A trauma-informed approach to marine casualties
When a marine casualty occurs, many of the consequences – the loss of life, personal injury, property damage and operational disruption – are apparent in tangible form. Other less tangible forms of damage, such as crew stress and trauma and the effects they can have on a return to normal operations, are less visible.
Conventional interview processes are insufficiently cognizant of the adverse effects that stress and trauma have on witnesses. These investigative interviews can be very stressful for the seafarer, which may add to any post-incident stress, worry about blame, responsibilities and outcomes, and any pre-existing everyday tensions.
As a consequence, there may be significant variations in their ability as a witness to recall clearly, chronologically and completely the information sought as part of casualty investigation interviews. Furthermore, when unrecognised and unsupported, such emotional difficulties may continue and even at a low level can impact crew member’s individual functioning, with consequent effects on crew-wide safety and efficiency and wellbeing on board.
TIMS® - an innovative approach
Recall Recover provides an integrated approach to investigative interviewing and the surrounding issues of people wellbeing called TIMS® - Trauma-informed Interviewing in a Marine Setting. The TIMS® model has been developed by Captain Terry Ogg and Dr Rachel Glynn-Williams, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and combines enhanced investigative interviewing techniques for marine casualties with expertise in ordinary human psychological responses in post critical incident situations. Its aims are:
To obtain more complete, accurate and reliable information and evidence from interviewees.
To actively support their wellbeing as part of the interviewing process.
To use the involvement of a TIMS® investigator, backed by a clinical psychologist, to provide support and guidance for all people involved and easy access to the Crew Wellbeing Continuum with on-going, more structured, psychological support where required and authorised.
Crew Wellbeing Continuum (CWC)
The very nature of a trauma-informed approach to investigative interviewing allows it to sit within a care and wellbeing support continuum which is not only accessible to interviewees, but to all colleagues afloat and ashore who may be experiencing some degree of critical incident stress or trauma.