A Trauma-Informed Inquiry Consultation
The Eljamel Inquiry is committed to being a trauma-informed inquiry.
We want to hear from people with an interest in our work about how best we can do that. That is the purpose of this consultation.
Please note, when you submit the consultation form it will not automatically collect your details like name and email address unless you provide it yourself.
The Eljamel Inquiry will be based at Waverley Gate
Introduction
At the Preliminary Hearing we announced that there would be an Eljamel Inquiry Engagement Strategy.
The first step we are taking to build our engagement strategy is to understand better what it means for this Inquiry to work in a trauma-informed way.
We need your help to make sure we properly understand how to be a Trauma-Informed Inquiry.
We have already acknowledged that the events which are the subject of the Inquiry have been traumatic for many of the people involved.
This is not to make any judgement about the matters we are investigating or about how and why they happened. That judgement will only come when the Chair has had the opportunity to consider all the evidence.
However, we require to recognise that people with a vital voice in this Inquiry have experienced trauma and that this reality needs to be properly considered for them to play the role in the Inquiry that they should. This is why the Chair has committed to this being a trauma-informed Inquiry.
We believe that this is not only the right thing to do but is vital to the fulfilling of our Terms of Reference successfully.
Some people who have experienced trauma in the past will be able to engage with the Inquiry easily while for others their engagement may be difficult. We are conscious that, for some, that engagement may run the risk of re-traumatising them.
While it will not be possible to construct the Inquiry around the needs of each individual, our aim is to take the steps we can make engaging with the Inquiry a process which does not lead to unnecessary re-traumatisation.
We think that being a trauma-informed Inquiry means more than blindly listing trauma-informed practices or principles imported from elsewhere when we are in touch with people who have experienced trauma. We believe it means thinking more fundamentally about how we work.
The starting point for the development of our trauma-informed policy is to seek the input of those who have experienced trauma and who are apprehensive about their engagement with the Inquiry. We do not presume to know how this policy should work – we want to know from you how you think it should.
We will listen to what you have to say. We want to get this right.
Being a trauma-informed Inquiry is not an end in itself - it is how we believe we can most effectively benefit from the knowledge and experience of everyone who can assist us in fulfilling our Terms of Reference. It aims to allow people to contribute and participate to the best of their ability.
This consultation aims to seek the views of anyone who has experienced trauma because of their involvement with matters covered by our Terms of Reference about how we can best operate in a trauma-informed way.
This is will certainly include former patients of Mr Eljamel but it may equally include those who have been traumatised during their professional contact with the issues raised in this Inquiry.
This consultation is open to anyone who recognises that it is relevant to them. We would also welcome input from professionals with an interest in trauma-informed processes.
Information on how we hold and use your information is contained in the Inquiry’s Privacy Notice .
You can access and complete the consultation online by clicking on this link.
The deadline to respond is 5pm on Monday 12th January 2026.
The consultation is also available for download below in both Word and PDF formats.
These can be returned to the Eljamel Inquiry by email at enquiries@eljamelinquiry.scot or by post to Eljamel Inquiry, Waverley Gate, 2-4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG.