Domestic Violence The impact on children and young people

1. Domestic ViolenceThe impact on children and young people

2. Historical PerspectiveDiscuss! 1857 The Rule of Thumb “It is legal and therefore perfectly acceptable for a man to beat his wife, providing that the stick he uses is no thicker than his thumb” 1869 Law of Coveture “Upon marriage, a husband becomes legally responsible for the actions of both his wife and children therefore he can physically and verbally chastise them in order to control their behaviour”

3. “My parents argue a lot. Last night I came home, Dad was hitting Mum. It’s really upset me. When I tried to help, Dad told me to go away” – Amy, 12 years “Mum’s always miserable, she never asks me how I am. She just sits in front of the telly all day. I could be dead for all she cares” – Wayne, 13 years “Me and my sister are scared. Our parents fight a lot and we think they might split up. They fight when we’re upstairs. They don’t think we know what’s going on, but we do” – Mandy, 9 years Children’s Experiences

4. Prevalence - adults • On average 2 women a week are killed by a male partner or former partner (112 women in 2007) • Domestic violence accounts for 25% of all violent crime • 30% of women experience domestic abuse for the first time in pregnancy • A 999 call is made every minute of the day about domestic abuse • A woman will experience, on average, 35 beatings before reporting to the Police – each will increase in severity and frequency • Statistics taken from CAADA (Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse) and Home Office

5. Prevalence – children • 750,000 children witness domestic violence each year • In 90% of incidents children are either in the same room or the next room during an assault on their mother • 73% directly witness the violent assaults on their mothers, including 10% whose mothers are sexually abused • Research shows that up to 60% of child protection cases nationally also involve domestic abuse

6. Teenagers • 1 in 4 teenage girls have been hit by a boyfriend with 1 in 9 reporting severe physical violence • 18% of boys have reported some form of partner violence • A YouGov survey commissioned by Refuge into young people’s experiences of domestic violence found: • 24% of young women had experienced jealousy or possessiveness from a partner; 13% verbal abuse;11% had been pushed and 7% slapped or hit by a partner

7. Teenage rape prevention • The teenage rape prevention campaign, launched on 5 March 2012, aims to prevent teenagers from becoming victims and perpetrators of sexual violence and abuse. It encourages teenagers to re-think their views of rape, sexual assault, violence and abuse, and direct them to places for help and advice. • The campaign targets 13-18 year old boys and girls and aims to: • raise awareness of the issue of rape and sexual violence • improve understanding of what constitutes rape, sexual assault and consent • empower young people to avoid, challenge and report sexually violent behaviour The campaign website ‘This is Abuse’ can be accessed at http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk/

8. Rotherham statistics • In a class of 30, between 2 and 4 children are likely to be living with domestic abuse • 3,055 domestic violence incidents in Rotherham were reported to SYP in 2008/09 • In 2006, 7 homicides in Rotherham were due to domestic violence • In 2006/07, 46% of children on the then Child Protection Register were living in households where there was known domestic violence but by March 2009 this had increased to 81%

9. Domestic Abuse Data 2012/13 • South Yorkshire Police responded to 4385 domestic violence incidents in Rotherham • 873 were recorded as offences • 692 (79%) of these offences resulted in arrest • 1582 were repeat victims • 270 cases presented to MARAC • 34 Repeats at MARAC (13%) • 3 homicides attributed to domestic abuse

10. Discussion • What is Domestic Abuse? • What is a Forced Marriage? • What is Honour Based Violence?

11. What is Domestic Abuse? Any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over and who have been or are intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality

12. Forced Marriage is: Marriage conducted without consent of one or both parties, where duress (emotional abuse and/or physical abuse) is a factor – Choice by Right 2000 Can be used to control unwanted or undesirable behaviour, to protect religious or cultural ideals that are often misguided, to assist claims for citizenship, to ensure property remains within family, to provide care of disabled family member (reducing stigma of disability), to attempt to strengthen family links or to protect family honour, etc. – Forced Marriage Unit 2008

13. “Honour” Based Violence A crime or incident perpetrated to protect or defend the reputation of the family or community – ACPO 2008 Different to other forms of domestic abuse as it’s committed with degree of approval from family and/or community members – MULTIPLE PERPETRATORS Just a rumour of “illicit” behaviour may be sufficient to kill Reporting may increase the risk to the victim, and children, partner, associates and siblings may also be at risk

14. Smoking in public Inappropriate make up or dress (or western dress) Truanting A relationship not approved of by family or community Interfaith relationships Rejection of religion or religious instruction Rejection of an arranged or forced marriage Pre-marital conflict Pre-marital or extra marital affair Objection to being removed from education Support immigration claims Motives behind “Honour” Based Violence

15. Domestic Homicide Reviews • Section 9 (1) of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act establishes a basis for local bodies to establish domestic homicide reviews of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by a) a person to who s/he was related or to whom s/he or with whom s/he was or had been in an intimate personal relationship or b) a member of the same household as her/himself • If there are children in the household, the DHR will run in conjunction with a Serious Case Review (Part Eight, Working Together)

16. Discuss, in groups, the signs you might encounter which could indicate a child being exposed to domestic abuse

17. Indicators • Child makes a direct disclosure • Child has evidence of injuries • Running away from home, anxiety, unexplained illness, missed health or developmental checks • Difficulties sleeping or eating • Absence from school, low achievement, difficulty concentrating • Substance misuse, depression or distracted behaviour • Withdrawn, aggressive, behavioural difficulties

18. How children can experience domestic abuse • Being physically harmed or threatened with harm • Being injured while trying to intervene • Witnessing or overhearing the abuse of others • Threats to children being used to intimidate their mother • Children being encouraged to take part in the abuse of the mother • Being threatened to remain silent • Seeing ill treatment of pets; seeing damage to the home or to toys

19. Effects of Domestic Violence • The ways children respond to violence are varied. Some can become withdrawn and find it difficult to communicate, others express their feelings through behaviour problems, some bed wet or experience difficulties at school. • All children living with abuse are under stress. • All children witnessing domestic violence are being emotionally abused.

20. Good Practice • Be realistic and honest about the limits of confidentiality. • Help the child or young person to understand that they are not to blame and that it is right to tell. • Children will often feel loyal to their parents and may not want to get anyone into trouble. • Acknowledge and build on the child’s strengths and survival strategies

21. Intervention • The three central imperatives of any intervention for children living with domestic violence are: • To protect the child/ren, including unborn child/ren; • To empower the mother to protect herself and her child/ren; • To hold the abusive partner accountable for his violence and provide him with opportunities to change

22. Disclosure - adult • Sometimes victims of domestic abuse may approach school or nursery to help them; they may confide in a member of staff or may bring the subject up when meeting to discuss their child. For some women, school is the only place they go to without the perpetrator being with them. • Professionals in all agencies should take all disclosures seriously, and the impact of the domestic violence on the mother and her child/ren should be clearly explained to her • Domestic violence can sometimes diminish a mother’s capacity to parent and protect her child/ren. Mothers can become so preoccupied with their own survival within the relationship that they are unaware of the effect on their child/ren. • Make sure any disclosure or action taken is clearly recorded

23. Safety Planning • Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to do their own safety planning ie, having a bag packed ready with clothes for themselves and their children; making copies of passports, driving licences and other important documents which they may need to prove identity; maybe identifying a friend or family member who they could go to in an emergency. • The risks to the victim at times of separation are greatly increased so care should always be taken not to reveal their whereabouts to their partner or other family members who may enquire about them.

24. South Yorkshire and Rotherham Child Protection Procedures • The South Yorkshire and Rotherham LSCB Child Protection Procedures are available on-line on the Rotherham LSCB website. There is a direct link to the procedures available on the site. • All paper copies of old procedures should now be destroyed and the on-line version used. • The procedures will be continuously updated – save them on your ‘Favourites’ button! • www.rscb.org.uk

25. Domestic Abuse is a Safeguarding Issue • Criminal Justice Agencies are now looking beyond individual incidents to establish patterns of behaviour and cumulative impact on victims • Shift from child protection to safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults • Multi agency working to identify, support and protect those affected by domestic abuse, and hold perpetrators to account • Early intervention is everyone’s responsibility • More consistent approaches – common language, integrated practice (e.g. CAF, RA Tool, MARAC) • Where domestic abuse is identified it is standard good practice to risk assess the victim alongside any other procedures • Review of Safeguarding Adults procedures is likely to incorporate adults at risk of harm

26. Specialist Services • In Rotherham there are a number of specialist services for victims of Domestic Violence: • Choices & Options • IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) • Apna Haq • SYP Domestic Violence Unit • Refuge • MARAC

27. MARAC • A Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) considers individual cases of domestic violence which are assessed to be at the highest level of risk. This forum should be used when a high risk of homicide or serious harm to the adult is identified. • The MARAC considers what measures are in place and what measures are required to protect the safety of the adult.

28. MARAC deal with… High risk of harm to victim and child(ren) Increase safety of victim and children in high risk cases Multi-agency victim risk management plans Reduce repeat victimisation Separate provisions to manage risk a perpetrator poses (e.g. MAPPA) And are held fortnightly in Rotherham 253 cases were referred to MARAC in Rotherham in 2009/10

29. MAPPA • Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements provide a framework in England and Wales for the assessment and management of risk posed by serious and violent offenders. This includes offenders who are considered to be a risk, or potential risk of harm, to children / young people. • Current National Guidelines on implementing MAPPA were introduced in April 2004 and updated in 2009. • Its purpose is to focus on convicted sexual and violent offenders returning to and in the community. • Exchange of information is essential for effective public protection. The MAPPA guidance clarifies how MAPPA agencies may exchange information amongst themselves, and to other persons or organisations outside the MAPPA. • MAPPA panels can recommend that agencies disclose information about offenders to a number of organisations including schools and voluntary groups • A senior manager from the Safeguarding Unit attends MAPPA in Rotherham.

30. Advice and Referral • Contact & Referral Team (CART) on 01709 823987 • Safeguarding Unit, Duty Officer on 01709 823914 • Rotherham Domestic Violence Co-ordinator on 01709 334567 • SYP Rotherham Domestic Violence Unit 01709 832670/671

31. Advice • Choices and Options – 01709 838400 • Apna Haq – 01709 519212 • Rotherham Refuge – 0870 850 2247 • Rotherham Victim Support – 01709 361076 • National DV Helpline – 0808 2000 247 • Forced Marriage Unit (national unit) • 020 7008 0151

32. Websites • www.womensaid.org.uk • www.thehideout.org.uk • http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk

33. Training • Safer Rotherham Partnerships (SRP) run their own domestic abuse training – Module One covers all the ‘basics’ • The RLSCB runs a two day multi-agency workshop which goes into more depth on how to make a referral to MARAC, use the appropriate domestic abuse risk assessments and looks at the impact on children and young people – contact 01709 254924 to book a place • SRP Module Three involves a ‘mock’ MARAC and is a more specialised workshop for professionals such as social workers, housing officers, police officers etc. • More information on Safer Rotherham Partnership training can be gained from the Domestic Violence Co-ordinator on 01709 334567