PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Mandatory trauma-informed training and standards in the family courts service
We call on the Government to ensure mandatory trauma-informed training and standards for all professionals whose assessments influence decisions in the family courts, including judges, CAFCASS officers, social workers, and court-instructed medical experts.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
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signatures
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Debate threshold (100,000) · 1,728/100,000
Background
Trauma responses should not be labelled as mental health issues or illness; they should be recognised as symptoms of abuse – so, if a victim develops PTSD from domestic violence, it should be recorded and understood as a trauma response caused by harm, not a standalone mental health problem. Current guidance is inconsistently applied; there are huge gaps in professionals’ understanding abuse and mental health. We seek mandatory national standards, and a total reform on all current guidance and training.