Introduction to Moral Injury

Duration: 2 hours

Location: online

Suitable for: All staff, frontline, administrative and managerial

Training Overview

Moral injury is the emotional and psychological distress that results from perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs (Litz et al, 2009). In a work setting this may mean knowing what the right things to do is but being unable to do it. Understanding of moral injury evolved in the military context when soldiers were unable to reconcile acts committed with their personal moral codes. The pandemic increased awareness of its relevance to health and social care staff and all who work on the human frontline. In a recent survey of doctors by the BMA, 78% said the terms moral injury or moral distress resonated with their experiences.

Moral injury is now being recognised across frontline professions, including social work, nursing, policing and criminal justice. Research indicates that improving awareness and understanding of moral injury across the workforce is a vital first step in addressing this systemic issue which, unaddressed, can lead to long term suffering, staff sickness and increased suicide risk (Dean & Talbot, 2022).

Learning objectives

This training will:

Introduce participants to moral injury and how it presents in workplace contexts. Explain the difference between burnout, vicarious trauma, moral distress and moral injury.

Highlight the importance of preventative action, and the link between moral injury and suicide risk.

Offer guideposts and practical tips for supporting self and colleagues when working in morally challenging environments.

Invite attendees to consider what the concept of moral injury means for us as a helping profession.

Understanding and preventing moral injury in the workplace

Duration: 6 hours

Location: online or onsite (maximum group size 12)

Suitable for: Staff in management and leadership roles

Training Overview

The training day will provide a comprehensive introduction to moral injury in the workplace, drawing on the latest international research and practice across frontline professions. While the Covid 19 pandemic exacerbated collective awareness of its existence, moral injury has been understood in military and health contexts for several decades (Shay, 1994, Litz et al, 2009).

The day will create a reflective space for leaders and managers to consider their own relationship to moral injury and what this emerging concept means for them as leaders. It will explore how to develop a proactive approach which protects staff and reduce the likelihood of moral injury while working in morally challenging contexts.

The way to end moral injury is systemic change and this must be our shared societal and interdisciplinary goal. Change comes slowly however, and we have a collective duty to safeguard and protect the moral wellbeing of frontline practitioners who will continue to train and work within overstretched, imperfect systems for the foreseeable future.

Learning objectives

This training will:

Introduce participants to moral injury and how it presents in workplace contexts, drawing on current research and best practice guidance.

Invite participants to consider what the concept of moral injury means for them as leaders and how being clear about personal values can help create compassionate, morally robust workplaces.

Highlight the importance of preventative action, and the link between moral injury and suicide risk.

Provide a reflective space to pause and explore how best to support self and colleagues when working in morally challenging environments.

Consider how using moral injury as a framework might strengthen our ability to work holistically and compassionately as leaders, and help us look after ourselves and guard our own moral wellbeing.