD.

Addiction Expert, Speaker and Best-selling Author Dr. Gabor Maté

APA Referencing Guide

USW Library Skills: Getting started - Library Skills - LibGuides at University of South Wales

USW Library Skills for BSc Childhood Development course