Barnardos Domestic violence: Risk Assessment Model

1. Barnardos Domestic violence:Risk Assessment Model

2. Trisha Kelly - Training Consultant Trisha.kelly@barnardos.org.uk Libby Fry –Assistant Director Barnardo's, London Libby.fry@barnardos.org.uk BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:Risk Assessment ModelContacts

3. BACKGROUND: Adapted from a manual produced by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services in Canada Piloted with Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland since 2003. THE MODEL: Designed for use by first contact staff and social care professionals to assess the severity of domestic abuse experienced by children and young people, living within families exposed to domestic violence. Gender specific; assessing male to female domestic violence. Provides safety planning interventions for children, young people and non-abusing parent. PRINCIPLES OF THE MODEL: Protecting children is the first priority Protecting the non-abusing parent usually the mother helps protect the child Providing supportive resources Perpetrators are responsible for their abusive behaviour Respecting the non-abusing parents’ right to direct their life without placing children at increase risk of further abuse. BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model

4. AIMS: To help children and young people stay safe and healthy To increase the competence of Social care professionals and Multi-agency staff when dealing with domestic violence through a training and mentoring package. OBJECTIVES: To assist staff to identify risks to children from domestic violence To assist staff in decisions whether a case presents as in need of a safeguarding response or family support To help staff to make appropriate intervention for children, non-abusing parent and perpetrators To provide a specific domestic violence risk assessment format within initial and core assessments BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model- 4 modules

5. Four separate modules: Module 1: Multi-agency domestic violence risk identification matrix (DVRIM) Designed for first contact multi-agency staff to enable screening/ identification of risks and to provide specific guidance for the initiation of CAF and appropriate levels of intervention Module 2: Domestic Violence Initial Assessment within Social care Training consisting of a number of triggers for assessing the risk to children and the non abusing parent for use by Social care staff whilst undertaking an initial assessment Module 3:Domestic Violence CORE assessment within Social Care A specific in-depth DV core assessment tool to be used by Social Care staff when children/ YP are subject to core assessment. Sec 17/47 of CA 89 Module 4: Safety intervention with children and mothers Provides social care staff with safety planning interventions to be undertaken with children/yp and the non abusing parent during initial assessment and core assessment process. Suggested Implementation: Phase 1: Formation of Steering Group Phase 2: Presentation to Local Safeguarding Board Phase 3: Training Module 1: Multi-agency ½ day DV awareness training and use of the threshold scales and professional guidance.100 Multi-agency staff (inc CAF assessors, health professionals, education) Phase 4: Training Module 2 & 3- Two days training on initial core domestic violence risk assessment model. Phase 5: Training Module 4 -One day training on safety planning interventions with children and mothers. 20 social workers or key practitioners. E.g. CP coordinator, Police Phase 6: Action Learning Sets– practice learning sessions with a group of 5/6 staff BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Risk Assessment Model

6. OUTCOMES: Increased staff awareness and understanding of the dynamics of Domestic abuse and the risks domestic violence presents for children and young people An improvement in practitioners ability to respond more effectively to domestic violence. Safety planning and risk assessment will enable staff to assess children’s safety in families where domestic violence occurs Non-abusing parent will be more aware of the risks posed by domestic violence and be able to keep themselves and their child safer More accurate core assessments where domestic violence is intensely assessed More children and young people will be identified as requiring support and safeguarding Children/ YP and the non-abusive parent will have safety planning interventions aimed at improving their safety. Model works in conjunction with other risk assessment tools –Common Assessment Framework (CAF); Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), and Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). BENEFITS: More specialised domestic violence assessment of families during section 47 & section 17 enquiries Provides a consistent multi-agency framework to identify and assess level of risk Increases safeguarding of children with greater informed decision making. Greater focus on the needs of children and victims Offers holistic support to families BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model

7. BENEFITS : Greater support to staff dealing with domestic violence cases It enhances the assessment process within CAF as a specific risk assessment tool. It supports the Early Intervention model Maintains the focus of domestic violence as a main concern within the assessment framework without marginalising any other significant concern 2 day Train the Trainer programme available for boroughs to maintain delivery of the Matrix in-house. Any further enquiries please contact: Trisha Kelly Tel: 07534 287 638 Email: Trisha.kelly@barnardos.org.uk BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model