Domestic Violence - Policy Guidelines

							Domestic Violence


Policy guidelines-how to make them work
    and the importance of multi-agency
                collaboration

       June Keeling and Linda Birch



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Policy Guidelines



How to make them work for you




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What is involved

 Motivate and inform health service
   personnel by:

 Education and Information
 Training
 Support
 De-briefing after training events and ‘real-
   life’ cases

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Education and Information

 All health providers
 Ensure confidentiality
 Be aware of the impact of domestic abuse on
  health
 What can we do to support survivors of
  abuse?
 How are we going to do this?
 Safety planning –woman / staff
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Training
 Acting consultancy agency to re-enact
  situations

 Small group work


 Seminars


 Conferences


 Practice asking the question!
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Support
 Counsellors for staff -easy to access, staff
  can access direct, confidential service

 Colleagues


 Other agencies


 Family and friends


 Managers             Copyright 2003            6
De-briefing

 Essential in order to:



 Reduce stress
 Confidential
 DV co-ordinator
 Staff counsellor
 Supervisor
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Outcome?
Br able to ask about domestic abuse in an
  appropriate way

Be able to deal with the answer

Knowledge of other agencies

Effective workforce being able to respond
  effectively
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  The Importance of Multi-Agency
  Collaboration

•Why do we need to work together?

•What services are available?

•What do they do?




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Why do we need to work
together?


  To meet the needs of a woman (and her
  children) following disclosure of domestic
                     abuse




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Health Service
Health Care Service
  Provision of medical care


  First point of contact?


  Safe place to disclose abuse


  Link with community agencies


  24/7 Service
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Police Police service

   •Investigate alleged crime


   •Apprehension of suspect


   •Ensure safety


   •24/7 Service
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Social services

 Statutory duty to protect a child


 Child protection team


 Hospital / Community


 24/7 Service


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Women’s refuge

  Place of safety
  Benefits agency
  Counselling
  Re-education programme for children
  Support
  Outreach worker




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Citizens Advice Bureau

  Independent Advice Agency
  Free and Confidential
  Provides information:
  Legal support
  Employment
  Housing
  Benefits


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Samaritans

Free and confidential service


24/7 Service


For anyone in emotional distress


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Family and Friends


 Do they know about the abuse?


 Can they provide a safe place to stay?




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Other agencies include:

 Many other agencies are available in the
  community to provide support and advice to
  survivors of abuse:

 Victim support
 Women's Aid
 Rape Crises
 Childline
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   The importance of multi-agency
   collaboration
        Health service
                                                Police


                                                            Women’s aid
   Victim Support

                         Survivor of abuse
                                                              Solicitors
Citizens advice


                          Women’s refuge                 Social Services
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How can we work together?
 FORUM!
 Working towards the same agenda


 Need to know:
*what each agency offers
*what resources are available
*how to contact them


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How to find your local forum
 Contact:
 1)Your local council


 2) Local Police Domestic Violence Unit (call in
  at any police station)

 3)Contact the National Women's Aid Office



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References

 Full references are available from authors on
  request




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Further Information
 June.Keeling@whnt.nhs.uk


 Linda. Birch@whnt.nhs.uk



Practice Development and Research Unit
Arrowe Park Hospital
Wirral
Merseyside
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CH49 5PE