Our Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE UK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRAUMA SPECIALISTS

AIM:

The association will maintain an online register of practitioners who come from a range of professions and practices. Practitioner practice can vary, from those allied to health and social care, the military, or the legal and human rights field, to those working as creatives, yoga practitioners, teachers, counsellors, psychotherapists, and blue light staff. The association will promote good, ethical practice. It will seek to generate and share knowledge of evidence-based practice, legislation and theoretical advancements in the field, including education and research. The association will promote awareness of trauma within organisations, at an institutional and community level. It is committed to social responsibility and promotes an awareness of cultural and ecological trauma.

MEMBERSHIP:

There are 2 categories of membership.

Graduate Practitioner
Affiliate Faculty member

Membership is primarily open to graduates of the MA Trauma Informed Practice, University of Nottingham. Affiliate members are staff, tutors, lecturers, and supervisors who have a substantial core input to the UoN MA (eg lecturing, supervision). Membership will be conferred annually following the exam board and general meeting of the Association.

ORGANISATIONAL LINKS:

NATS will seek to build links and partnerships with other organisations, stakeholders and knowledge brokers who are working in the field of trauma-informed practice. This will include colleagues developing conferences, conducting research, editing journals, etc. These organisational links will include international partners.

TRAINING AND CONFERENCE EVENTS:

NATS will develop training and conference events that will be opportunities for members to engage in continuous professional development relating to the advancement of trauma-informed practice.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION:

The National Association of Trauma Specialists are committed to encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion among the organisation, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

The aim is for the organisation to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each of the members and committee members to feel respected.

NATS is also committed against unlawful discrimination of the public.

The organisation commits to:

Encourage equality, diversity, and inclusion within the association.

Creating an environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all, and where individual differences and the contributions of all members are recognised and valued.
Any acts of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination, within the association, will not be tolerated.

Take seriously complaints of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination by fellow UK NATS members, and towards the public.

Any actions seen to be contradicting this policy will be investigated by senior committee members under the organisation’s complaints procedures and appropriate action will be taken. Particularly serious complaints could amount to gross misconduct and lead to the dismissal of membership without notice.

It is the responsibility of all NATS members to conduct themselves according to the policy with integrity and dignity.

COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS:

The committee and officers will be nominated and elected on a bi-annual basis. The term of office (other than Lifelong President) will be two years. In the event of more than one nomination for any of the posts, a ballot will be conducted at the AGM.

Lifelong President: Professor Steve Regel

Chair: The Chair will provide an overview of NATS and facilitate the work of the officers, and the committee: Rick Harrington.

Secretary/Treasurer: The secretary will maintain an online membership list, be responsible for managing accounts, and support the chair with the administration of the association: Natalie West.

Committee: The steering committee is made up of NATS members who are entitled to attend all committee meetings.

Specific roles/responsibilities include:

Twitter account: TBC

Conference team: TBC

Website: Jo Flynn, Rick Harrington.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:

An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held once a year in July. The Officers will provide an update on the work of the association, including sharing financial information. The AGM will approve the annual accounts. The Chair will also invite contributions to the AGM as they see fit. A quorum for making decisions at the AGM will be 8 people. Any changes to the constitution can only be made after discussion at the AGM and must be agreed upon at the AGM. Decisions at the AGM will be agreed upon by a majority vote.

RULES AND PROCEDURES:

Associates are responsible for keeping their practice up to date, and taking whatever steps are required to keep their professional practice registration active. Associates are responsible for continuing professional development, and following any other procedure to ensure their practice is professional and safe, eg: having up-to-date insurance, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where needed, etc. The association will not keep records of members’ professional documentation, but the chair can request that members evidence their registrations, insurance etc.

Dealing with complaints: the chair will deal with complaints and can appoint members of the committee to look into a complaint if further investigation is required. Membership can be annulled if an action or behaviour of an associate brings disrepute to the association. Annulment of membership can be ‘Chairs action’ after consultation with the association committee.

SUSTAINABILITY:

NATS is committed to efficiency measures such as virtual meetings, and non-paper communications. Sustainability is an evolving process through which no one should experience trauma and offers pathways to remove past experiences of trauma. The quality of sustainability is to ensure that all alive today live in such a way as not to remove the capacity for continuing joyous and dignified forms of living for all future generations. Sustainability creates the conditions for the removal and ultimate subjugation of trauma, as well as giving everyone the capability to cope with residual trauma either by themselves or with the loving and caring assistance of others

DISSOLUTION:

The Association can be dissolved at an AGM or extraordinary AGM.