array_files=new Array(); array_files[0]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/MARAC_champions_training.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - MARAC champions training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - MARAC champions training Overview|IDVA training | IDVA learners area |MARAC training |FIPs training |Learner feedback MARAC champions training MARAC champions training is a one day train the trainer course which aims to provide local trainers with the tools and knowledge to cascade MARAC awareness training throughout statutory and voluntary agencies in the local area. Aimed at trainers and MARAC representatives working within individual agencies that might participate in the MARAC process, attendents are empowered by this course to deliver information to practitioner colleagues and managers, thereby spreading awareness of the MARAC operating in their local area, increasing buy in from all agency staff and leading to improved confidence in using a risk identification checklist with clients and referring appropriately to MARAC. The training can be tailored to individual roles within the process. CAADA will have trained 700 MARAC champions by March 2010. Our aim is that these local champions will cascade training to 100 colleagues annually in their own and partner agencies, resulting in increased knowledge and awareness of MARAC by 70,000 more practitioners and managers across England and Wales. Overview of a typical MARAC champions training day: • The MARAC Process • The Risk Identification Checklist • Information Sharing • The MARAC Meeting & Action Planning • Developing a Training Session • Presentations If you would like further information on MARAC champions training, including how to apply, please contact CAADA by emailing marac@caada.org.uk or telephoning 0117 3178750. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[1]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process3.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation What criteria will my service need to meet to achieve Leading Light status? To receive Leading Light status a service needs to meet the key criteria for good practice. These are presented in four main blocks: Service delivery Multi-agency working Human resources Governance and finance To see the key criteria click here. CAADA will work with you and your service to gather the evidence needed to show you meet these key criteria. If you are one of the projects selected for the programme, you will be sent a pre-visit information pack that will enable you to to start the process of gathering and reviewing the right evidence. back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[2]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/MARAC%20_quality_assurance.htm","2009-08-20","27K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - quality assurance and accreditation - MARAC quality assurance","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - quality assurance and accreditation - MARAC quality assurance Quality assurance and accreditation overview| Leading Lights accreditation MARAC quality assurance What is quality assurance? The CAADA quality assurance process is designed to promote good and consistent practice in and around the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive a consistent, safety-focused service wherever they are based whilst allowing for local differences in practice. Over the last three years, CAADA has supported the implementation of nearly 200 MARACs. Drawing on the experience accumulated through our interactions with hundreds of MARAC practitioners, a set of 10 principles have been established, which we believe incorporate all of the key elements for a safe and effective MARAC. These principles are outlined in our MARAC Guide 2009 - From Principles to Practice, and are available to download individually below. At the core of each principle is the safety of the victim, which needs to be considered at all stages of the MARAC process from referral to information sharing, and from action planning to administration. Ensuring that the victim has a clear voice and is supported by the MARAC is crucial to achieving safety and reducing repeat victimisation. The quality assurance process is an opportunity for areas to review their practice in and around the MARAC based around these 10 principles. While the principles cannot answer all the issues that practitioners face, particularly in relation to resources, they do provide a solid analysis of the process of running a MARAC. We hope that this will help you identify both the strengths of your MARAC and those areas that could be developed. When will my area participate in quality assurance? We will always give you several months to prepare for quality assurance and areas participating in quality assurance will receive a resource pack. MARAC areas are offered the opportunity to participate in quality assurance based on when they received their first and second visits from CAADA. If you want to find out when your MARAC is due to receive the quality assurance element of the implementation programme please contact us. There are some key documents that inform the quality assurance process which can be downloaded below. These include the Principles themselves, as well as the evidence grids which explain why the principle is important and the sub-principles that CAADA will use to assess these. Using these grids, areas have to submit evidence to demonstrate how they meet the 10 Principles. Support If you have any questions about the CAADA MARAC quality assurance process you can contact the team by email on qualityassurance@caada.org.uk or by telephone at 0207 922 7891. The 10 principles The MARAC Guide 2009 - From Principles to Practice (full manual) Guide to the principles Identification Referral criteria Representation Engagement of victim Research and information sharing Action planning Volume Administration Strategy Equality Glossary Minutes checklist for MARAC Information Sharing Protocol Checklist MARAC Operating Protocol Checklist Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[3]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_worth.htm","2009-08-20","17K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview WORTH: a Leading Light for IDVA services WORTH West Sussex Domestic Violence Services was the first IDVA service to receive accreditation from CAADA in 2008 during the pilot of CAADA’s service standards, now the Leading Lights Programme. WORTH – which stands for Ways of Responding Through Health – enables people experiencing domestic violence to talk to specially trained staff who can offer immediate confidential support. WORTH is available at Worthing Hospital’s A&E Unit, Crawley Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre and two Witness Care Units within Sussex Police. Currently WORTH has 15 IDVAs, 3 of whom are men, 1 Independent Sexual Violence Advisor and 6 support workers. There are plans to introduce WORTH at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, and the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, by the end of the year. Trish Harrison, WORTH Service Manager, managed the process of WORTH’s successful accreditation and had this to say: “When we started on the accreditation process, we knew we had policies and procedures that we had outgrown. The CAADA accreditation gave us a framework within which to review what we were doing with the objectivity and insight to determine what we needed to change and how to change it. CAADA’s service standards and the accreditation process gave us a structure which we knew could work and a set of tools we could use to guide us. We also trusted CAADA from our prior experience working with them for IDVA training and other support; so we knew that if CAADA had developed the standards that they would have looked at each one from every angle and determined that it was best for our service, for IDVAs and, most importantly, for victims. Updating all the policies and procedures largely fell to me; it was one of the largest pieces of work I have undertaken, but I knew the benefits would also be great so I was keen to make the investment. Now that we have the policies in place and have implemented all the standards, we see their impact every day. They give staff a better structure within which to do their work. We also see greater consistency across our services as we are currently located in four sites and plan to grow to two more sites this year. I can see the impact that working with clear policies and with consistent tools and procedures can have: it saves us time and supports our ability to work with multi-agency partners. We are very proud to have CAADA Accreditation. Our staff feels it is a valuable and great endorsement of the work we do and signals to others that we provide a high quality service.” CAADA Leading Lights was launched in 2009 after the pilot. Three services currently have accreditation, including WORTH. This year, a new group of services have just applied to become CAADA Leading Lights and more services will have the opportunity to apply later in 2009. To find out more about Leading Lights click here or contact Laura Croom at laura.croom@caada.org.uk. To find out more about WORTH contact Trish Harrison at trish.harrison@worthservices.org. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[4]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process7.htm","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation Will we have to be re-accredited every year? No. To keep your accredited status, CAADA will ask for certain information about your service each year showing that you continue to meet the key criteria. Re-accreditation visits will take place every three years, at a greatly reduced cost. back to CAADA Leading Light next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[5]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance CAADA Leading Lights accreditation What is the CAADA Leading Lights Programme? CAADAs Leading Lights accreditation programme is designed to recognize and reward safe practice in IDVA services across England and Wales. Through a rigorous process of accreditation, including support visits and training days, IDVA services will be guided towards CAADA Leading Light status. The Leading Lights programme sets out the key criteria for good practice within IDVA services, and is designed to ensure that survivors of domestic violence receive the same level of service regardless of where they are in the country. Together, these key criteria build a framework to help IDVA services, partner agencies and commissioners achieve a shared set of expectations of the role of IDVA services in supporting high risk victims and facilitating multi-agency co-ordination. Leading Light services will join with CAADA to lead the way in continuing to improve IDVA services across the UK. We are not currently accepting applications for Leading Lights. If you would like us to alert you when the next round of applications is open, please send an email to Laura Croom at laura.croom@caada.org.uk with “Application alert” in the subject line. For detailed information outlining how the Leading Light accreditation process works, click here. We are thrilled to announce that WORTH Services , Womens Safety Unit, Cardiff, Berkshire East Family Safety Unit and Letgo are the first four services to receive CAADA pilot accreditation. To read about their experiences, click here. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[6]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process8.htm","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation We have been through a number of assessment processes this year. Are there any ‘passporting’ procedures in place? The key criteria have been drawn from the work of IDVA services and describe a structure for work with high risk clients, so Leading Light status will only relate to IDVA work. However, CAADA are working with Respect and Women’s Aid to create a passporting system from one set of standards to another for those projects that offer a variety of domestic abuse services. CAADA is also prepared to review other accreditation processes undertaken by the service and determine where overlaps exist with a view to passporting IDVA services through particular key criteria. back to CAADA Leading Light next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[7]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process6.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation How much time will it take to prepare for Leading Lights accreditation? The process is designed to take between 12 and 18 months. The final assessment panel will sit every 6 months, beginning in March 2010. It is forecast that for each site visit you will need to do between three and five days preparation. The managers’ training days are each two days. Including the panel day, the total estimated time per service to go through to Leading Light status is estimated at approximately 200 hours. CAADA recognises that this is a time intensive programme for already stretched services. This is why the first visit is crucial for setting out a realistic timetable that enables both services and managers to balance the programme with their daily, demanding workload. We will arrange initial visits to the projects involved at a mutually convenient time, but we expect to start these visits in February. The training days will be in March and May/June. back to CAADA Leading Light next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[8]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process4.htm","2009-08-20","18K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation How does the Leading Lights accreditation process work? The programme works in partnership with projects over 12-18 months offering: In-project, on-site support and assessment in four stages: A one day initial site visit to introduce the programme and develop a tailored programme plan for each service. This visit is primarily to get to know each other better so that we can start talking about the issues you face within your service and in your local area. This first visit will also help CAADA to identify what is working well already so that we can focus our support on any areas the manager has highlighted as needing improvement to receive a Leading Light award. A second visit to discuss progress and offer coaching in those aspects the service needs additional support on. From our discussions with many services we realised everyone had aspects of their service they wanted to improve. This on-site visit is a chance to dig deeper into any problem areas. A third on-site visit to finalise the evidence necessary to go forward to the assessment panel. By this point you will hopefully be well on track to meeting the Leading Lights criteria, however, collating all the necessary evidence is vital for receiving the full award. We will work with you to help make sure that this part of the process is as straightforward as possible. A fourth visit of two days carried out by two assessors who will conduct a formal assessment of the project and either recommend the project for accreditation to the formal assessment panel or identify additional areas that need attention before the project goes forward for accreditation. Dedicated training for managers in two stages: Initial training on how to manage change in your service and on developing a useful and practical change plan. This will be supported by training on the governance and finance frameworks within which successful change can take place. We believe that training sessions with other managers are valuable in providing time for reflection as well as the chance to work through fundamental issues with other professionals. A second block of training later in the year covering good practice in human resources and multi-agency working. As success in these areas requires good negotiation skills and often requires a wealth of experience, we expect these training days to be enriched by the opportunity to both learn from and share experiences with colleagues from different projects. Telephone and email support throughout the period your programme is in operation. CAADA will work alongside your service through the preparation period to make sure you feel supported in reaching Leading Light status. You will be appointed a named support person whom you can call or email at any time, either for help or simply to discuss your ideas. A final formal panel day at the end of which your project, if successful, will be awarded ‘CAADA Leading Light’ status. The panel will be made up of sector professionals and over time will be comprised from a rotating list of managers of projects with current Leading Light status. We hope that the independent panel will reinforce the authenticity of your achievement. Materials to help you reach Leading Light status: in particular, a sample policies manual and a guidebook to take you through the process. back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[9]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process.htm","2009-08-20","18K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation process How will becoming a CAADA Leading Light benefit my service? Would my service be eligible to apply? What criteria will my service need to meet to achieve Leading Light status? How does the Leading Lights accreditation process work? Leading Lights Process Map How much time will it take to prepare for Leading Lights accreditation? Will we have to be re-accredited every year? We have been through a number of assessment processes this year. Are there any ‘passporting procedures in place? How can we apply for accreditation? How much does it cost? Please note, we are not currently accepting applications for Leading Lights. If you would like us to alert you when the next round of applications is open, please send an email to Laura Croom at laura.croom@caada.org.uk with “Application alert” in the subject line. We are thrilled to announce that WORTH Services , Womens Safety Unit, Cardiff, Berkshire East Family Safety Unit and Letgo are the first four services to receive CAADA pilot accreditation. To read about their experiences, click here. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[10]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process10.htm","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation How much does it cost? The programme costs CAADA £5,500 to provide per service. Statutorily funded projects will be asked to pay £5,500 since, as a registered charity, CAADA cannot legally subsidise government funded projects. Registered charities or equivalent with an income of £200,000 or less for their IDVA service will be asked to pay £1,250 and those with an income of over £200,000 will be asked to pay £1,750. CAADA is a registered charity and will be running the programme on a not-for-profit basis as it does for its other products. CAADA will subsidise the shortfall in funding on voluntary projects through trust donations made direct to CAADA. back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[11]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process2.htm","2009-08-20","19K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation Would my service be eligible to apply? The table below sets out some important features of services that might be ready for this process. Feature Why? Have been up and running for at least a year The initial ‘bedding-in’ process will have finished and the service will be best prepared to undertake Leading Light status. Have at least three full-time IDVAs The IDVA service is best delivered as part of a team in order to provide consistency for clients and support for the IDVA. In addition, the pilots felt that establishing new processes and systems within the service, as well as preparing the necessary evidence for assessment would be too onerous a task for smaller services. Have had some or all of their IDVAs CAADA- trained CAADA training establishes a common understanding of the end goals of an IDVA service and a common language of accreditation between service staff and the accreditation team. A committed manager with sufficient time to dedicate to the accreditation process We anticipate that work related to the Leading Lights programme should take around eight weeks to complete, but not all of the work of preparing for accreditation needs to be done by the manager. Have a board or management committee that is committed to the Leading Lights process This is crucial to the smooth running of the programme because managers will need to be supported to make any changes that are necessary. Systematically risk assess all referrals to the service This is essential, since the criteria are designed for services focusing on work with high or very high risk clients. Attend and participate in a local MARAC (or are involved in the process of establishing a MARAC in their area) Participation in a MARAC shows that higher risk cases are prioritised and is a good indicator that Leading Lights would be appropriate for your service. Regularly collect data Regular collection of data provides a firm evidence base for reviewing practice. Services that do not meet all these specifications may still feel that they are ready for accreditation as a CAADA Leading Light. If so, we will need you to tell us why you think you are suitable for accreditation despite not having the features noted above. What about services with less than three IDVAs? CAADA recognises there are many models of service provision within the sector and that the Leading Light programme is not suitable for everyone. The feedback that we have had from all quarters has been that IDVAs need to work as a team if the service that they offer is to be sustainable both for clients and for them as professionals. The Leading Lights programme aims to encourage adequate IDVA provision in terms of capacity and to underpin a sustainable response. For these reasons, we have decided to concentrate resources in 2009-10 on supporting larger services initially. We plan to review our support for a wider range of services once Leading Lights is more firmly established. We do hugely value the work carried out to support victims right across the spectrum of services in the sector and will be looking at the appropriateness of CAADA’s work with a wider range of models in 2010-11. back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[12]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/quality_assurance.html","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - quality assurance and accreditation","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - quality assurance and accreditation Leading Lights accreditation | MARAC Quality Assurance Quality assurance and accreditation There is a great need for consistent standards and quality assurance in the field of domestic abuse service provision. Everyday, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) representatives and frontline Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) make critical choices which affect the lives of victims and their children. Responding to this need, CAADA has developed a comprehensive quality assurance and accreditation programme for both IDVA services and MARACs. Accreditation for IDVA services - CAADA Leading Lights The CAADA Leading Lights programme gives formal recognition to safe and consistent practice among IDVA services. The accreditation programme, which is based upon practical and effective policies and processes, offers a clear path towards consistent standards of care across the IDVA sector. MARAC quality assurance CAADAs MARAC quality assurance programme is designed to promote good and consistent practice in and around the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). This ensures that victims of domestic violence receive a consistent, safety-focused service wherever they are based whilst allowing for local differences in practice. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[13]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process1.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation How will becoming a CAADA Leading Light benefit my service? As well as having the quality of your work recognised by CAADA, you will get: A Leading Light accreditation certificate and logo for your service to use on all materials and funding applications. A Leading Light accreditation certificate for the manager, acknowledging the work they have invested in helping the service achieve accreditation. Listing on the CAADA website as an accredited service. The opportunity for the manager involved to sit on future Leading Light assessment panels. The opportunity to be part of the group consulted on the development of the Leading Lights programme. Free access for one year to the CAADA data analysis and evaluation service. A free place at the forthcoming CAADA annual conference for sector professionals. Free access to our queries helpdesk both during and after the accreditation process. The queries helpdesk can provide advice on any IDVA- or MARAC-related issues you might be experiencing locally. back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[14]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_firstfour.htm","2009-08-20","18K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview |Leading Lights accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance Congratulations to the first Leading Lights We are thrilled to announce that WORTH Services, Women’s Safety Unit, Cardiff, Berkshire East Family Safety Unit and Letgo are the first four services to receive CAADA pilot accreditation. CAADA is hugely grateful to all four projects for their participation in our service standards pilot, and we are proud to recognize and reward the hard work and good practice at each of these services. Please follow the links below to find out more about these trailblazing services. Worth Services In 2004 WORTH began as a pilot project in a single West Sussex Hospital. WORTH Services now has teams of IDVAs based within Emergency Departments of major West Sussex Hospitals, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Saturn Centre), as well as Sussex Police Witness Care Units. The Service comprises a small Core Management Team, 15 IDVAs (which includes 3 male IDVAs) an ISVA and a team of Support Workers. All victims are supported regardless of gender. WORTH has been developed and supported in partnership by West Sussex County Council, West Sussex Primary Care Trust and Sussex Police. WORTH is now acknowledged as an essential Core Service across West Sussex providing both crisis and recovery services for victims and their children. Read here about WORTH’s experience with the accreditation process Cardiff Women’s Safety Unit The Cardiff Women’s Safety Unit (WSU) is a ground-breaking project that was established in 2001. Practice at WSU - based on risk management, information sharing, and working to create a multi-agency response to domestic violence – helped to create the model to which most IDVA services work to today. WSU was also instrumental in setting up the first MARAC, and in developing a common risk assessment tool (the FSU9) used by all local agencies. The service offers ISVA services and a Paediatric Sexual Violence Advisor at the Ynys Saff SARC alongside the four IDVAs providing advocacy services. The Dyn Project is also based within the WSU, which supports male victims of domestic abuse. Berkshire East Family Safety Unit Based in Slough, Berkshire East Family Safety Unit is a relatively new IDVA project attached to a well-established refuge (Berkshire East and South Bucks Women’s Aid). The IDVA service officially opened in 2008. The team at the Family Safety Unit is made up of three IDVAs, and two specialist advocates supporting Eastern European and BME clients. The service is hoping to add their first male advocate to the team sometime this year. CAADA is not the first organization to recognize the good practice in place at BEFSU – last year the service was nominated for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, highly recommended at the National Charity Awards and voted Charity of the Year by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Letgo The Letgo Domestic Violence Advocacy Service is a split-site service based in Penrith, Cumbria. Together, the two teams comprise 7 IDVAs covering Eden and rural Carlisle, as well as Carlisle City. Alongside offering IDVA services, Letgo also provides perpetrator programmes, children’s work (including play therapy) and access to expert legal advice. Within Eden and rural Carlisle, the service is also able to provide longer term support for victims of domestic abuse. Both services within the unit undertake developmental and awareness raising work within the community. Letgo is part of the parent organisation Impact Housing which also provides refuge and safe house accommodation and domestic abuse floating support, and reports to the Cumbria Domestic Violence Strategic Board. Cumbria Constabulary notifies Letgo of all domestic violence incidents reported to the police in the Letgo area. The service supports the specialist domestic violence courts in Penrith and Carlisle and the North Cumbria MARAC. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[15]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process5.htm","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation Leading Lights process map back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[16]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/qualityassurance_accreditation/leading_lights_accreditation_process9.htm","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - Leading Lights IDVA accreditation process Quality Assurance and accreditation overview | MARAC Quality Assurance |Leading Lights accreditation overview CAADA Leading Lights accreditation How can we apply for accreditation? CAADA is not currently accepting applications. If you would like us to alert you when we open the next round of applications, please email Laura Croom at laura.croom@caada.org.uk with “Application alert” in the subject line. back to CAADA Leading Light accreditation process Next question Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[17]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/IDVAresources.htm","2009-08-20","21K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA resources","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA resources Practitioner resources overview | Risk resources | MARAC resources | Diversity resources |Sexual violence resources IDVA resources Here you can find a Specialist toolkits for IDVAs, as well as information on service standards and other advocacy tools. CAADA is able to provide up to four hard copies of any of our MARAC Toolkits, A Guide to Commissioning an Independent Domestic Violence Advisory Service, Achieving Safety – Update on IDVA Practice, and The 2009 MARAC Guide - From Principles to Practice, free of charge. Owing to the large volume of demand, we are obliged to charge for larger orders. Please contact info@caada.org.uk for further information. If you cannot find what youre looking for, please email CAADA at info@caada.org.uk and we will try to help you. CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by IDVAs with full practice guidance (Word document - please note, lengthy download time) Author: CAADA 2009 CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by IDVAs with full practice guidance (PDF document) Author: CAADA 2009 Full IDVA practice guidance on how to use the CAADA DASH Risk Identification Checklist (PDF document) Author: CAADA 2009 The Charter and Service Standards for IDVA Services Author: CAADA National definition of IDVA work Author: CAADA Individual service plan - suggested outline for service plan between IDVA and victim Author: CAADA 2009 DIY injunction training Author: Rights of Women Ref: ROW1 Draft IDVA job description and person specification Author: CAADA Draft IDVA service manager job description and person specification Author: CAADA Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[18]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/IDVA_help_navigating.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for IDVAs","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for IDVAs Helping navigating this site - Independent Domestic Violence Advisors Are you an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)? Would you like to train to become an IDVA? If so, this site contains a wealth of information which is relevant to you. IDVAs work alongside high risk domestic violence victims to assess their level of danger, discuss options open to them and develop safety plans. If youre interested in becoming an IDVA, the CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Training is the UKs leading domestic violence advocacy training course. The training equips learners with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, support clients and address the issues that they face in a consistent and professional way. For more information, including details of upcoming courses and how to apply, click here. If youve already enrolled on the CAADA CAT course, you can download worksheets relevant to your training block. Click here to access the IDVA (CAT) learners area. If you are a practicing IDVA working with victims as part of your day to day work, the practitioner resources section contains a variety of risk identification tools, IDVA toolkits and other forms and resources to help you do your job effectively. If you are interested in promoting best practice within your IDVA service, the CAADA Leading Lights accreditation programme gives formal recognition to best practice among IDVA services. The accreditation programme, which is based upon practical and effective policies and processes, offers a clear path towards safe practice and consistent standards of care across the IDVA sector. Click here to read more about CAADAs Leading Lights programme. The research section of this website contains a variety of reports relating to the effectiveness of MARAC and IDVA services. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[19]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/MARAC_help_navigating.htm","2009-08-20","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for MARAC participants","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for MARAC participants Helping navigating this site - professionals engaging with Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) Do you attend Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs)? Are you a frontline professional who regularly refers victims to a local MARAC? If so, this site contains a wealth of information and resources which are relevant to you. If you are a frontline worker involved in victim risk assessment and referrals to MARAC, download one of our frontline professional Risk Identification Toolkits to help you with your day to day work. Anyone attending MARAC can download our specific Toolkits for Chairs, Co-ordinators and Representatives, as well as administrative, record keeping and data collection resources for MARAC work, by visiting the practitioner resources section. If you attend your local MARAC, you may be interested in finding out more about CAADAs MARAC implementation training. Aimed at middle manager MARAC representatives, Chairs and Co-ordinators (rather than frontline professionals), this training demonstrates how to run a robust and safe MARAC to support high risk victims in the most effective way. Click here to find out more about CAADAs MARAC implementation training. Once local MARACs have progressed through the CAADA implementation training, theyre eligible to take part in CAADAs quality assurance process. This development programme is the only scheme in the UK designed to promote gold standard practice in and around Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC). Click here to learn more about the MARAC quality assurance process. MARAC champions training is a one day course which aims to cascade general awareness of risk identification, information sharing and the MARAC process throughout individual public and voluntary agencies and across the local area. Attendents are empowered by this course to deliver training to their own practitioner colleagues, thereby spreading awareness of MARACs operating in their local area and increasing buy in from all agency staff. The research section of this website contains a variety of reports relating to the effectiveness of MARAC, as well as more general research on Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) services. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[20]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/FIPs_help_navigating.htm","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for FIPs professionals","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for FIPs professionals Helping navigating this site - Family Intervention Project professionals Are you a professional working withing a Family Intervention Project (FIP)? If so, this site contains a wealth of information which is relevant to you. Research shows that domestic abuse is prevalent in families working with FIP teams. CAADA has recently started providing specialist training to FIP teams across the UK. Funded by the Department of Health, this training will run throughout 2009. For more information about CAADA FIPs domestic violence training, click here. If you are a frontline FIPs worker involved in victim risk assessment and referrals to MARAC, download the CAADA FIPs Risk Identification Toolkit to help you with your day to day work. The research section of this website contains a variety of reports relating to the effectiveness of MARAC and IDVA services. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[21]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/news/news.html","2009-08-20","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - press contacts","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - press contacts CAADA consultation responses |Press contacts Latest news MARAC Quality Assurance - first 14 complete the process August 2009 - A total of 14 Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) from across the UK have successfully progressed through the first ever intake of CAADAs quality assurance programme. The development programme, which is funded by the Home Office and designed to promote gold standard practice in and around MARACs, is the first of its kind in the UK. By committing to a rigorous quality assurance assessment, participating MARACs are helping to ensure that victims receive a consistent, effective service, wherever they are based - thereby keeping victim safety at the heart of MARAC activities. The 14 MARACs will receive comprehensive quality assurance reports, which will be moderated by an external panel with key MARAC agencies represented. A further seven areas from the first intake are still currently being assessed. An additional 35 MARACs have been invited to take part in the second quality assurance intake, which will take place across 2009-2010. For further information on CAADAs quality assurance programme, click here. CAADA news - July 2009 Download the July version of our enewsletter here. Latest MARAC quarterly data from CAADA June 2009 - From 1st January to 1st April 2009 CAADA collected data from 181 MARACs, up from 143 in the previous quarter. Additionally, the annual number of high risk victims cases reviewed at MARAC has risen from 19,700 to 24,787. The total number of children involved in these cases were 34,238. The percentage of repeat cases as an average across all recorded MARACs was 23.16%. The percentage of non-Police referrals to these MARACs were 29.58%, and the percentage of Black and Minority Ethnic cases reviewed were 8.45%. These annual figures were recorded by CAADA between April 2008 and April 2009. For further information, email marac_data@caada.org.uk New CAADA domestic violence training for Family Intervention Projects June 2009 - CAADA is pleased to announce the launch of a new two day training programme developed on behalf of the Department of Health for practitioners working in Family Intervention Projects (FIPs). The training will focus on increasing awareness and skills in relation to risk and domestic abuse for FIPs teams. Established in 2006, FIPs aim to reduce anti-social behaviour in the most challenging and anti-social families. FIP teams across the country work to establish the needs of each family member and work individually with them to meet these needs. As research shows that domestic abuse is prevalent in families working with FIPs, this training will ensure that staff can offer better services and support in this critical area. For further information including how to access a course near you, please click here. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[22]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_datesvenues.htm","2009-08-20","22K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training dates and venues","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training dates and venues CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Autumn 2009 date and venues Our autumn courses are now closed for applications and we will shortly be in touch with everyone who has applied. We will be running more courses in the spring with probable locations being London, Bristol and Birmingham. The course requires 15 days attendance. The training is divided into five blocks of three days each. The dates are shown below. ALL BLOCKS ARE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. Please note, we have postponed the Autumn 2009 Bristol course as we received limited applications for this venue but we are running an additional course in Manchester to meet the high demand in that region. We will run Bristol IDVA training courses in the future - if youd like to register an early interest in this please contact us by emailing training@caada.org.uk. LONDON (2 Courses) Block 1 8th, 9th, 10th September Block 2 6th, 7th, 8th October Block 3 3rd, 4th, 5th November Block 4 1st, 2nd, 3rd December Block 5 12th, 13th, 14th January 2010 MANCHESTER Block 1 15th, 16th and 17th September Block 2 13th, 14th, 15th October Block 3 10th, 11th, 12th November Block 4 8th, 9th, 10th December Block 5 19th, 20th, 21st January 2010 MANCHESTER Block 1 22nd, 23rd, 24th September Block 2 20th, 21st, 22nd October Block 3 17th, 18th, 19th November Block 4 15th, 16th, 17th December Block 5 26th, 27th, 28th January 2010 Course closure Learners’ assignments will be accepted for assessment until the course closure date which is seven months after the last day of attendance at the training venue. Timings The training will run from 9.30am until 4.30pm on each day. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Accommodation Please note that this is not a residential course and learners who cannot travel daily to the training will need to make their own accommodation arrangements. The cost of the course does not include overnight accommodation. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[23]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/MARACresources.htm","2009-08-20","39K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - MARAC practitioner resources","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - MARAC practitioner resources Practitioner resources overview | Risk resources | IDVA resources | Diversity resources |Sexual violence resources MARAC resources Here you can find a wealth of MARAC toolkits for frontline agency professional involved in risk identification work, as well as MARAC representatives, chairs and co-ordinators. Also contains data collection, administrative and record keeping resources for MARAC work, as well as quality assurance resources. Do you attend MARAC? If so, click here for resources: Are you a frontline agency professional involved in referring victims to MARAC? If so, click here for resources: Do you record and collect data for MARAC? If so, click here for resources: Is your MARAC participating in CAADAs Quality Assurance programme? If so, click here for resources: If you have any queries in relation to MARAC, email CAADA at marac@caada.org.uk and we will try to help you. If you have a query in relation to MARAC data collection, please email marac_data@caada.org.uk. CAADA is able to provide up to four hard copies of any of our MARAC Toolkits, A Guide to Commissioning an Independent Domestic Violence Advisory Service, Achieving Safety – Update on IDVA Practice, and The 2009 MARAC Guide - From Principles to Practice, free of charge. Owing to the large volume of demand, we are obliged to charge for larger orders. Please contact info@caada.org.uk for further information. Do you attend MARAC? If so, the following resources will be useful: MARAC Representatives Toolkit - the definitive toolkit for agency representatives attending MARAC Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Chairs Toolkit Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Co-ordinators Toolkit Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Administration Pack Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Minutes Checklist Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Information Sharing Protocol Checklist Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Operating Protocol Checklist Author: CAADA 2009 Are you a frontline agency professional involved in referring victims to MARAC? If so, the following resources will be useful: MARAC Toolkit for Accident and Emergency Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Black and Minority Ethnic Organisation Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Tookit for CAFCASS Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Tookit for Children and Young Peoples Services Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Tookit for Drug and Alcohol Team Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Education Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Health Visitors Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Independent Domestic Violence Advisors Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Family Intervention Project Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Organisation Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Mental Health Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Police Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Probation Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Specialist Domestic Violence Services Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Sexual Violence Organisation Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Vulnerable Adult Services Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC Toolkit for Womens Safety Officer Professionals Author: CAADA 2009 Do you record and collect data for MARAC? If so, the following resources will be useful: Guidelines for completing the MARAC data form Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC sample data collection form - filled in version Author: CAADA 2009 MARAC blank data collection form - monthly Author: CAADA MARAC blank data collection form - fortnightly Author: CAADA Is your MARAC participating in CAADAs Quality Assurance programme? If so, the following resources will be useful: The MARAC Guide 2009 - From Principles to Practice. Please note, CAADA is able to provide up to four hard copies of this publication free of charge. Owing to the large volume of demand, we are obliged to charge for larger orders. Please contact info@caada.org.uk for further information. Author: CAADA 2009 The Ten Principles Author: CAADA 2009 For research information and reports, please visit the Research section of the website. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[24]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/aboutus/recruitment.htm","2009-08-20","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - recruitment","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - recruitment About us |Vision & mission|If you are experiencing domestic violence| Contact us | Recruitment The CAADA Board of Trustees is recruiting a Trustee for the charitys Finance Sub-Committee. Please click here to download the full application pack including job description and person specification. The successful candidate will: Have financial experience preferably obtained at Board level within a charity or the private or public sector. Be able to contribute to budget setting and to analyse and monitor complex financial data. Have an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trustees. Be a qualified accountant or lawyer with previous experience in a senior financial role of a commercial or not for profit organisation of a similar or larger size than the charity. Have experience of corporate governance, preferably within the voluntary sector, either as a volunteer or as a senior member of staff and with some experience of charity finance. Board meetings are held quarterly in January, April, July & October, alternating between CAADA’s Bristol & London offices. Finance Sub-Committee meetings shall be held on a quarterly basis before main Board meetings (both face to face and by telephone). Please send your CV and covering letter to ceo@caada.org.uk, applications close on Friday, 18th September 2009. CAADA is an equal opportunities employer. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[25]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/aboutus/aboutus.html","2009-08-20","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - about us","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - about us Vision & mission |If you are experiencing domestic violence| Recruitment| Contact us | About us Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) is a national charity supporting a strong and effective multi-agency response to domestic violence. CAADAs goal is to enable a range of agencies to work together effectively to improve the safety of high risk domestic violence victims and their children. To do this, CAADA provides training, quality assurance, insight and policy to support professionals and organisations involved in partnership work. The aim is for every victim and child to receive professional support from an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)*, for them to be properly supported by public and voluntary agencies alike and for perpetrators of abuse to be held accountable. CAADA has four main areas of activity: • Multi-Agency Risk Assessement Conferences (MARACs) implementation: we have supported the implementation of over 200 domestic abuse MARACs across the whole of the UK. The MARAC is a victim-focused meeting, where information is shared on the highest risk cases of domestic abuse between criminal justice, health, child protection, housing practitioners, IDVAs as well as other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors. A safety plan for each victim is then created. Between April 2008 and April 2009, there were over 24,000 cases heard at MARAC, involving 34,000 children. • Professional training: CAADA runs a nationally accredited programme for IDVAs that covers all aspects of the knowledge and skills that are needed when working with high risk victims and partner agencies. The course runs over five months and involves 15 days of in room training and an equivalent amount of time to complete assessments. We have trained over 720 IDVAs to date. • Quality assurance: There is a great need for consistent standards in the field of domestic abuse service provision and CAADA has recently begun formal accreditation of both IDVA services and MARACs. Our Leading Lights programme gives formal recognition to safe practice among IDVA services. This is currently being rolled out following a successful pilot. • Data collection, analysis and evaluation: We believe that one of the key historic weaknesses of the domestic abuse sector was the lack of data in relation to safety outcomes. We are currently piloting a service that builds on our expertise in evaluation which will permit all IDVA projects and MARACs to measure their outcomes and the cost-benefit implications of these. * An Independent Domestic Violence Advisor is a trained professional who advises high risk victims on the range of safety options available to them, including representing them at a MARAC. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[26]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/index.html","2009-08-20","18K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse Welcome to our website. Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) is a national charity which aims to create a consistent, professional and effective response to high risk survivors of domestic violence. CAADA achieves this through the creation of a strong infrastructure for the domestic violence advocacy sector and other domestic violence professionals generally. Latest news... Trustee recruitment: The CAADA Board of Trustees is recruiting a Trustee for the charitys Finance Sub-Committee. Click here for further information>> IDVA training: applications for Autumn 2009 IDVA training are now closed, but we will shortly be accepting applications for Spring 2010.Click here for further information>> MARAC quality assurance - first intake: 14 MARACs from across the UK have successfully completed the quality assurance process, with a further seven areas currently being assessed.A further 35 MARACs are being assessed in the second intake (2009-2010) Click here for further information>> Latest MARAC quarterly data from CAADA: from 1st January to 1st April 2009 CAADA collected data from 181 MARACs, up from 143 in the previous quarter. Additionally, the annual number of high risk victim cases reviewed at MARAC has risen from 19,700 to 24,787. The total number of children involved in these cases were 34,238. The percentage of repeat cases as an average across all recorded MARACs was 23.16%.Click here for further information>> New updates Updated CAADA-Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist now available Click here to download >> MARAC Quality Assurance - ten new guiding principles Click here to download >> New toolkits for frontline agency professionals which refer to MARAC Click here to download >> CAADA enews - July edition now available to download Click here to download >> Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[27]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/","2009-08-20","18K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse Welcome to our website. Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) is a national charity which aims to create a consistent, professional and effective response to high risk survivors of domestic violence. CAADA achieves this through the creation of a strong infrastructure for the domestic violence advocacy sector and other domestic violence professionals generally. Latest news... Trustee recruitment: The CAADA Board of Trustees is recruiting a Trustee for the charitys Finance Sub-Committee. Click here for further information>> IDVA training: applications for Autumn 2009 IDVA training are now closed, but we will shortly be accepting applications for Spring 2010.Click here for further information>> MARAC quality assurance - first intake: 14 MARACs from across the UK have successfully completed the quality assurance process, with a further seven areas currently being assessed.A further 35 MARACs are being assessed in the second intake (2009-2010) Click here for further information>> Latest MARAC quarterly data from CAADA: from 1st January to 1st April 2009 CAADA collected data from 181 MARACs, up from 143 in the previous quarter. Additionally, the annual number of high risk victim cases reviewed at MARAC has risen from 19,700 to 24,787. The total number of children involved in these cases were 34,238. The percentage of repeat cases as an average across all recorded MARACs was 23.16%.Click here for further information>> New updates Updated CAADA-Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist now available Click here to download >> MARAC Quality Assurance - ten new guiding principles Click here to download >> New toolkits for frontline agency professionals which refer to MARAC Click here to download >> CAADA enews - July edition now available to download Click here to download >> Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[28]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/aboutus/Job%20Description%20for%20CAADA%20Trustee%20to%20Join%20Finance%20Sub-Committee%5B1%5D.pdf","2009-08-20","117K"," ICSA model Job Description for Charity Trustees","","","CAADA is seeking to recruit a Trustee to join the existing Board and the Finance Sub-Committee Role Description ­ Finance Sub-Committee Overall Purpose: The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the organisations aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines. In addition to the general duties of all Trustees members of the Finance Sub-Committee are responsible to the Board of Trustees for the financial affairs of CAADA. The function of the Finance Sub-Committee is to: Recommend the annual budget and annual accounts for approval by the Board. Review expenditure relative to budget at quarterly intervals. Review cash flow forecast on a quarterly basis. Establish financial procedures and keep these updated. Provide reports of the financial position to the Board of Directors. Plan for long term financing of CAADA. Provide for the maintenance of daily, monthly and annual financial reports and records. Evaluate, as necessary, the financial implications of the Business Plan and take any recommendations to the Board. Recommend to the Board of Directors the appointment of Auditors and Bank. Meet with the appointed Auditors, as appropriate. Ensure that financial activities are appropriate. Any irregularities must be notified to the Board and any external body, as it may be deemed necessary. Manage Financial Risk. Finance Sub-Committee Membership: The membership is decided by the Board and should include at least 2 Trustees, of whom one must be the Chair. CAADAs Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Finance will also sit on this Committee. Main Responsibilities of all Trustees: To ensure that the charity and its representatives function within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and in line with memorandum and articles, continually striving for best practice in governance. To uphold the legal duty invested in the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in CAADA. To take appropriate professional advice in all matters where they may be material risk to the charity or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties. This course of action will ensure the obligation to exercise their duty of care. To determine the overall direction and development of CAADA through good governance and clear strategic planning. To avoid any personal conflict of interest. Main Duties: Ensuring the charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements and acts within the confines of its memorandum and articles and in furtherance to organisational activities contained therein. Acting in the best interest of CAADA, beneficiaries and future beneficiaries at all times. Promoting and developing CAADA in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance to society. Maintaining sound financial management of the charitys resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisations objects and investment activities meet accepted standards and policies. Interviewing, appointing and monitoring the work and activities of the senior paid staff. Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the charity and its resources, striving for best practice in good governance. Acting as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for funds, if appropriate. To maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/ confidential information received in the course of trustees responsibilities to the charity. Additional Skills, Qualifications & Experience for Finance Sub-Committee Members: Financial experience preferably obtained at Board level within a charity or the private or public sector. Ability to contribute to budget setting and to analyse and monitor complex financial data. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trustees. A qualified accountant or lawyer with previous experience in a senior financial role of a commercial or not for profit organisation of a similar or larger size than the charity. Has experience of corporate governance, preferably within the voluntary sector, either as a volunteer or as a senior member of staff and with some experience of charity finance. Attendance: Board meetings are held quarterly in January, April, July & October, alternating between CAADAs Bristol & London offices. Finance Sub-Committee meetings shall be held on a quarterly basis before main Board meetings (both face to face and by telephone). Please send your CV and covering letter to ceo@caada.org.uk, applications close on Friday, 18th September 2009. Job Description for CAADA Trustee to Join Finance Sub-Committee[1] "); array_files[29]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/searchresult.html","2009-08-20","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for IDVAs","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - information for IDVAs Search Please enter your search terms in the box below. If you require any further assistance please contact CAADA by emailing info@caada.org.uk. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[30]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/riskresources.htm","2009-08-20","20K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - practitioner resources","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - practitioner resources Practitioner resources overview | MARAC resources | IDVA resources | Diversity resources |Sexual violence resources Risk identification resources Here you can find relevant CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence Risk Identification (DASH) Checklists for different professions, together with guidance for usage. If you cannot find what youre looking for, please email CAADA at info@caada.org.uk and we will try to help you. For copyright and amendment advice, please contact copyright@caada.org.uk CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by all agencies referring to MARAC - with guidance (Word document) Author: CAADA 2009 CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by all agencies referring to MARAC - with guidance (PDF document) Author: CAADA 2009 CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by all agencies referring to MARAC - without guidance (Word document) Author: CAADA 2009 CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by all agencies referring to MARAC - without guidance (PDF document) Author: CAADA 2009 CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by IDVAs with full practice guidance (Word document - please note, lengthy download time) Author: CAADA CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist - for use by IDVAs with full practice guidance (PDF document) Author: CAADA 2009 Full IDVA practice guidance on how to use the CAADA DASH Risk Identification Checklist (PDF document) Author: CAADA 2009 Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[31]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU9.pdf","2009-08-18","121K"," Robinson _2005_.doc","","","The Cardiff Womens Safety Unit and the Civil/Criminal Interface 13th December 2005 http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/schoolsanddivisions/academicschools/socsi/staff/acad/robinson.html Dr Amanda L Robinson Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 RobinsonA@Cardiff.ac.uk Table of Contents Executive Summary..................................................................................................3 Introduction ................................................................................................................4 New Initiatives in Civil Justice ...............................................................................5 Aims of the Study ....................................................................................................7 Methodology...............................................................................................................7 Literature Review ......................................................................................................8 Combined or Integrated Civil/Criminal Courts ....................................................8 Use of Civil Remedies ............................................................................................9 Effectiveness of Civil Remedies......................................................................... 10 Children at the Interface ...................................................................................... 11 Experiences and Perceptions of Victims of Domestic Violence ............... 12 Experience with the Legal Process ................................................................... 12 Concern for C hildren............................................................................................ 14 Effectiveness of Occupation Orders.................................................................. 15 Assistance from Solicitors ................................................................................... 16 Advocacy from the WSU ..................................................................................... 18 Challenges of Pursuing Criminal versus Civil Justice .................................... 19 Perceived Benefits of a Combined Civil/Criminal Court ................................. 20 Improvements Needed in the Courts ................................................................ 20 Information from WSU Advocates..................................................................... 21 Particular Challenges of Pursuing Civil Justice ............................................... 21 Advocacy and Improving the Interface ............................................................. 22 Perceived Benefits of a Combined Civil/Criminal Court ................................. 24 Results of the Solicitor Survey........................................................................... 24 Particular Challenges of Pursuing Civil Justice ............................................... 24 Effectiveness of Civil Remedies......................................................................... 25 Challenges of Pursuing Criminal versus Civil Justice .................................... 26 The Civil/Criminal Interface................................................................................. 26 Perceived Benefits of a Combined Civil/Criminal Court ................................. 27 Conclusions............................................................................................................. 27 Recommendations................................................................................................. 30 References............................................................................................................... 31 Appendix A: Victim Interview ............................................................................. 34 Appendix B: Advocate Interview ....................................................................... 36 Appendix C: Solicitor Survey ............................................................................. 38 Acknowledgements ­ The author would like to thank the victims, advocates and solicitors for taking the time to participate in this research, and to commend all those who are trying to improve the `interface between the civil and criminal courts so that victims and their children can be safer. Whilst every effort has been taken in the preparation of this publication, no liability is assumed by the author for any errors or omissions. 2 The Cardiff Womens Safety Unit and the Civil/Criminal Interface Executive Summary This exploratory study investigated the `interface between the civil and criminal courts in Cardiff by reviewing the literature and then obtaining information from victims of domestic violence, advocates working in the Womens Safety Unit (WSU), and solicitors. The WSU rota scheme ­ free initial consultations provided by specialist trained solicitors ­ was identified as good practice in terms of increasing the access to civil justice for victims of domestic violence. Victims were more satisfied with their solicitors when they were referred by the WSU. Victims experiences of going to court were generally negative, as they felt nervous, intimidated, and unsafe. Victims involved in child contact disputes also had concerns about their childrens safety during contact. Victims were unsatisfied with CAFCASS and perceived family proceedings to have a bias towards `contact at any cost rather than their safety or that of their children. Victims felt that civil remedies, such as occupation orders or non-molestation orders, did help them to feel safer and prevent further abuse, but only when they had a power of arrest (POA) attached by the court. The feasibility of having the victim and perpetrator continue to live under the same roof (albeit in different rooms as stated in a court order) was questioned by all three types of respondents (victims, advocates and solicitors). Access to civil justice was constrained by financial considerations and issues such as Legal Aid not being available whilst a criminal case is ongoing. Victims of domestic violence should have access to civil remedies regardless of their financial situations. The `interface between civil and criminal courts ­ in terms of relaying information about criminal matters to civil judges, or information about civil proceedings to magistrates or judges in criminal courts ­ is completely dependent upon the WSU advocates that support victims through the legal process. Without advocacy arrangements in place, there would be no interface and decision-making by either court would be made based on partial information. Whilst in Cardiff these arrangements appear to be effective, developing the interface between civil and criminal courts needs to be a national endeavour to p rovide a consistent and streamlined response to victims of domestic violence. This study reasserts the importance of having a holistic, multi-agency response to domestic violence. Victims who are reluctant to participate in a criminal case need to have access to other types of remedies, such as those provided by the civil courts. The coordination of civil with criminal justice represents the best hope of keeping victims of domestic violence and their children safe. 3 The Cardiff Womens Safety Unit and the Civil/Criminal Interface Introduction Victims of domestic violence may seek protection from both the criminal and civil law. Criminal offences such as assaults, wounding, sexual abuse, harassment, or threats may be charged by prosecutors and offenders convicted in Magistrates or Crown Courts. There is no specific offence of domestic violence per se, but a range of abusive behaviours that occur within intimate relationships can be charged as criminal offences. Punishments following from a criminal conviction could include fines, community punishment orders, community rehabilitation orders, and/or custodial sentences. In recent years substantial attention has been paid to improving the criminal justice response to domestic violence.1 The civil justice system is another avenue by which victims of domestic violence might seek redress, yet on its own has received relatively little attention in terms of its response to domestic violence. Remedies provided in the civil law include occupation orders 2, non-molestation orders 3 and exclusion orders 4. Their aim is to protect the applicant from further violence, threats, and/or harassment by the abuser. At their discretion, courts can attach a power of arrest (POA) to these orders, allowing the police to arrest and remove a suspect found in breach of a court order. Historically police and the courts have been reluctant to do this, however, rendering many civil injunctions useless.5 Thus victims of domestic violence might be involved in criminal cases (as witnesses) or civil cases (as applicants), in an attempt to seek protection from 1 For example, the CPS updated its prosecution policy for domestic violence in 2001, ACPO issued new guidance on investigating domestic violence in 2004, the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Bill received royal assent in 2004, and the Home Office is rolling out 25 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts in 2005-6. 2 Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 ­ Regulates the occupation of the home shared by the couple and their children to protect any party or children from domestic violence. The order can exclude the abuser from the property altogether, or divide the property to exclude him from part of the accommodation. If he has already left the property, an occupation order may be used to prevent him from re -entering or coming within a certain area of the property. Therefore these types of orders are limited to those couples that previously or currently live together. 3 Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 ­ Used to restrain someone from causing or threatening violence to the applicant or to any children, or from molesting them. The Act does not define molestation, but it can include intimidation, pestering, threats and harassment. The wording of the order "); array_files[32]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU8.pdf","2009-08-18","161K"," Robinson & Tregidga _2005_ MARAC Report -- FINAL FINAL.doc","","","Domestic Violence MARACS (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) for Very High-Risk Victims in Cardiff, Wales: Views from the Victims May, 2005 Dr Amanda L Robinson Ms Jasmin Tregidga School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 RobinsonA@Cardiff.ac.uk http://www.cf.ac.uk/socsi/whoswho/robinson.html TregidgaJ@Cardiff.ac.uk Table of Contents Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4 Evaluating the MARACs............................................................................................................. 4 Phase 1 Evaluation................................................................................................................ 4 Phase 2 Evaluation................................................................................................................ 4 Changes to the MARAC Process................................................................................................. 4 2. Literature Review ................................................................................................................ 5 Benefits of Multi-Agency Approaches ......................................................................................... 5 The Challenge ...................................................................................................................... 5 Ways to Meet the Challenge .................................................................................................. 5 Measuring Success................................................................................................................ 6 Victims Explanations for Abuse ................................................................................................. 8 Negotiating Safety .................................................................................................................... 9 Developing Agency ............................................................................................................... 9 Help-Seeking .......................................................................................................................10 Relationship Separation ...........................................................................................................10 Economic Dependence .........................................................................................................10 Child Contact.......................................................................................................................11 Fear of Retaliation ...............................................................................................................11 Post-Separation Violence ......................................................................................................11 Returning to Abusive Relationships .......................................................................................11 3. Methodology .......................................................................................................................12 Overview ................................................................................................................................12 Police Data .............................................................................................................................13 Sample................................................................................................................................13 Analytic Strategy..................................................................................................................13 Interviews with Victims ............................................................................................................13 Interview Schedule ..............................................................................................................13 Safety Considerations...........................................................................................................14 Sample................................................................................................................................15 Difficulties Accessing High-Risk Victims .................................................................................15 Analytic Strategy..................................................................................................................16 4. Findings from the Police Data............................................................................................16 Repeat Violence Post-MARAC ...................................................................................................16 Risk Factors ............................................................................................................................18 Correlates of Repeat Violence...................................................................................................20 5. Findings from the Victim Interviews .................................................................................20 Victim Perceptions of the Multi-Agency Approach ......................................................................21 Sharing Information.............................................................................................................21 Providing Support................................................................................................................22 Practical Assistance ..............................................................................................................23 Continuing Challenges..........................................................................................................23 Personal Factors Impacting Violence.........................................................................................24 Relationships .......................................................................................................................24 Family Support ....................................................................................................................26 Retraction ...........................................................................................................................27 Children ..............................................................................................................................27 Economic Issues ..................................................................................................................28 Mental Health/ Alcohol/ Drugs Issues ....................................................................................29 Responsibility for Ending the Violence.......................................................................................29 6. Conclusions .........................................................................................................................31 References .................................................................................................................................33 Appendix A: Victim Interview Schedule ........................................................................................35 2 Executive Summary § The first MARAC was held in April 2003 and was attended by members of 16 agencies, including police, probation, local authority, health, housing, refuge and the Womens Safety Unit. The goal of these meetings is to provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions that will reduce future harm to very high-risk victims and their children. This report is the second phase of the evaluation of the MARACs, which focuses on identifying levels of recidivism 12-months on with police data and by interviewing victims. It should be read in tandem with the first phase of the evaluation. The literature review identified five key ways that the safety of women and children experiencing domestic violence may be increased: increased and on-going communication; conducting risk assessments; providing advocacy to victims; translating policy into action; and holding perpetrators to account. The MARACs improve the response provided to highrisk victims of domestic violence in each of these ways. The literature also points out that a multi-agency response needs to take into account the complex set of issues confronting women (e.g., emotional, financial, children, etc.) to ensure that they have the resources and support that they need to make the difficult decision to leave and ultimately to remain safe. The police incident data revealed that a substantial proportion of victims, more than 4 in 10, have had no further reported incidents of domestic violence one year after the MARAC. This is particularly notable given their extensive histories of domestic violence and identification as high-risk for repeat violence. The interviews with victims revealed several important findings: § Victims knew that agencies were working together on their behalf, namely because information was shared across agencies about their cases. § Holding participating agencies accountable for their attendance and performance in the MARACs is an on-going issue noted by some victims. § Many women specifically mentioned that the support they received was from many different agencies; however the WSU was often viewed as the primary source of information, support and assistance they received. § Practical assistance, such as having their locks changed, was very highly valued by the women. § Negative comments focused on poor evidence collection by the police and not being kept informed about decisions in their cases (bail, custody, adjournments, etc.). § The majority of women have regained a sense of freedom and a degree of control over their lives since the MARAC intervention, usually as a result of separating from their abusive partners. § A strong family support network played an important role in womens ability to manage the abusive situation, and ultimately t "); array_files[33]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU7.pdf","2009-08-18","204K"," Robinson _2005_ 2nd WSU Evaluation.doc","","","The Cardiff Womens Safety Unit: Understanding the Costs and Consequences of Domestic Violence 21st January 2005 Dr Amanda L Robinson Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 RobinsonA@Cardiff.ac.uk http://www.cf.ac.uk/socsi/whoswho/robinson.html Table of Contents Executive Summary.............................................................................................................................3 List of Tables........................................................................................................................................4 List of Charts........................................................................................................................................4 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 5 Evidence of Success in Cardiff............................................................................................................... 5 Victims Refusing to Make Complaints ................................................................................................. 6 Repeat Victimisation ......................................................................................................................... 7 Concern for Children Reports ............................................................................................................. 8 1. The Cost of Domestic Violence ....................................................................................................... 9 The Cost of Domestic Violence to Cardiff ............................................................................................... 9 The Cost of the WSU.......................................................................................................................... 11 Reducing the Costs of Domestic Violence in Cardiff .............................................................................. 12 2. Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 13 Sample.............................................................................................................................................. 13 Data Collection................................................................................................................................... 13 3. Findings..........................................................................................................................................14 Description of WSU Clients ................................................................................................................. 14 Victims Experiences and Perceptions of Domestic Violence................................................................... 16 Experiencing Multiple Forms of Abuse .............................................................................................. 18 Escalation of Abuse......................................................................................................................... 18 Perceptions of the Abuse ................................................................................................................ 18 Victims Perceptions of the CJS ........................................................................................................... 20 Perceptions of the Police ................................................................................................................. 20 Expectations about Criminal Justice Involvement.............................................................................. 22 The Consequences of Domestic Violence ............................................................................................. 24 Consequences of Domestic Violence on Womens Employability......................................................... 24 Consequences of Domestic Violence on Womens Health................................................................... 25 Womens Experiences with and Perceptions of the WSU ....................................................................... 26 What Women Get From the WSU..................................................................................................... 26 What Women Think About the WSU ................................................................................................ 31 4. Conclusions and Recommendations.............................................................................................33 Evidence of WSU Effectiveness ........................................................................................................... 33 Continued Expansion of WSU Service .................................................................................................. 33 Recommendations for Further Improvement ........................................................................................ 34 References ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix A: Womens Safety Unit Client Assessment Form...........................................................37 Appendix B: What Health Care Providers Should Know about the Spectrum of Victimisation....50 2 The Cardiff Womens Safety Unit: Understanding the Costs and Consequences of Domestic Violence Executive Summary 1. The WSU was referred 3228 women and their 4085 children from mid-December 2001 through 31st July 2004. This report is based on a random sample of 120 structured interviews with clients coming to the WSU for a recent 12-month period (1 Aug 03 ­ 31st Jul 04), and police data on domestic violence in the Cardiff area for the years 2001-2004. 2. Similar to Cardiff residents generally, most WSU clients are white (90%), British (94%) and speak English (99%). A substantial proportion of women are struggling financially, and all care for children. 3. The average woman coming to the WSU is in a chronically abusive relationship, where she has endured nearly 6 years of emotional and physical abuse, about 5 years of financial abuse and 4 years of sexual abuse. A majority of WSU clients also report experiencing an escalation in the severity, duration and frequency of the abuse. About 9 in 10 women have told their friends or family about the abuse and have sought outside help. About 9 in 10 women already have tried to end the relationship. 4. The costs associated with domestic violence in Cardiff were conservatively estimated at £15.5 million annually. If distributed evenly across all households in Cardiff, this would be an annual `tax of £125. In contrast, the operating costs of the WSU are about £250,000 annually, or a tax of less than £2 per household. The conclusion is that implementing innovative and coordinated multi-agency approaches is a tiny fraction of the costs currently associated with domestic violence. 5. Women coming to the WSU have had negative effects on their employability as a result of domestic violence. For example, 1 in 4 had missed work at some point in their lives due to physical abuse, and 1 in 20 reported having lost their jobs. T here were similar negative effects due to emotional abuse. 6. Domestic violence also produces negative consequences on womens health. About 1 in 4 have attended A+E in their lifetimes. Unfortunately, relatively few had ever been asked by A+E staff about their experiences of domestic violence. Additionally, while 1 in 3 had seen their GP due to domestic violence, in only a fraction of incidents did the GP enquire about their experiences of domestic violence. This represents a huge loss in the potential to respond to domestic violence by the health care system. 7. Analysis of police data indicate that several positive trends continue in Cardiff. For example, the number of repeat victims has decreased from 31% in 2001 (pre-WSU) to 17% in 2002, 20% in 2003, and 16% in 2004. The number of victims refusing to make a complaint has decreased from 51% in 2001 to 39% in 2002, 33% in 2003, and 14% in 2004. The number of concern for children reports submitted by officers has increased from 14% in 2001 to 26% in 2002, 45% in 2003, and 54% in 2004. 8. About 6 in 10 women reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the police generally, while 2 in 10 were neutral and about 2 in 10 were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the police response. The majority of victims (about 6 in 10) wanted the police to perform functions consistent with the SWP proarrest policy (i.e., arrest the perpetrator). However a substantial minority of victims (about 3 in 10) wanted the police to comfort them and provide them with information and/or referrals to other agencies. Only a fraction (about 1 in 10) did not want the police involved. 9. What most women want from criminal justice involvement is to be safe. However they have different ideas as to what type of outcome will be most likely to facilitate their safety. About one-half preferred a treatment-oriented response from the CJS, whereas about one-quarter wanted the CJS to punish the perpetrator. Women felt that safety was most likely to be achieved by either providing treatment to the perpetrator or by ending the relationship (i.e., not necessarily from the perpetrator being punished). 10. The women coming to the WSU have extremely positive perceptions of the service they received. All the women rated the WSU staff as helpful or very helpful ­ none of the women perceived the WSU to be unhelpful. Similarly, all of the women were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received ­ none were dissatisfied. Importantly, none of the women felt that meeting with the WSU would put her in more danger. All of the women agreed or strongly agreed with the idea that meeting with the WSU would result in a reduction in the violence in their lives. 3 List "); array_files[34]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU6.pdf","2009-08-18","141K"," MARAC Report.doc","","","Domestic Violence MARACs (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) for Very High-Risk Victims in Cardiff, Wales: A Process and Outcome Evaluation June, 2004 Dr Amanda L Robinson Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 RobinsonA@Cardiff.ac.uk http://www.cf.ac.uk/socsi/whoswho/robinson.html Executive Summary........................................................................................................................3 List of Tables .................................................................................................................................4 List of Charts .................................................................................................................................4 Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................4 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................5 Background to Multi-Agency Partnerships in Cardiff..........................................................................5 Womens Safety Unit...................................................................................................................6 South Wales Police ......................................................................................................................6 Domestic Violence Unit ............................................................................................................6 Police Watch ...........................................................................................................................7 Risk Assessment ......................................................................................................................7 Fast-track DV Court.....................................................................................................................8 Literature on Risk Assessment in DV Cases ......................................................................................8 Correlates of Severe Harm/Mortality .............................................................................................9 Clinical Judgment vs. Victim Intuition ......................................................................................... 11 Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 11 Process Evaluation .................................................................................................................... 12 Observations ......................................................................................................................... 12 Interviews ............................................................................................................................. 12 Outcome Evaluation .................................................................................................................. 12 Police Data ............................................................................................................................ 13 Follow-up Interviews with Victims...........................................................................................13 Analytic Strategy ................................................................................................................... 13 Findings from the Process Evaluation.............................................................................................13 Workload Issues ....................................................................................................................... 13 Whats Done? ........................................................................................................................ 13 Whos There? ........................................................................................................................ 14 Perceptions of the Work.........................................................................................................14 Information-Sharing between Agencies ...................................................................................... 15 Contributing to Victims Safety ................................................................................................... 17 Raising Awareness about Children .............................................................................................. 18 Limits of the MARACs ................................................................................................................ 18 Victim Cooperation ................................................................................................................ 18 Resources ............................................................................................................................. 19 Findings from the Outcome Evaluation .......................................................................................... 20 Characteristics of Very High Risk Victims .................................................................................... 20 Demographic Information ...................................................................................................... 20 History of Domestic Violence .................................................................................................. 21 Risk Factors and Their Prevalence .......................................................................................... 22 Post-MARAC Violence and Abuse ................................................................................................ 24 Police Data ............................................................................................................................ 24 Other Data ............................................................................................................................ 25 Follow-up Interviews ............................................................................................................. 26 Agencies Actions ...................................................................................................................... 27 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 29 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 30 References...................................................................................................................................31 Appendix A .................................................................................................................................. 32 Appendix B .................................................................................................................................. 33 Appendix C .................................................................................................................................. 34 Table of Contents 2 Evaluation of the Cardiff MARACs Executive Summary § The first MARAC was held in April 2003 and was attended by members of 16 agencies, including police, probation, local authority, health, housing, refuge and the Womens Safety Unit. The goal of these meetings is to provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions that will reduce future harm to very high-risk victims and their children. The MARACs were held monthly and included about 20-30 very high-risk victims. Very high-risk victims are identified from the South Wales Police (SWP) Victim Initial Risk Indicator Form that responding officers complete at the scene of domestic violence incidents. Scores on 15 yes/no questions enable police to assess victims levels of risk. The evaluation of the MARACs lasted 6-months and included a process evaluation that involved site visits and key informant interviews, and an outcome evaluation that incorporated police data and victim interviews. Results from the process evaluation showed that the respondents viewed the MARACs as invaluable, and that the added work they undertook (which was substantial) did `pay off because agencies could assist victims more efficiently. While all agencies have an important role to play in the MARACs, the information provided by and the actions undertaken by the South Wales Police and the Womens Safety Unit appear particularly significant. The respondents made it clear that MARACs facilitate the accomplishment of many key objectives including information-sharing between agencies, contributing to victims safety, identifying key contacts within agencies, and raising awareness about the impact of domestic violence on children. Resource/time limitations and lack of cooperation from victims were viewed as the main barriers reducing the effectiveness of the MARACs. The average victim scored `yes on about 6 of the 15 risk factors. The most frequently reported risk factors were the partner/ex has a criminal record (84%), relationship separation (77%), perpetrator has aggravating problems (alcohol, drugs, and/or mental health) (71%), and perpetrator is jealous or controlling (62%). Analysis of the risk factors revealed that `perpetrator is jealous or controlling is a particularly important risk factor, as its presence makes 11 of the 14 other risk factors significantly more likely to occur. Whether MARACs were successful at improving the safety of victims was measured by the number of police domestic violence complaints post-MARAC, the number of police call-outs for domestic violence post-MARAC, and telephone interviews with victims. All three indicators revealed that the majority of victims (about 6 in 10) had not been revictimized since the MARAC. These are very positive results that reveal the benefits of taking a multi-agency approach to helping women (and their children) who are experiencing domestic violence. Four of the 15 risk factors were significantly correlated with post-MARAC domestic "); array_files[35]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU5.pdf","2009-08-18","315K"," WSU Final Evaluation Report.doc","","","The Cardiff Womens Safety Unit: A Multi-Agency Approach to Domestic Violence Final Evaluation Report May 8, 2003 Dr Amanda L Robinson Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 RobinsonA@Cardiff.ac.uk Table of Contents List of Tables......................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ v Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. vi Executive Summary............................................................................................................. vii Introduction...........................................................................................................................1 Background of the Womens Safety Unit (WSU) Function of the WSU WSU Staff Methodology Victim Interviews South Wales Police Data Crown Prosecution Service Data Section I: Characteristics of WSU Clients ............................................................................ 5 Selection of the Sample Description of WSU Clients Demographic Characteristics Resource Levels Current Abusive Situation Lifetime History of Abuse Disclosures of Sexual Abuse Childhood Experiences Characteristics and Criminal Justice History of WSU Clients Partners Section II: Services Offered by the WSU ........................................................................... 28 Services Offered to WSU Clients Referrals Target Hardening Advocacy Police Courts Survivors Forum Childrens Services Services Offered to the Community Training Sessions Section III: Policing Domestic Violence in Cardiff ............................................................ 33 Background Domestic Violence Unit Police Domestic Violence Policy Police Watch Programme Co-ordination and Co-operation between the WSU and the South Wales Police (SWP) ii Joint Protocol Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Findings from Police Domestic Violence Data WSU Clients Experiences with Police Section IV: The WSU and the Crown Prosecution Service................................................48 Background Co-ordination and Co-operation between the WSU and the CPS Court Procedures for Domestic Violence Cases Magistrates Court Crown Court Domestic Violence Prosecutor(s) Prosecutor Survey Results Background Characteristics General Attitudes about Domestic Violence Perceptions of Prosecuting Domestic Violence Agency Impact on Domestic Violence Inter-Agency Relationships Prosecutors Experiences with the WSU Domestic Violence Case Analysis Selection of the Sample Aggravating and Mitigating Factors Case Progression and Outcomes Factors Associated with Victims Retracting and Cases Being Discontinued Section V: Clients Evaluation of the WSU ......................................................................... 71 Perceptions of WSU Service Overall Satisfaction Suggestions for Improvement Section VI: Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................... 74 Evidence of WSU Effectiveness Further Improvements to Victim Service References ........................................................................................................................... 76 Appendices...........................................................................................................................80 Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Appendix D: Appendix E: Appendix F: Appendix G: Appendix H: Appendix I: Appendix J: Appendix K: Victim Interview Instruments Memorandum of Understanding between the WSU and the SWP DV Protocol Agreed by the Police, CPS, Magistrates Courts and Crown Court Agenda for Domestic Violence Training Provided by the WSU Domestic Violence Policy of the SWP SWP Victim Initial Risk Indicator Form CPS Domestic Violence Survey for Prosecutors Letter of Support from the CPS CPS Domestic Violence Monitoring Form CPS Domestic Violence Case File Data Form Letter of Thanks from One WSU Client iii List of Tables Table 1: Table 2: Table 3: Table 4: Table 5: Table 6: Table 7: Table 8: Table 9: Table 10: Table 11: Table 12: Table 13: Demographic Characteristics of WSU Clients. Resources Available to WSU Clients. WSU Clients Abusive Experiences with Current Partner. WSU Clients Perceptions Regarding Current Abuse. Results from the Violent Assessment Index. Results from the Injury Assessment Index. Results from the Emotional Abuse Index. Mental Health Outcomes of WSU Clients. Characteristics of WSU Clients Significantly Associated with Abuse Experiences and Outcomes. Characteristics of the Partners of WSU Clients. Criminal Justice History of the Partners of WSU Clients. Percentage of Clients Receiving WSU Services. Number of Community Members that have Received Domestic Violence Training from the WSU. Prevalence and Nature of Domestic Violence in Cardiff: Monthly Comparisons Pre/Post WSU. Effects of the Womens Safety Unit (WSU), Police Policy Change (PPC), and Police Watch (PW) on the Prevalence and Nature of Domestic Violence in Cardiff. WSU Clients Perceptions of Police Service. WSU Clients Expectations and Evaluations of Attending Officers Performance. Background Characteristics of Victims and Defendants in CPS Files. Aggravating Factors in Domestic Violence Cases. Mitigating Factors in Domestic Violence Cases. Actions taken by Victims and Defendants during Case Progression. Overview of Domestic Violence Cases and Their Outcomes. Variables Associated with Cases Being Discontinued and Victims Retracting. Clients Perceptions of WSU Service. Table 14: Table 15: Table 16: Table 17: Table 18: Table 19: Table 20: Table 21: Table 22: Table 23: Table 24: iv List of Figures Chart 1: Chart 2: Chart 3: Chart 4: Chart 5: Chart 6: Chart 7: Chart 8: Chart 9: Chart 10: Chart 11: Chart 12: Percentage of WSU Clients Reporting Physical Abuse. Percentage of WSU Clients Reporting Emotional Abuse. Percentage of WSU Clients Reporting Financial Abuse. Percenta ge of WSU Clients Reporting Sexual Abuse. WSU Clients Injuries Associated with Drug Abusing Partners. Partners Previous Domestic Violence Complaints with WSU Clients. Percentage of Domestic Violence Incidents where Victims Refused to Make Complaint (Dec 00 ­ Jan 03). Percentage of Domestic Violence Incidents with Repeat Victims (Dec 00 ­ Jan 03). Percentage of Domestic Violence Incidents where Police Issued Concern for Children Reports (Dec 00 ­ Jan 03). Police Demeanour and Victim Satisfaction with the Police. Police Behaviour and Victim Satisfaction with the Police. Prosecutors Rankings of Importance of Participation/Cooperation of Victim in Promoting a Successful Resolution in Cases of Domestic Violence. Prosecutors Rankings of Importance of Quality Police Evidence Gathering in Promoting a Successful Resolution in Cases of Domestic Violence. Prosecutors Rankings of Importance of Multi-Agency Partnerships in Promoting a Successful Resolution in Cases of Domestic Violence. Prosecutors Rankings of Importance of Quality Medical Evidence in Promoting a Successful Resolution in Cases of Domestic Violence. Prosecutors Rankings of Agency Importance in Reducing Domestic Violence in the Community. Prosecutors Rankings of Agency Importance in Identifying Cases of Domestic Violence in the Community. Prosecutors Rankings of Agency Importance in Deterring Domestic Violence Offenders. Prosecutors Rankings of Agency Importance in Addressing the Needs of Domestic Violence Victims. Decreases in Cases Discontinued and Victims Retracting (Jan ­ Aug 2002). Clients Ratings of WSU Helpfulness. Clients Satisfaction with the WSU. Chart 13: Chart 14: Chart 15: Chart 16: Chart 17: Chart 18: Chart 19: Chart 20: Chart 21: Chart 22: v Acknowledgments The assistance, advice and support provided by many people made this research a meaningful personal and professional experience. First, WSU staff were enthusiastic supporters of the evaluation process, and were tireless in their efforts, all the while supporting women and their children who were experiencing domestic violence. Over many months Sgt. Steve Bartley of the South Wales Police shared his knowledge willingly and provided extensive information about policing domestic violence in Cardiff. The experience and judgment relating to the prosecution of domestic violence that was offered by Martyn Thomas and John Lloyd of the CPS was invaluable. Finally, much gratitude is due to the women who were willing to provide such personal information about themselves and their families. Thank you for the time and effort you have invested in this project. Whilst every effort has been taken in the preparation of this publication, no liability is assumed for any errors or omissions. vi Final Evaluation Report of the Womens Safety Unit Cardiff, Wales Executive Summary The following are highlights from the research findings contained in this report: · The WSU was referred 1150 women and their 1482 children from mid-December 2001 through January 2003. The report is based on structured interviews with 222 clients coming to the WSU during this time and official data from the South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service on domestic violence in the Cardiff area. Most WSU clients are white females who are less than 40 years old, have children in their households, and receive benefits. Their partners tend to be white males who are less than 40 years old, employed, have previous domestic violence complaints, and are still in relationships with WSU clients. WSU clients have serious and extensive abuse histories. The typical WSU client has experienced about 6 years of physical abuse from her current partner. The average WSU client reported that she experienced more than 5 violent acts from her current partner, and more than 7 violent acts from a partner in her lifetime. This violence has left WSU clients with many injuries (e.g., from current partners more than 1 in 4 women have had bruised faces, more than 1 in 4 women ha "); array_files[36]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU10.pdf","2009-08-18","108K"," VAW291477.qxd","","","Reducing Repeat Victimization Among High-Risk Victims of Domestic Violence The Benefits of a Coordinated Community Response in Cardiff, Wales Amanda L. Robinson Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK Violence Against Women Volume 12 Number 8 August 2006 761-788 © 2006 Sage Publications 10.1177/1077801206291477 http://vaw.sagepub.com hosted at http://online.sagepub.com The goal of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) is to provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions to reduce harm to high-risk domestic violence victims. Interviews with participants and victims, observations, and police data reveal how the MARACs work in practice and also what they can accomplish. Results showed MARACs to be invaluable: Agencies assisted victims more efficiently, primarily through enhanced information sharing. MARACs improve victims safety because both police and victim data revealed that 6 in 10 victims had not been revictimized. These positive results demonstrate the benefits of a coordinated community response. Keywords: coordinated community response; high-risk domestic violence victims; risk assessment omestic violence is considered to be a serious problem in Britain. In 2001, the British Crime Survey found that 45% of women could recall being subjected to domestic violence (abuse, threats, or force), sexual victimization, or stalking at least once in their lifetime (Walby & Allen, 2004). The cost of domestic violence to the criminal justice system, health care, social services, emergency housing, and civil legal services is estimated at £3.1 billion (about US5.6 billion) per year (Walby, 2004). National attention has been focused on how to reduce domestic violence and improve support to victims and their children. For example, the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) has one of its central aims to encourage good practice in the treatment of victims and witnesses. This was partly in response D Authors Note: The author would like to thank Safer Cardiff for funding this research. Data were collected by Jasmin Tregidga, Jan Pickles, and staff of the Womens Safety Unit and officers working in the Domestic Violence Unit of the South Wales Police. Finally, participants of the MARACs deserve thanks for sharing their experiences and opinions in a frank and honest way and working so hard to improve the lives of women experiencing domestic violence. 761 762 Violence Against Women to the governments white paper on criminal justice reform entitled Safety and Justice (2003), which implemented a three-pronged approach to tackling domestic violence, including prevention, protection and justice, and support to victims. The current emphasis placed on providing both an effective and empathetic approach to domestic violence victims in England and Wales has translated into many innovations at the local level, such as the one evaluated in this study.1 In December 2002, the South Wales Police (SWP) in Cardiff, Wales, piloted a victim risk indicator form for responding officers to complete at the scene of domestic violence incidents as a third page to the standard two-page domestic violence complaint form. The risk instrument emerged from a review of 47 domestic homicides, relevant research, and communication with other community and criminal justice agencies. The aim of the risk indicator form is to identify serious cases of domestic violence that can be addressed through Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs). The first MARAC was held in April 2003 in Cardiff and was attended by members of 16 agencies, including police, probation, local authority, health, housing, Womens Aid (the British refuge organization), the NSPCC (the British child protection charity), and the Womens Safety Unit (WSU; a communitybased advocacy service for victims of domestic violence in Cardiff; see below). The MARAC process is part of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement (MAPPA) that was introduced for the management of violent and sex offenders arising from Section 67 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000). Introduced in April 2001, MAPPAs are a common feature in jurisdictions throughout the United Kingdom, and their focus is getting police and probation to work more closely in managing the risks posed by dangerous offenders in the community. However, MARACs are an initiative unique to Cardiff (although the positive results in Cardiff have led to their expansion elsewhere) and differ in two important respects: Their focus is on managing the risk to victims, and the agencies involved extend beyond the criminal justice system. The MARACs occur monthly (but have recently increased to fortnightly) and provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions to reduce future harm to high-risk victims and their children. At the meetings, the circumstances of individual victims (all women) are discussed, and plans are created to help promote their safety. Representatives from various agencies contribute information, and often this process reveals discrepancies in the information held across agencies. For example, the police might have knowledge of one woman as a repeat, high-risk victim, but probation might not have any knowledge of her partner being a serious domestic abuser, or he might not be on their computer system at all. Only in a multi-agency framework can these loopholes be identified and closed. This article reports on research recently conducted on both the process and outcomes of the MARACs. However, first it will be helpful to locate the MARACs in other multi-agency work happening in Cardiff. Robinson / Reducing Repeat Victimization 763 Background to Multi-Agency Work in Cardiff Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, with a population of approximately 308,000. During the past few years, Cardiff has been the site of much innovation in terms of providing better service to domestic violence victims through partnerships between criminal justice agencies and the voluntary support sector. MARACs are the newest addition to this long (and increasingly distinguished) line of progressive programs. All of the programs utilize a multi-agency approach and illustrate how trusting and productive working relationships among agencies are a vital ingredient for reducing domestic violence in the community (Robinson & Pickles, 2003). The exemplar of this is the WSU. The WSU provided service to its first client in December 2001, and to date more than 6,601 women and their 7,775 children have been referred to the WSU (Robinson, 2003). The WSU provides a central point of access for women and their children experiencing domestic violence or known-perpetrator rape in the Cardiff area. Although the overriding aim of the WSU is to help victims gain safety, the WSU team (consisting of one director, three administrators, six victim advocates, and one seconded police officer) also provides advice, advocacy, specialist counseling services, legal services, housing services, referrals to refuge, target hardening, and evidence collection. In this way, victims are provided with an effective, immediate, and consistent range of support services at one referral point. People from many agencies working together conceptualized how a one-stop shop for women experiencing domestic violence in Cardiff should take shape. The WSU was therefore the creation of people who had invested time and effort from the beginning. In addition, the day-to-day working relationships of people from the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the WSU, Womens Aid, and others are imbued with trust, understanding, and cooperation. Partly because many of the key players are professionals with extensive knowledge of and many years experience working within the criminal justice system, relationships go back further than the creation of the WSU. The vision of the WSU is to bring about sustainable change in the multi-agency arena and to help create a culture in Cardiff where domestic violence and nonconsensual sex are not accepted. It is believed that only through multi-agency partnerships can this be accomplished. In addition, the SWP has been particularly innovative in its response to domestic violence. One example is in the area of risk assessment. As mentioned previously, their risk assessment form was developed from a review of the past 47 domestic homicides investigated by the SWP, relevant research, and working within a multi-agency environment in which they could capitalize on the knowledge and expertise of both criminal justice and community practitioners. In addition, survivors of domestic violence reviewed and approved the form. The form contains 15 yes-no questions and an area for officers to note any additional information about the victim, such as whether the victim is particularly isolated from family or friends, how frightened the victim is, and what the victim believes the perpetrator will do in the future. The questions were 764 Violence Against Women designed with an understanding of the research on correlates of severe harm or mortality in cases of domestic violence. The multi-agency approach in Cardiff also led to discussions about how to increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which cases of domestic violence are prosecuted in Cardiff courts. The focus of the meetings was on structuring a fast-track process whereby domestic violence cases were flagged, prioritized, and streamlined through the magistrates and crown courts, where they are heard by magistrates or judges who have received training on domestic violence (provided by the WSU). The two primary goals were to shorten the process time and to increase womens safety by keeping them informed about their cases. In 2001, a joint memorandum of understanding was agreed to by the CPS and the WSU, and the new system was adopted and in place beginning January 2002. The Cardiff court was one of five Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVCs) in England and Wales that was recently evaluated as part of the national CPSfunded Domestic Violence Project (Cook, Burton, Robinson, & Vallely, 2004). One noteworthy finding from Cardiff was that victims continued with their cases a significantly longer amount of time bef "); array_files[37]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WSU1.pdf","2009-08-18","10K"," Drawbridgeweb designCRARGDocsSWU1 Final Evaluation Report Executive Summary.prn.pdf","","","Final Evaluation Report of the Cardiff Womens Safety Unit Executive Summary The following are highlights from the research findings contained in this report: · The CWSU was referred 1150 women and their 1482 children from mid December 2001 through to January 2003. The report is based on structured interviews with 222 clients coming to the CWSU during this time and official data from the South Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service on domestic violence in the Cardiff area. Most CWSU clients are white females who are less than 40 years old, have children in their households and receive benefits. Their partners tend to be white males who are less than 40 years old, employed, have previous domestic violence complaints and are still in relationships with CWSU clients. CWSU clients have serious and extensive abusive histories. The typical CWSU client has experienced about 6 years of physical abuse from her current partner. The average CWSU client reported that she experienced more than 5 violent acts from her current partner, and more than 7 violent acts from a partner in her lifetime. This violence has left CWSU clients with many injuries (eg from current partners more than 1 in 4 women have had bruised faces, more than 1 in 4 women have had bruised arms and legs, and more than 1 in 10 have received split lips and black eyes) and negative mental health outcomes (eg about 4 in 10 are currently experiencing depression and/or anxiety). Partners with drug problems inflicted significantly more violence and injuries on their CWSU partners. Substance abuse treatment needs to include screening for domestic violence, and batterer programs need to address the implications of substance abuse on the severity and propensity of offending. One fourth of CWSU clients report that they had been sexually abused by their current partners. Prior police contact was related to sexual abuse. Specifically, about 1 in 3 perpetrators who had previous domestic violence complaints sexually abused their partners, compared to 1 in 10 perpetrators without previous domestic violence complaints. As a potential risk indicator, prior police complaints should alert both police officers and victim advocates that there is a greater likelihood of sexual abuse present in these relationships compared to couples experiencing their first police intervention. Specific domestic violence protocols have been agreed between the CWSU and the South Wales Police and Crown Prosecution Service in Cardiff. Consequently there is improved coordination between these agencies and a more victim-oriented approach to case processing. The South Wales Police was the agency that most frequently referred women to the CWSU (62%). About three-quarters of CWSU clients received referrals to other agencies. The biggest source of referrals by the CWSU was to the Homesafe agency (for target hardening). Almost 1200 persons working in criminal justice and community agencies in the South Wales area have received domestic violence training sessions from the CWSU. · · · · · · · · · Analysis of police data indicates that there is a positive, across the board trend in Cardiff as a result of the CWSU, the Police Watch programme and the pro-arrest police domestic violence policy. For example, the number of repeat victims has decreased by 36% (from 58 to 37 per month), the number of victims refusing to make a complaint has decreased by 18% (from 99 to 81 per month), and the amount of concern for children reports submitted by officers has increased by 139% (from 22 to 55 per month). CWSU clients were generally satisfied with how the police handled the incident. The majority of clients though the police were courteous, respectful, appeared concerned, took the time to listen, and took the situation seriously. Victim satisfaction was related to both officer behaviour and officer demeanour, but the latter exhibited a stronger impact. Police training should impart to officers the power their attitudes have over victim satisfaction. Attitudinal surveys were completed by 12 prosecutors in the Cardiff office of the CPS. Prosecutors feel that the CPS promotes taking domestic violence seriously and that the CWSU allows them to more efficiently and effectively handle cases of domestic violence. When asked to think about who impacts their ability to effectively prosecute domestic violence cases, prosecutors were most likely to list someone from the CWSU. Relationships between prosecutors and CWSU staff are very positive, and relative to other agencies in the community, prosecutors ranked their relationships with the CWSU the highest in degree of contact, trust, understanding, co-operation and empathy. New court procedures have been implemented for Magistrates Court and Crown Court in Cardiff. Now all domestic violence cases are flagged, sent to the same court, and reviewed pre-trial on the same day each week. As a result of having the Pre-Trial Review (PTR) and trial procedures streamlined and priority given to domestic violence cases, remarkable results have been achieved. For example, compared to the standard court procedure which typically lasts 14 weeks, the domestic violence procedure in Cardiff lasts approximately 7 weeks. All victims are supported by a member of the CWSU, and a member of the CWSU attends PTR each week to offer advice and information about domestic violence cases. All of these procedures allow for a timelier, more consistent approach to how cases of domestic violence are processed in Cardiff. Analysis of 77 CPS domestic violence case files showed that charging standards were used in 97% of cases and charges were maintained in 83% of cases. The percentage of cases where victims have retracted and subsequently been discontinued has been steadily decreasing, but is still substantial (over 60%). Victim participation (in the form of attending court and making a personal statement), more dangerous offenders, and cases going to PTR all reduce the likelihood of a case being discontinued. Clients perceptions of CWSU service were overwhelmingly positive. The average response on a scale rating the CWSU from 1=not effective to 10=most effective in helping clients obtain a safe outcome was 9.2. Only one of the 222 clients interviewed thought that meeting with the CWSU increased the threat of or the actual violence they experienced. This means that, for the overwhelming majority of victims, the CWSU has been able to achieve the delicate balance of intervening in difficult situations without furthering risk to victims or their children. When asked how the CWSU service could be improved, all the respondents suggested more advertising (to alert more women to the helpful service provided by the CWSU), more workers and/or more funding. · · · · · "); array_files[38]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/WOL1.pdf","2009-08-18","1392K"," r","","","rri Evaluation of Wolverhampton Specialist Domestic Violence Court Final Report November 26th 2003 Dee Cook Regional Research Institute Wolverhampton Science Park Glaisher Drive Wolverhampton WV10 9RU Telephone: 01902 824103 Fax: 01902 824005 E-mail: rriadmin@wlv.ac.uk Contents E Executive Summary 1. Introduction and context 2. Research Aims and Methods 3. The quantitative data 4. What the data does, and does not, tell us about the first year of the SDVC 5. Practitioner views of the SDVC 6. User views of the SDVC 7. Summary: Issues arising from the evaluation 8. Recommendations for action Final Report: Page 2 E. Executive Summary E1. The research reported here represents the outcome of a one year study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) in Wolverhampton. The `clustering of all DV cases at the Wolverhampton Magistrates Court was piloted from July 2002, with the SDVC being officially launched, with trained support services present at court, in September 2002. E2. The Wolverhampton SDVC is committed to: improving criminal justice and support services to victims and survivors of domestic violence; more effective multi-agency working; and learning positive lessons form the innovative Leeds Inter-Agency Project. E3. The aims of the Wolverhampton SDVC are to: · increase the % of domestic violence complaints which are translate into charges · reduce the number of `not guilty pleas by alleged perpetrators · reduce the % of retracted statements that are made by victims · Overall, reduce the attrition rate in cases of domestic violence, as they proceed through the criminal justice process · Over the longer term, · Reduce the incidence of repeat victimisation. E4. By way of context, in Wolverhampton in 2003: · There were 2,506 DV incidents recorded, with 2,053 different victims identified. · Violent relationship breakdown was the principle reason for cases accepted as homeless in the City in 2002/3 (114 cases), with non-relationship breakdown being the second (with 83 cases). · In 2002, there were 1,330 women and 1,604 children referred to The Haven refuge, and in the same year there were 1,565 police referrals and 95 non-police referrals of DV victims to Victim Support (VS). E5. We reviewed 171 cases which were progressed through the Wolverhampton SDVC and found that: · By far the majority of charges (around 65%) were assaults · A total of 40 cases (23%) did not get to trial, but if bindovers are included, then there were 91 cases (53%) in which it might be said that there is a result. · Retractions did not always result in withdrawal or discontinuance (with 75 retractions there were still 29 results) · Most victims faced more than one court hearing. E7. Overall, this evaluation has demonstrated that a great deal has been accomplished in the first year of the SDVC, notably: o There are recent signs that reporting rates of DV incidents in Wolverhampton are increasing o While rates of `criming of DV incidents have decreased (from 31% to 25% over the last year) this has been accompanied by increased recording of (less serious) DV incidents, which may be seen as an encouraging signal of victims willingness to come forward. o Nationally, DV has the highest rate of repeat victimisation of any crime (at around 50%). In the area covered by the SDVC, this has been reduced to 35% in 2002/3. o The repeat victimisation rate of the police OCUs covered by the SDVC are significantly lower that of other areas within the West Midlands Police force area. This is a very significant achievement. In the G1 and G2 OCUs Final Report: Page 3 o o o o covered by the SDVC there has been a 35% fall in incidents of repeat victimisation in DV cases over the past year. Key informers involved in working with DV victims and survivors regard the SDVC positively in that it is seen to have given rise to better partnership working around DV victims care. Partners are believed to have given as much as they are able, given high workloads and the high level of need amongst DV victims and survivors However, there are some reservations about the capacity of current partners to `deliver fully, in terms of the ethos of the SDVC, without further resources for support and outreach working. Crucially, DV victims themselves regard SDVC as a very positive step forward: it is seen as more responsive to their needs and supportive of their choices. The role of the CJSS worker, and allied V&C sector support workers has been central to such feelings of increased confidence and support. E8. At the same time, this evaluation has also signalled areas where there is work yet to do. Our interviews (15) with key informers from the criminal justice and voluntary and community sectors, together with interviews/contacts with (31) victims and survivors with experience of DV proceedings in Wolverhampton indicated that the following areas needed to be addressed: 1) Data Issues: West Midlands Police DV data provided in 2003 was of significantly higher quality than that available in 2002, which is very encouraging. Remaining issues which need attention are around incident classifications, relationship with perpetrator data and, significantly, ethnicity (where data is often `missing for DV incidents). 2) Information flows and the flagging of DV cases. This was a crucial lesson in the innovative LIAP project and remains a problematic issue for the Wolverhampton model because: o While there has been considerable progress in terms of flagging DV cases in order that they can be listed in the Tuesday SDVC, we found that around 37% of DV cases in the past year were held outwith the SDVC, on days other than Tuesdays. o Information sharing remains a pressing problem, as the main CJS agencies do not share common IT systems and DP concerns may frustrate efforts of SDVC partners to share information and ensure smooth information flows to victims. o Similarly, communications between the wide range of agencies involved in the SDVC project depend significantly on a small number of committed individuals. Better communication and information systems need to be developed to support the work of the Witness Service and CJSS worker attached to the SDVC o Listing issues remain a problem, and suggests the need for further review and also staff training . Further, it is recommended that consideration is given to listing DV cases on Tuesday afternoons, both to maximise the support available to victims at court (with police and CJSSC present on the day), and to address the problem of slippage of DV cases into courts on other days. 3) Court Accommodation o Entrances to the magistrates court are still not regarded as fit for the purpose of SDVC: awareness, and the siting, of separate entrances and exits should be addressed as a matter of urgency Final Report: Page 4 o Clearly there are resource issues involved in seeking to remedy other accommodation issue, but we identified several issues which need to be addressed in both the short and longer term: Privacy for DV victims to consult solicitors and support workers. Access to court ­ for pushchairs and wheelchairs Childcare facilities in City Video link facilities Accommodation for the WS and its volunteers, whose work for the SDVC is highly valued. 4) Case Attrition Our evaluation has indicated that : o Many DV victims do not really know what they may expect from the CJS. There is a need to critically evaluate the information currently supplied and its flow to victim (perhaps as part of the current CPS led witness care initiative). o Personal contacts are seen as essential to witness care in DV cases. Once again, this may be currently addressed in the context of new CPS resources which have been made available for witness care. o Information flows to victims are problematic ­ police, CPS, courts, CJSS need to identify clearly their respective remits and points of contacts for victims to ensure consistency and avoid over-reliance on the CJSS in relation to SDVC cases. o Victims coming to the SDVC need to be offered, and have access to: a tour of the court; their statement; and personal support, before court hearings. We found much evidence of good practice by CJSS and the Witness Service in these respects, but both are overstretched. o Intimidation is a key issue for most victims. Liaison is taking place with the police to find ways of handling this in existing court setting, but there is a need for more `up front support and advice on intimidation issues. o `Justice in terms of case outcome - whether retraction, bind-over or notguilty verdict ­ needs to be seen to be done in DV cases, via better information to victims on case outcomes (many victims feel `abandoned after court hearings, and so are less likely to take the CJS route in future) 5) Retractions o Retractions may be a supported, positive and informed decision for victims o Retractions if they are appropriately managed (in the terms above) should not be seen as an indicator of the failure of the SDVC o Attention should be give to the procedures for securing retraction statements, in order to enable them to be taken in the most informed, timely and supportive fashion. Give the often conflicting organisational goals of partner agencies, SDVC partners should discuss and agree a shared strategy in relation to retractions. 6) Training o The CJSSC has delivered training to 152 workers from 15 different agencies in the first year of the SDVC. o Training for all involved in the SDVC is vital to its success (learning from Leeds model and KI interviews). There is some concern that some court staff and magistrates are not fully trained in the ethos and the detail of the working practices of the SDVC. o Much training for CJS agencies is `in-house and/or national o This evaluation has identified a need for a forum for bespoke, local, multiagency briefings and training on: DV issues and awareness Final Report: Page 5 The operation of the SDVC Information sharing between V&C sector and CJS agencies. 7) Language support and interpreting · This was identified as a key need for DV victims, at all stages from reporting a DV incident to aftercare following court proceedings or retraction. · In addition to enab "); array_files[39]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/research.html","2009-08-18","26K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - evaluation research of MARAC and IDVA services","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - evaluation research of MARAC and IDVA services Evaluation research A variety of evaluation studies examining both high risk victim outcomes, individual services and domestic violence courts across the UK. A Multi-Site Evaluation of the Impact of IDVA Services on High Risk Victims of Domestic Abuse - interim findings The UKs first multi-site evaluation to assess the impact of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) on victims safety.Expert panel advising on methodology; full evaluation to be published September 2009. Author: The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity(2008) Second Evaluation of the Cardiff Womens Safety Unit The Cardiff Women’s Safety Unit: Understanding the Costs and Consequences of Domestic Violence Author: Dr Amanda Robinson (2005) Ref: WSU7 MARAC Report Evaluation of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences for very high risk victims, Womens Safety Unit, Cardiff-2004 Author: Dr Amanda Robinson (2004) Ref: WSU6 WSU Final Evaluation Report Evaluation of work of Womens Safety Unit, Cardiff from Dec 2001 to Jan 2003 Author: Dr Amanda Robinson Ref: WSU5 Evaluation of Specialist DV Courts/Fast Track System Evaluation of the effectiveness of 5 specialist domestic violence courts in Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, West London and Wolverhampton Author: Dee Cook, Mandy Burton, Amanda Robinson, Christine Vallely Ref: CPS1 Wolverhampton Specialist DV Court Evaluation First Evaluation of Wolverhamptons Specialist DV Court, November 2003 Author: Dee Cook Ref: WOL1 Evaluation of Womens Safety Unit,Cardiff, Summary Evaluation of work of Womens Safety Unit, Cardiff from Dec 2001 to Jan 2003 Author: WSU-Cardiff Ref: WSU1 Evaluation of HALTs Work Supporting Women Complainants in the Criminal Justice System Evaluation done by HALT of the cases of 300 women they supported through the CJS between Sept 1999 and March 2003 Author: HALT, Leeds Ref: HAL1 DV MARAC’s for Very High Risk Victims One Year Follow of MARAC Cases, Victims Views and Outcomes Author: Dr Amanda Robinson and Ms Jasmin Tregidga, University of Cardiff Ref: WSU8 Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Gwent and Croydon 2004/5, September 2004 Interim Report Author: Cook, Burton, Robinson, Tregidga and Vallely Ref: CPS2 Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Caerphilly (Gwent) and Croydon 2004/5, June 2005 Final Report Author: Vallely, Robinson, Burton and Tregidga Ref: CPS3 The Cardiff WSU and the Civil/Criminal Interface Exploratory study to investigate the interface between the civil and criminal courts in Cardiff and the role of the advocates from the Women’s Safety Unit Author: Dr Amanda Robinson Ref: WSU9 Reducing Repeat Victimisation among High Risk Victims of Domestic Abuse The benefits of a co-ordinated response in Cardiff, Wales Author: Dr Amanda Robinson Ref: WSU10 ASSIST Final Evaluation Report on the benefits of providing assistance to victims of domestic abuse in Glasgow Author: Dr Amanda Robinson Ref: EV1 The Dyn Project: Supporting Men Experiencing Domestic Abuse Author: Dr Amanda Robinson and Mr James Rowlands Ref: DV2 Evaluation of a Liaison Domestic Violence Nurse in the Emergency Unit of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust Author: Professor Siobhan McClelland, University of Glamorgan Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[40]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/Multi%20Site%20Evaluation%20of%20IDVA%20Services.pdf","2009-08-18","229K"," Microsoft Word - 081007_FACT_Sheet_Draft_8.doc","","","Please acknowledge The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity when reproducing any information from this report FACT SHEET ONE ­ FEBRUARY 2008 A MULTI-SITE EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF IDVA SERVICES ON HIGH RISK SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE (Funded by The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity) First multi-site evaluation in the UK to assess the impact of the IDVA on victims safety Initial findings very positive; abuse had ceased in 70% of cases following intervention of IDVA Expert panel advising on methodology; full Evaluation to be published September 2009 1 · · · 1) Overview of the Evaluation Over the past two years, The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity have made grants totalling £590,000 available to domestic abuse services to promote and develop the work of IDVAs. As part of this programme, we have sought to evaluate the outcomes of these grants with the aim of answering two key questions: (1) what are the outcomes for high risk survivors accessing IDVA services? and (2) are there any associations between the interventions and survivor outcomes?, We hope to use the evidence from this research to inform policy and practice in the field. The data shown below are drawn from the first nine months of evaluation of eight projects and, as such, should be viewed as preliminary. However, the initial conclusions are very positive and the Evaluation has highlighted new insights into the practice of the IDVA which we felt were important to communicate. The preliminary findings are based on a total of 969 cases that were referred to the IDVA services, of which 446 were reviewed either at case closure or after four months, whichever was sooner. Some analyses in relation to changes in abuse were performed on a smaller subset of cases (n=273) . 2) Key Findings from Preliminary Analyses a) The level of abuse being suffered at intake : o o o In In of cases, the survivor was experiencing abuse described as severe or extreme in nature. of cases, the survivor was experiencing multiple forms of abuse. the cases, the abuse was escalating at the point of referral to the IDVA. a 2 In more than 1 2 The Hestia Fund is funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust. Due to issues of missing data, the sample size utilised for each set of analyses differed. The sample size is indicated a b c using the following notation: n = 969 ; n = 446 ; n = 273 . 1 Please acknowledge The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity when reproducing any information from this report b) Survivors were safer after intervention by the advocacy service : o In 70% of cases, the abuse was reported to have ceased. The IDVA perceived that in 45% of those cases, the abuse had ceased permanently . o 76% of survivors felt safer (47% felt `much safer). This was corroborated by the perception of the IDVA . o At intake, 82% of survivors reported experiencing at least one type of abuse that was severe or extreme in nature as compared to 23% at review . o At intake, 75% of survivors reported experiencing more than one type of abuse, as compared to 20% at review . o At intake, 66% of survivors reported that abuse was escalating compared to around 5% at review . c) The services are accessible and resources are being appropriately targeted: o Over 25% of service users came from B&ME communities , and the same proportion was represented in the group where abuse had ceased, suggesting that these services are accessible and effective for victims from minority communities . o There was no significant difference in the demographic characteristics, or in the severity of abuse suffered at intake by those where abuse had ceased, from those where abuse continued; ie practitioners were not selecting the `less severe cases to work with . o Intensive support and MARACs were targeted at those experiencing worse abuse at intake, and, despite this, outcomes were just as good as the rest of the survivor group, suggesting that the increased support may facilitate comparable success rates even for the most severe cases . d) Survivors make positive life changes after support from the IDVA service: o 4 b b b b a c c c b b 3 71% of survivors who sought support relating to a criminal court case proceeded to court and 52% of those who sought support obtained a positive outcome (perpetrator plead or was found guilty). 73% of survivors made a noteworthy change in their lifestyle that the IDVA thought had positively impacted on their safety. 76% of survivors had improved coping strategies including knowing how to get help. 48% of survivors had an improvement in their housing arrangements. Survivors making more than one positive life style change were five times more likely to be in the group where abuse had ceased. o o o o 3 Comparison with control group data is required in order to draw causal conclusions relating to the role of advocacy services in facilitating these outcomes. 4 43% of the total sample sought support relating to a criminal court case. 2 Please acknowledge The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity when reproducing any information from this report 3) Methodology The Evaluation, which began in January 2007 and will extend to end March 2009, takes a primarily quantitative approach, collecting standardised data across several time points, from a multi-site sample which comprises eight projects operating in a variety of settings across England and Wales. The data being collected include demographic information, assessments of abuse and risk, types of intervention and survivor outcomes and perceptions of safety. Data are collected at Time 1 (Intake), when a survivor initially makes contact with a service, and again at Time 2 (Review), when a case is reviewed, usually at case closure. Importantly, data pertaining to multiple indicators of risk of harm are being collected and analysed in comparison with baseline data. These include a risk indicator checklist, a detailed profile of abuse including the types, severity, and any escalation of abuse being experienced, and IDVA and survivor perceptions of risk . IDVAs are recording what intervention is made during the course of their work with a survivor, in order that any association between intervention and survivor outcomes might be explored. Data are only being collected from high risk survivors that engage with the service. 4) Participating Projects Eight projects are participating in the Evaluation project, all of which provide a service that aims to comply with the nationally accepted definition of advocacy, thus ensuring a degree of standardisation of service provision. Projects vary in size, locality and delivery setting, with some projects being attached to more traditional refuge or outreach services, others operating as stand alone services and one project operating within a health care setting. The table below gives an overview of each projects location, setting and contribution to the Evaluation. Name of Project Advance WSU Worth The Haven Halt North Devon Womens Aid Let Go Refuge Location Hammersmith, London Cardiff (U) Worthing, Sussex Wolverhampton Leeds (U) North Devon Cumbria London Setting Stand alone project Stand alone project Stand alone project, health setting Part of wider DV service provider Stand alone project Part of wider DV service provider Stand alone project Part of wider DV service provider Contribution to Intake Data to Date 18% 17% 15% 14% 12% 11% 8% 5% 5 5 The risk indicator checklist and the abuse grid can be downloaded from www.caada.org.uk/library_resources.html#14 3 Please acknowledge The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity when reproducing any information from this report 5) Next Steps During the second year of the Evaluation, we intend to consolidate these initial findings in the following ways: o Collect more qualitative data from service users about the role of different agencies in addressing their safety; o o o Collect follow up data from service users in order to evaluate the sustainability of outcomes; Undertake detailed analysis of the pattern of intervention associated with positive outcomes. Explore the possibility of assembling control group data, although we accept that this may prove to be difficult. o We plan to publish our findings on a semi-annual basis with the publication of a full report on the evaluation in September 2009. 6) Expert Panel We have been very fortunate to have the input from an experienced and distinguished Expert Panel for their input to this evaluation: Alana Diamond is currently employed as a Principal Researcher at the Home Office where she directs a large portfolio of high profile work on violence and alcohol-related crime. Alana and her team provide strategic analysis, research and evaluation to support the development of and the evaluation of policy and action to reduce crime. Professor Gordon Harold, Professor in Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand. International expert in the area of family relationships and childrens development, with particular expertise in the area of inter-parental conflict and child welfare. Laura Richards, Bsc (Hons), MSc Criminal Behavioural Psychologist and Consultant with Association of Chief Police Officers (APCO). She has worked in law enforcement throughout her career, developing practical tool kits relating to risk assessment and analysing serious crime. She is currently co-authoring a practical policing guide entitled `Policing Domestic Abuse which will be published later in 2008. Dr Amanda Robinson, Senior lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Cardiff University, whose research interests include violence against women, hate crime, sentencing policy and practice, specialist courts, MARACs and IDVAs as well as police discretion and decision-making and community policing. February 2008 Last updated October 2008 For further information, please contact The Hestia Fund at Hestia@caada.org.uk or write to The Hestia Fund, PO Box 54363, London W2 7FP. 4 "); array_files[41]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/HAL1.pdf","2009-08-18","95K"," 4pp","","","Suppor t through the legal system Criminal Law We will take women through the whole criminal legal system. We explain the roles of the following agencies: the Police; Crown Prosecution Service (CPS); Probation Service; the Magistrates and Crown Courts; and the Prison Service. This includes their roles in Domestic Violence cases, their relevant policies and procedures, key personnel and what to expect. Issues that are very important to women in terms of safety, which we will keep her informed of, are: Bail Conditions which are set against the offender to protect her, for example not to contact her or approach her house/road; Dates of hearings, when he is in court, when it has been adjourned to, why it has been adjourned, what the next hearing will be and the implications of this on the court process and on her; Convictions or sentences given, for example what a Community Rehabilitation Order (formerly a Probation Order) is and what the conditions attached to that mean, what to do if he breaches those orders, what compensation is and how it works, what certain convictions mean and whether he has to go on the Sex Offenders Register for example. Any questions she may have about the process, her statement, giving evidence, why had specific events occurred, what to expect, what support is available, practical arrangements and emotional support. Excellence in advocacy and support for women involved in the criminal and civil law Civil Law Most people do not have an understanding of what their rights are under the civil law, and indeed what the differences are between the civil and criminal law. The Civil Law is used when women need to apply for an injunction. We explain to women about their options, who are eligible, how to go about accessing this protection, what the process is, what will happen, costs and benefits. We explain: Injunctions that she can obtain, for example a personal protection order (Non-Molestation Order) or an order regarding living arrangements for the `marital home (Occupation Order). Orders regarding the care of children, and their relevance. These include: ° Contact orders ° Residence orders ° Specific issues orders ° Prohibited steps orders ° Parental responsibility Relevant legislation and give her all of her options. She then knows what she can do both criminally and civilly and we support her in her decisions, and act as her advocate. We also refer to relevant family law solicitors who are experienced in Domestic Violence. HALT, PO Box 332, Leeds LS1 3RD office email: halt@ukgateway.net email: halt. helpline@ukgateway.net fax: 0113 243 1801 helpline / referrals number: 0113 243 2632 (Voice & Minicom) Charity number: 1087583 Excellence in advocacy and support for women involved in the criminal and civil law Aims of the Organisation HALT Domestic Violence (Help, Advice & the Law Team) provide support, advice and advocacy to women, and their children, experiencing violence from a man they know. We support any woman who is involved in, or is considering, court proceedings. This means making sure women in Leeds are aware of our service, and that agencies refer women to us when appropriate. We are a unique and specialised service that was thoroughly researched and a clear demand shown. There are few other services doing such innovative work in the UK. Types of Support Offered Initial Contacts Women referred to us are informed of their legal options, both in criminal and civil law. All women take this information and decide whether the time is right for them to proceed with court action and to access our services further. Some women do not feel that they have the ability to access services at that point in their lives. However many feel that by being made aware of all of their legal options, what the processes are, how to access support and what support is available, they can use this at a later stage. Research suggests that on average women experience Domestic Violence for around 7 years before they leave. Also, the majority of domestic related murders of women occur after the relationship has ended. Therefore by giving women immediate support and advice they are in a better position to plan for the future, with theirs and their childrens safety being paramount. Ongoing Support Work and Advocacy Once women have been given the above support, many receive on-going support from our advocates. Most criminal cases take between 4 and 5 months to be dealt with, some can go on for up to 18 months if in the Crown Court. This means intensive support and advocacy, preparing the woman for a difficult process of attending court. We track any cases and explain the process. We also offer her the chance to visit the relevant court before the day and visit an empty courtroom. The set up is then explained to her and she can visualise the process. We then organise a witness room for the day of the trial, which is away from the courtroom to avoid seeing the offender, and we give her emotional and practical support during the day. This may include liasing with the Police, CPS and Court Staff of any issues that arise. We then sit behind her in court as she gives evidence. We also inform her of the result and go through the implications of this and her future safety planning. In civil cases, we can arrange for her to meet a solicitor and make appropriate referrals. If she wants to apply for an injunction without a solicitor, she can do so on her own and we would support and advise her doing that. We can also attend with her to solicitors appointments and attend relevant hearings at court. Domestic Violence in Context Violence against women is a serious social, criminal and community safety issue. In an average year one in ten women are known to have experienced violence from a partner, in Leeds alone this equates to over 35,000 women. One in four women will experience domestic violence at some stage in their lives (British Crime Survey, 1998). One third of all violent crime in West Yorkshire is domestic related (West Yorkshire Police). Latest Metropolitan Police research suggests that Police are called out to a domestic incident every 60 seconds with figures estimating that an individual is violently assaulted in their home every 6 to 20 seconds. (Metropolitan Police 2000). However, the Criminal Justice System has traditionally not offered adequate protection for women. Court treatment of domestic violence cases often fail to recognise their seriousness and complexity. Often women feel let down and not supported when using the system. The Criminal and Civil Justice Systems are very complex. Often womens voices do not get heard and they have little control over proceedings. Domestic Violence is often seen as less serious than other violence. We have worked hard in order for the issue of advocacy and support to be recognised. We have made strong and pro-active relationships with professional agencies including the Police, the Courts, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Probation Service. How we achieve our aims We offer legal advice, information, support and advocacy. We increase womens access to legal options for safety by providing: ° Confidential helpline service daily for women or agencies ° One-off telephone advice to women or agencies ° Face-to-face ongoing support and advice ° Advocacy with agencies such as the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Courts ° Practical and emotional support throughout their contact with the legal system, including attendance at court hearings ° Tracking of cases through the criminal justice system ° Advice on protection orders/injunctions and issues around children ° Partnership work, for example the Leeds Domestic Violence Cluster Court Steering Group ° Training for relevant agencies and professionals ° Lobbying and campaigning around injustices and changes to the law Fur ther in-depth Legal Advice After initial contact, many women will then take up further support from our advocates. This support includes: Ba sic Tracking/Advocacy If the woman is involved in the criminal justice system in some way, we can track the relevant cases and act as her advocate. This may include liasing with any of the following agencies, with her consent, and sharing relevant information regarding the situation: the Police, CPS, Courts, Probation, and other statutory organisations (for example Housing). This is particularly useful, as `victims are often not regarded in either system and advocates can access information that she has no ability to obtain. "); array_files[42]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/EV1.pdf","2009-08-18","984K"," ASSIST Final Evaluation Report_v4.doc","","","Advice, Support, Safety & Information Services Together (ASSIST): The Benefits of Providing Assistance to Victims of Domestic Abuse in Glasgow Final Evaluation Report October, 2006 Dr Amanda L Robinson Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 RobinsonA@Cardiff.ac.uk Table of Contents Acknowledgments.............................................................................................6 Executive Summary ..........................................................................................7 Key Findings ...............................................................................................................................7 Recommendations.......................................................................................................................8 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................9 The Scottish Criminal Justice Policy Context ......................................................................................9 The Response to Domestic Abuse in Glasgow ................................................................................. 10 Criminal Justice and Statutory Agencies......................................................................................11 Domestic Abuse Court ........................................................................................................... 11 Strathclyde Police..................................................................................................................13 ASSIST.................................................................................................................................14 Victim Information and Advice ............................................................................................... 15 Social Work Services ............................................................................................................. 15 Glasgow Community and Safety Services................................................................................16 Community and Voluntary Sector Agencies ................................................................................. 16 Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership ........................................................................ 16 Womens Aid.........................................................................................................................17 Womens Support Project ...................................................................................................... 17 Victim Support Scotland.........................................................................................................18 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 18 2. Methodology ...............................................................................................19 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Aims of the Evaluation...............................................................................................................19 Timescale ................................................................................................................................. 19 Process Evaluation ........................................................................................................................ 20 Data from Key Informants ......................................................................................................... 20 Sample.................................................................................................................................20 Existing Data ............................................................................................................................ 21 Weekly Bulletins....................................................................................................................21 Documents and Protocols ...................................................................................................... 21 Outcome Evaluation ...................................................................................................................... 21 Victim Data ............................................................................................................................... 21 Risk Assessments .................................................................................................................. 21 Exit Interviews with Victims ................................................................................................... 21 Agency Data ............................................................................................................................. 22 3. Services Offered by ASSIST ........................................................................23 Overview of ASSIST ...................................................................................................................... 23 Aims.........................................................................................................................................23 Remit ....................................................................................................................................... 23 2 Referral Route .......................................................................................................................... 24 ASSIST Staff.............................................................................................................................25 Coordinator .......................................................................................................................... 25 Advocacy Workers.................................................................................................................25 Children and Young Peoples Advocacy Worker ....................................................................... 26 Administration ...................................................................................................................... 26 Service Delivery Process ................................................................................................................ 26 Stage 1: The immediate aftermath of the incident.......................................................................26 Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................... 27 Providing Information............................................................................................................28 Referring to Other Agencies ................................................................................................... 28 Stage 2: Support through the court process................................................................................29 Stage 3: After the court process ends.........................................................................................30 Multi-Agency Action Planning (MAAPs) ........................................................................................... 30 The MAAP Process .................................................................................................................... 31 Agency representation at the MAAPs .......................................................................................... 32 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 32 4. ASSIST: Workload and Working Practices..................................................33 Referrals to ASSIST.......................................................................................................................33 Workload Trends.......................................................................................................................33 ASSIST and the Police ................................................................................................................... 34 Domestic Abuse Unit ................................................................................................................. 35 Perspectives on ASSIST.............................................................................................................36 Overview of the DAC.....................................................................................................................37 ASSIST and COPFS........................................................................................................................39 PF Liaison Meetings...................................................................................................................39 Perspectives on ASSIST.............................................................................................................40 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 40 5. ASSIST and Victims Safety.........................................................................42 Risk Assessment ........................................................................................................................... 43 Relationships between Risk Factors ............................................................................................ 45 Risk Classification......................................................................................................................45 Changes in Victims Safety.............................................................................................................46 Physical Abuse .......................................................................................................................... 47 Emotional Abuse .................................................................................................. "); array_files[43]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/aboutus/affectedbydv.htm","2009-08-18","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - if you are affected by domestic violence","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - if you are affected by domestic violence About us |Vision & mission| Recruitment| Contact us | If you are experiencing domestic violence CAADA does not provide direct support or advice to victims of domestic violence. However, If you are experiencing domestic abuse or are supporting someone who is in that situation, immediate help is available. Contact the following organisations: England: Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Womens Aid and Refuge) T: 08082000247 Northern Ireland Womens Aid: 0800 917 1414 Scottish Domestic Abuse: 0800 027 1234 Wales Domestic Abuse: 0808 80 10 800 Male Advice & Enquiry: 0808 801 0327 Dyn Wales/Dyn Cymru: 0808 801 0321 If you suspect that an abuser is monitoring your internet usage, click here for information on how to hide your browser history. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[44]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/aboutus/contactus.htm","2009-08-18","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - contact us","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - contact us About us |Vision & mission|If you are experiencing domestic violence| Recruitment | Contact us Please feel free to contact us by writing to the following addresses or emailing info@caada.org.uk CAADA (Head Office) 6th Floor Maxet House 28 Baldwin Street Bristol BS1 1NG Tel: 0117 317 8750 Fax: 0117 376 3364 CAADA (London Office) 32-36 Loman Street Southwark, London SE1 0EH Tel: 0207 922 7891 Fax: 0207 922 7706 We look forward to hearing from you. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[45]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/aboutus/visionandmission.htm","2009-08-18","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - vision and mission","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - vision and mission About us |If you are experiencing domestic violence| Recruitment| Contact us | Vision and mission Our Vision The vision of CAADA is to improve the safety for all survivors of domestic violence, including children. Our Mission It is our mission to help create a consistent, professional and effective response to all survivors of domestic violence in the UK, and in particular those at high risk of harm. We aim to achieve this through the creation of a strong infrastructure for the advocacy sector in particular and other domestic violence professionals in general. We aim to use the evidence of improved safety outcomes for survivors and their children from this approach to shape the attitudes and skills of those working in the sector, those funding the work and those developing policy in the area to encourage the allocation of resources to this work. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[46]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/news/presscontacts.htm","2009-08-18","13K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - press contacts","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - press contacts Latest news | CAADA consultation responses Press contacts For further press information about CAADA, including press packs, requests for interviews and case studies, please contact: Samantha Brown Head of Communications T: 0117 317 8750 E: samantha.brown@caada.org.uk Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[47]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/resources.html","2009-08-18","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - practitioner resources","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - practitioner resources Risk resources | MARAC resources | IDVA resources | Diversity resources |Sexual violence resources Practitioner resources CAADA provides a wealth of resources and toolkits for IDVAs and frontline practitioners and middle managers involved in domestic violence risk identification and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) work. Click on the following links to go to the relevant subject areas. If you cannot find what youre looking for, please email CAADA at info@caada.org.uk and we will try to help you. Risk identification resources Relevant CAADA Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Homicide Risk Identification (DASH) Checklists for different professions, together with guidance for usage. MARAC toolkits and resources A wealth of MARAC toolkits for frontline agency professional involved in risk identification work, as well as MARAC representatives, chairs and co-ordinators. Also contains administrative and record keeping resources for MARAC work. IDVA toolkit and resources Specialist toolkits for IDVAs, as well as information on service standards and other advocacy tools. Diversity resources Briefings and resources on a range of diversity issues for all practitioners involved in MARAC and IDVA work. Sexual violence resources Briefings and guidance on sexual violence for all practitioners involved in MARAC and IDVA work. For research information and reports, please visit the Research section of the website. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[48]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/diversityresources.htm","2009-08-18","19K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - diversity resources","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - diversity resources Practitioner resources overview | Risk resources | MARAC resources | IDVA resources |Sexual violence resources Diversity resources Briefings and resources on a range of diversity issues for all practitioners involved in MARAC and IDVA work. If you cannot find what youre looking for, please email CAADA at info@caada.org.uk and we will try to help you. Comparing Domestic Abuse in Same Sex and Heterosexual Relationships Author: Catherine Donovan, Marianne Hester, Jonathan Holmes & Melanie McCarry Lesbian and Gay Power and Control Wheel Author: National Centre on Domestic and Sexual Violence The Dyn Project: Supporting Men Experiencing Domestic Abuse Author: Dr Amanda Robinson and Mr James Rowlands Ref: DV2 LGBT Domestic Abuse Housing Guide Author: Maria Sookias, Stonewall Housing LGBT Power and Control Wheel Author: Texas Council On Family Violence LGBT Briefing for MARAC Chairs and Coordinators - Improving the MARAC Response Author: Dr Amanda Robinson and Mr James Rowlands Ref: DV2 Briefing on LGBT Domestic Abuse Author: Dr Amanda Robinson and Mr James Rowlands Ref: DV2 Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[49]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/news/consultationresponses.htm","2009-08-18","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - consultation responses","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - consultation responses Press contacts |News CAADA consultation responses CAADA has contributed formal policy consultation responses to a number of different government consultions around Violence against Women. Home Office - Together We can End Violence against Women and Girls Strategy This Home Office consultation looked at the action that Government has taken to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls. The proposals build on a programme of action that Government has delivered to tackle sexual violence and transform the way the Criminal Justice System deals with domestic and sexual violence. To read the original consultation document, click here. To read CAADAs formal consultation response, click here. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[50]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/sexualviolence_resources.htm","2009-08-18","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - sexual violence resources","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - sexual violence resources Practitioner resources overview | Risk resources | MARAC resources | IDVA resources |Diversity resources Sexual violence resources Briefings and guidance on sexual violence for all practitioners involved in MARAC and IDVA work. If you cannot find what youre looking for, please email CAADA at info@caada.org.uk and we will try to help you. A report on the joint review of the investigation and prosecution of rape offences Author: HMcpsi, HMIC, Date: Jan 2007 From Report to Court, a Handbook for Adult Survivors of Sexual Violence Author: Rights of Women, Date: 2005 Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape Author: CPS Sexual Assault Referral Centres; Getting Started Guide Author: ACPO rape working group Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[51]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/CPS3.pdf","2009-08-18","334K"," DV REP (Web) (22/06 update)","","","UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON University of Leicester policy research institute Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Caerphilly (Gwent) and Croydon 2004/05 Final Report Christine Vallely Amanda Robinson Mandy Burton Jasmin Tregidga JUNE 2005 CPS Crown Prosecution Service LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS The interviews with key staff are identified as being from either the criminal justice agencies (CJ) or the voluntary and community sector (VCS) ACPO BAWSO CCP CDVAS CJS CPO CPS CRARG CRO CSU DPO DV DVFC FTS GCJB HMCPSI HMIC IDVC JSB MARAC MCS NEO PS PSR PTR RO SDVC SG SPSS ST VPS VS WCU WS WLMC WSU Association of Chief Police Officers Black Association of Women Step Out Chief Crown Prosecutor Croydon Domestic Violence Advisory Service Criminal Justice System Community Punishment Order Crown Prosecution Service Co-ordinated Response and Advocacy Resource Group Community Rehabilitation Order Community Safety Unit Dedicated Police Officer Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Forum Co-ordinator Fast-Track System Gwent Criminal Justice Board HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Integrated Domestic Violence Court Judicial Studies Board Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences Magistrates Court Service (now part of HMCS = Her Majestys Courts Service) No evidence offered Project SAFF Pre-sentence report Pre-trial review Restraining Order Specialist Domestic Violence Court: Steering Group Statistical Package for Social Sciences (a data analysis software package) Standing Together Victim Personal Statement Victim Support Witness Care Unit Witness Service West London Magistrates Court Womens Safety Unit (Cardiff) CONTENTS Inside front cover Page 2 Page 14 Page 18 Page 23 Page 34 Page 47 Page 58 Page 72 Page 73 List of Abbreviations Executive Summary Chapter 1 ­ INTRODUCTION Chapter 2 OVERALL FINDINGS FROM THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA Chapter 3 CAERPHILLY PROCESS: INTERVIEWS WITH KEY STAFF Chapter 4 ­ CAERPHILLY OUTCOMES Chapter 5 ­ CROYDON PROCESS: INTERVIEWS WITH KEY STAFF Chapter 6 ­ CROYDON ­ OUTCOMES Chapter 7 ­ CONCLUSIONS APPENDIX 1 ­ CPS Criteria for success APPENDIX 2 ­ List of Agencies interviewed at both sites Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Inside back cover APPENDIX 3 ­ Roles of key personnel APPENDIX 4 ­ Characteristics of victims interviewed APPENDIX 5 ­ Cost of attending meetings APPENDIX 6 ­ List of tables Tables of data and data collection instrumentsavailable on line at www.cps.gsi.gov.uk Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the representatives from both sites for their valuable contributions to this work: from the Crown Prosecution Service, the Police, Magistrates Courts Service, Victim Support, Witness Service, advocates, Black Association of Women Step Out, Cardiff Womens Safety Unit, Croydon Domestic Violence Advisory Service, Probation Service, Local Authorities (including Domestic Violence Forum), and the survivors of domestic violence who gave their time to enhance this research. We would also like to thank Kulbir Kaur and Angela Morgan for their work in coding and entering data from CPS files and Dee Cook for her involvement in the project. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY E1 INTRODUCTION This report constitutes the final evaluation of the Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Caerphilly (in Gwent, Wales) and Croydon (in London, England). The Crown Prosecution Service published an Interim Report in September 20041, which assessed the progress made at these sites six months after implementation. Those initial findings are expanded on here by providing additional data (from interviews with key staff and victims, and from cases going through the courts) during the first operational year. Comparisons are made before and after the projects were implemented by analysing data relevant to key targets such as narrowing the justice gap, bringing perpetrators to justice, and increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system. The success of the pilots can therefore be clearly demonstrated. The two sites evaluated here, whilst part of the same project, piloted different ways to improve the response to domestic violence. The pilot in Caerphilly was set up by the CPS, employing a part-time CPS domestic violence coordinator (a lawyer); a part-time administrator and an advocate2, who worked closely with a dedicated police officer (DPO3) to assist victims in a widely dispersed geographical area with rural and urban elements. The pilot also developed a new system to process cases, involving a special slot for Pre-Trial Reviews; and had the involvement and sponsorship of the Gwent Criminal Justice Board. The pilot in Croydon was established by the Magistrates Court in partnership with the local agencies; used independent advocates to assist a diverse and urban victim population; looked to improve the sharing of civil/criminal court information; had the use of specially trained CPS prosecutors, Magistrates and Police; and was attempting to implement the recommendations of the HMCPSI/HMIC Inspectorate Report Violence at Home4 (2004) and the Specialist Courts report (2004).5 The key improvements identified by the process and outcome components of the evaluation, and recommendations arising from this research are detailed in the sections below. E2 Key Improvements This research has found key positive and significant changes to working practices and outcomes from both pilots at Caerphilly and Croydon: · Increasing the number of domestic violence incidents reported to police that result in a case at court; · Reducing the number of cases lost before trial (withdrawals and discontinuances); 1. Available at www.cps.gov.uk/publications/reports 2. Advocate ­ in this report this term refers to independent domestic violence advisors and not legal advocates. 3. Dedicated police officers were appointed at both sites to play a lead role in the pilots. 4. A joint thematic inspection of the investigation and prosecution of cases involving domestic violence (Feb 2004) available at www.hmcpsi.gov.uk/reports/ 5. Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast-Track Systems. Cook, D., Burton, M., Robinson, A. L. and Vallely, C. (2004) London, Crown Prosecution Service and Dept of Constitutional Affairs. Available at www.cps.gov.uk/publications/reports/index.html 2 · Increasing the number of perpetrators brought to justice (via increased early and late guilty pleas and convictions of defendants); · Providing advocacy to victims of domestic violence, which has had a positive effect on their feelings of safety, their experience with and confidence in the criminal justice system; and · These significant changes to policy and practice were delivered in a cost-effective way. Improvements specific to the `criteria for success outlined by the CPS6 are listed in the table below.7 CAERPHILLY Early guilty pleas (up) Late guilty pleas (up) Found guilty after trial (up) Retractions (down) Withdrawn/discontinued (down) No evidence offered (down) Length of case (down) Quality of service to victims Confidence of victims Adverse outcomes Ineffective trials Pre-pilot 21% 31% 8% 53% 32% 46% 86 days Post-pilot 27% 35% 19% 27% 25% 28% 76 days Increased Increased Reduced Reduced CROYDON Found guilty after trial (up) Withdrawn/discontinued (down) No evidence offered (down) Number of successful outcomes following victim retractions Quality of service to victims Confidence of victims Adverse outcomes Ineffective trials Pre-pilot 0% 36% 42% Post-pilot 19% 20% 26% Increased Increased Increased Reduced Reduced 6. See Appendix 1. 7. Furthermore these trends were consistent with monthly monitoring data collected throughout 2004. 3 Those in the criminal justice agencies and the voluntary sector have worked together in genuine multi-agency partnerships to effect these changes, which served to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence at both sites. E3 CAERPHILLY PILOT SITE E3.1 Caerphilly Process Evaluation: Interviews with Key Staff The interviews with key staff identified the following common views: · The benefits of having a CPS Co-ordinator lay in providing a single point of contact for police and advocate; providing a consistency of approach to prosecution; improving liaison between CPS and police; and especially improving the review and management of the case files; · Employing a designated administrator had important benefits for the pilot, particularly in identifying cases which had not been correctly flagged as domestic violence, liaising with the police and the advocate, and collecting data and monitoring performance; · The advocate was pivotal to the pilot. The advocate facilitated support for victims, enabled supportive retractions, informed decision-making (such as bail conditions) and availability of police information to the court. In liaising between the victim, police and CPS, the advocate was able to provide better, earlier information so that prosecutors were better able to make discontinuance decisions and build stronger cases. It was felt, however, that if the advocate had been independent of the criminal justice agencies, victims confidence would have improved even further. In view of the geographical nature of the area and the need to provide an outreach service, and in light of the increasing demand for services, more advocates were needed. E3.2 Caerphilly Outcome Evaluation: Data from Case Files The data from the pilot in Caerphilly found that after the pilot was implemented: · There was a noticeable rise in the number of cases proceeding through court (from an average of 8.5 per month to 12 per month); · Cases were processed more quickly, as the number of days between arrest and case finalisation was reduced from 86 to 76 days; · Attrition was reduced: the number of cases withdrawn or discontinued before trial decreased from 32% to 25%; · Since the advent of the pilot, more perpetrators were brought to justice: · More defendants offered an early guilty plea, an increase from 21% to 27%; · The proportion of cases listed for trial in which the prosecutor offered no evidence was reduced from 46% to 28%; 4 · The proportion of cases listed for trial in which the defendant pleaded guilty on the day of trial increa "); array_files[52]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/CPS2.pdf","2009-08-18","345K"," untitled","","","UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON University of Leicester Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Gwent and Croydon 2004/05 Interim Report Dee Cook Mandy Burton Amanda Robinson Jasmin Tregidga Christine Vallely SEPTEMBER 2004 CPS Crown Prosecution Service List of Abbreviations and Glossary of Common Terms BAWSO CCI CCP CDVAS CJS CJU CMC CPD CPO CPS CRO D DPO DV DVFC DVO DVPP GCJB IDVC KI KI, CJ KI, VS LB LCJB MCS NEO NG PID PNCs PSR PTR SDVC SG ST SV VPS VS WS WCU WLMC WMP WSU WTH Black Association of Women Step Out Centre for Court Innovation Chief Crown Prosecutor Croydon Domestic Violence Advisory Service Criminal Justice System Criminal Justice Unit: this is a term that applies to both the Police and the CPS office that deals with a particular Magistrates Court area Croydon Magistrates Court Continuing Professional Development staff training and development Community Punishment Order Crown Prosecution Service Community Rehabilitation Order Defendant/Defence Designated Police Officer Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Forum Co-ordinator Domestic Violence Officer Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme Gwent Criminal Justice Board Integrated Domestic Violence Court Key Informant (interview) Key Informant, criminal justice agency representative Key Informant, voluntary & community sector representative London Borough Local Criminal Justice Board Magistrates Court Service No Evidence Offered: this is where a case is listed for trial, but the prosecution has insufficient/no evidence to put before the court Not Guilty plea Project Initiation Document Police National Computer - computerised records of a persons previous convictions, impending convictions, previous custodial sentences, and previous reprimands/warnings/cautions Pre Sentence Report: this is a document prepared by the Probation Service, usually upon sentence, to assist the court in imposing the correct sentence on the offender Pre-Trial Review Specialist Domestic Violence Court: term used to describe the clustering of cases of domestic violence in Magistrates Courts Steering Group Standing Together Site Visit Victim Personal Statements Victim Support Witness Service Witness Care Unit West London Magistrates Court West Midlands Police Womens Safety Unit (Cardiff) Case Withdrawn and therefore ended Contents Inside front cover Page 2 Page 5 Page 6 Page 13 Page 19 Page 25 Page 34 Inside Back Cover List of Abbreviations and Glossary of Common Terms Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2. Croydon 3. Gwent 4. Quantitative Data Analysis 5. Victim Perspectives 6. Summary and Recommendations Annex 1: CPS Success Outcomes and Measures for Croydon and Gwent Pilots Annex 2: Victims/Survivor Interviews and Focus Group: the sample Inside Back Cover 1 Executive Summary E.1. The two domestic violence pilot projects described here were established in the context of the two-year CPS Domestic Violence project which is itself geared to: narrowing the justice gap and reducing ineffective trials; increasing public confidence, including that of black and minority ethnic communities; and achieving value for money. The pilots were established in Gwent (a rural area in Wales, characterised by high social deprivation) and the ethnically diverse London Borough of Croydon. Whilst running concurrently (from January 2004 to January 2005), the two pilots focus on different issues, which are specified in the parameters for each below. (The CPSs success criteria for the pilots are detailed at Annex 1.) Evaluation Parameters ­ CROYDON · · · · Training ­ of CPS, Magistrates, Police Implementation ­ of the Inspectorate and Specialist Courts Reports Possibilities for improving sharing of Evaluation Parameters ­ GWENT · · · · · · Impact of employing a part-time CPS DV Co-ordinator and part-time administrator Use of advocate in a widely dispersed geographical area civil/criminal court information Use of advocates (including minority, ethnic advocates) to enhance victim support and participation Streamlined `Fast Track court system, similar to that used in Cardiff Involvement and sponsorship of Gwent Criminal Justice Board Possible work with · Partnership working with the Local Authority towards (a) provision of education, counselling groups for women and children; (b) Housing and Social Services staff attending the court. perpetrators group Costs of the court · Costs of the court E.2. In order to assess the extent to which these distinctive pilots meet the stated success criteria, a range of methods are to be used in this one-year evaluation, including: · Describing the sites and their operation: by analysing existing documentation, undertaking regular site visits and conducting (repeated) interviews with key informants, both in the early stages of the pilots and then again one year on. Ascertaining the costs and benefits of the courts, in terms of initial set-up and on-going costs, through examination of existing data, monitoring at both sites and supplementary interviews with key informants. Documenting levels of victim satisfaction and safety: through undertaking two sets of interviews and focus groups with DV victims and survivors at both sites (at Phase 1 of both projects and then one year on). Statistical analysis of CPS case files from both courts: using both summary monthly monitoring forms (at Phase 1) and comprehensive file coding instruments (one year on). · · · E.3. Within this framework, this Interim Report seeks to summarise the evidence and issues emerging from the first Phase of this evaluation (to June 2004) and so constitutes a baseline study which will be used both to indicate progress thus far, and to act as a benchmark against which to evaluate the final projects, one year on. It also seeks to contribute towards the development of both pilot sites by offering preliminary recommendations for action geared to enhancing the success of both courts as they enter the second half of the pilot phase. 2 Our analyses of quantitative monitoring data collected at Croydon and Gwent indicated that positive and significant changes in policy and practice have already occurred at both sites after only a few months: E.4. · · · · · The workload of the courts has increased in both sites - in Gwent by approximately one-third and in Croydon it doubled. Referrals to advocates also are increasing. Croydon has significantly reduced its levels of withdrawals before trial (from 25% to 6%) in part due to a reduction in victim retractions (from 15% to 6%). Gwent has significantly reduced the proportion of cases where prosecutors offer No Evidence at trial (from 56% to 6%). In both sites, bindovers were rarely used (1 per site during the 8-month period). Both sites have comparable proportions of DV perpetrators brought to justice (58% in Croydon and 54% in Gwent). However, due to a large case backlog, Croydon had a larger proportion in the pre-SDVC period (64% compared to 55% post-SDVC), while the implementation of the Gwent SDVC saw an increase from 43% pre-SDVC to 63% post-SDVC. In terms of sentencing, both sites increased their use of community penalties. Both sites have made strides towards better monitoring of children being taken into consideration as victims and witnesses, civil orders, and ethnic diversity of defendants and victims, though there is much more to be done. The exercise of gathering the monitoring data analysed in this Report has also led to improvements at both sites in monitoring and data-gathering protocols and practices. · · · We therefore recommend that all SDVC partners play their part in ensuring the timely collection of accurate, comprehensive data throughout Phase 2 of the project and beyond, so that it can continue to inform and enhance policy and practice. E.5. Our research thus far has also identified positive changes from the victim/survivor perspective. Analyses of pre- and post-pilot victim views at both sites show: · · · · A marked increase in victim satisfaction following the launch of the SDVC pilots. A significant and positive impact made by advocates and advocacy groups. An increase in numbers of victims being offered pre-court visits. Improvements in the accommodation provided at court, which was valued by victims. E.6. Building on this success, we recommend that the following outstanding issues relating to victims/survivors should be closely monitored at both sites: · · · · Information flows to victims (particularly on case progression and court procedures). Information sharing at the criminal/civil interface. A more consistent approach to taking Victim Personal Statements (VPSs). While the pilots are gradually having a positive impact on victim satisfaction, there remain negative responses to the CPS (often because of lack of clarity about the CPS role), with a perceived need for greater support and consistency. More consistency in use of special measures, enhancing victim confidence and safety. Intimidation of victims remains an important problem, which needs to be addressed. There is also a problem following case completion, where victims feel they lack both information and support: continuity of support from the incident itself to after care in the community needs to be addressed in partnership. · · · 3 E.7. Site visits, observations and key informant interviews at both Croydon and Gwent support the findings and recommendations outlined above and, in addition, raised the following site-specific issues, which would further enhance the projects success in Phase 2 and beyond: Croydon: we recommend attention is paid to the identified need to: · · · · · · Provide all DV victims with an identified sole contact to enhance consistency and continuity of information and support. State a clear delineation of the objectives and roles of individuals within the criminal SDVC and IDVC, to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of partnership working. Secure funding for the court for the SDVC (for monitoring, and to improve court facilities). Seek clarification of the referral procedure to the support agencies to take into account the concerns of VS regarding working boundaries and practices. Immediately implement better administrative structures and more effective working practices for all pa "); array_files[53]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_assessment.htm","2009-08-18","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training assessment and accreditation","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training assessment and accreditation CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Assessment and accreditation The programme will be accredited with the Open College Network at Level 3. This is broadly equivalent to NVQ3 and A level. The OCN divides the course up into credits for work done. The IDVA training programme provides 30 credits in total. Credits are given by the OCN for successful completion of individual units. However, applicants must attend the full course, and must complete all units to the required standard to receive the CAADA Certificate of Professional Competence. In order to establish that each learner has reached the required level of understanding for each topic, their work will be assessed and moderated by both an internal and external moderator. The assessment will include a variety of approaches including case studies, written tasks, discussions, practice files and role play. Learners will receive considerable support from the training team in this. Assessment will take place in the classroom and a limited number of ‘assignment’ tasks that will take place out of the classroom will also be assessed. Learners’ assignments will be accepted for assessment until the course closure date which is seven months after the last day of attendance at the training venue. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[54]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_aims.htm","2009-08-18","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - aims of IDVA training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - aims of IDVA training CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Aims of the training • To provide high quality training to independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs - click here for a national definition) working with victims of domestic violence. • To equip IDVAs with information and skills appropriate to their work with survivors, and with an understanding of the role of IDVAs within partnership and inter-agency work on domestic violence. • To promote a consistent, nationally recognised standard of knowledge and practice for IDVAs working in different settings. • To make victims of domestic violence and their children safer. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[55]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/research/CPS1.pdf","2009-08-18","1880K"," Domestic Courts book","","","rri Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/ Fast Track Systems Dee Cook Mandy Burton Amanda Robinson Christine Vallely March 2004 Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the representatives from all five sites of the Crown Prosecution Service, the Police, the Magistrates Courts Service, Witness Service, Derby City Partnership, Leeds Inter-Agency Partnership, Cardiff Womens Safety Unit, Standing Together, HALT, ADVANCE, Eaves, West Yorkshire Probation Service, Wolverhampton Criminal Justice Support Services Co-ordinator and The Haven. This study could not have been completed without the cooperation and efforts of CPS staff and prosecutors who, on top of their already busy schedules, assisted with data collection. We are very grateful to all those at the agencies listed above for their time and their views. We should also like to thank our research assistants Jasmin Tregidga, Anna Clancy, Kulbir Kaur and Angela Morgan for their work in coding and entering the data from the CPS files. List of Abbreviations and Common Terms ABH ­ it is an offence under s.47 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Advocates/advocacy support: Through victim support workers Bail ­ Period of adjournment. Can be imposed by the Court and the Police. Can be conditional or unconditional. Bindover ­ specify a sum of money over a specific period of time that requires defendants to keep the peace CJU ­ Criminal Justice Unit. This is a term that applies to both the Police and the CPS office that deals with a particular Magistrates Court area. CJS ­ Criminal Justice System Cracked trial ­ This is a case, which has been set down for trial, but the case has been terminated on the day of trial. Reasons include: a late guilty plea accepted on the day by the prosecutor; a bind-over; an offer of no evidence by the prosecutor; absence of witness. The case will not be adjourned and is dismissed. CPS ­ Crown Prosecution Service D ­ Defendant/Defence DCP ­ Derby City Partnership DCV letter-direct communication with victims. This is the letter that must be sent to all victims of crime, where the CPS either substantially alter the charge or discontinue a case. DISCON ­ Case discontinued, by the Prosecution, by means of a formal letter giving notice to defence and the court. DNA ­ did not attend. Indicates that someone did not come to Court, when they should have. DSM ­ Case dismissed. This can happen either after the case has gone only halfway or after a full trial. DV ­ domestic violence EAH ­ Early Administrative Hearing. This is a case where a not guilty plea is anticipated. EFH ­ Early First Hearing. This is a case where a guilty plea is anticipated. FTS ­ Fast Track System, used in Cardiff to describe their procedures for processing domestic violence cases. HALT ­ Help Advice and the Law Team (Leeds) Ineffective trial ­ when, on the date of trial, the case cannot proceed and is adjourned to another date. Reasons include prosecution or defence not ready, witnesses for either side (including the defendant) absent, lack of court time. Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems Page 1 KI ­ key informant (interview) LDVCC ­ Leeds Domestic Violence Cluster Court LIAP ­ Leeds Inter-Agency Partnership MCS ­ Magistrates Court Service NEO ­ No Evidence Offered. This is where a case is listed for trial, but the Prosecution has insufficient/no evidence to put before the court. NG ­ Not guilty plea PNCs ­ computerised records of a persons previous convictions, impending convictions, previous custodial sentences, and previous reprimands/warnings/cautions. PSRs ­ Pre sentence reports. This is a document prepared by the Probation Service, usually upon sentence, to assist the court in imposing the correct sentence on the offender. PTR ­ Pre-Trial Review s.23 ­ of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (first hand hearsay principle), which permits the reading out in court of a statement made by a witness in certain circumstances (such as the witness is in fear). SDVC ­ specialist domestic violence court, used to describe the clustering of cases of domestic violence in a particular court room. ST ­ Standing Together SV ­ site visit SWP ­ South Wales Police V ­ Victim VPS ­ Victim Personal Statements WLMC ­ West London Magistrates Court WMP ­ West Midlands Police WTH ­ Case withdrawn and therefore ended. WSU - Womens Safety Unit (Cardiff) WYP ­ West Yorkshire Police List of Charts in text 4A Percentage of DV Incidents Resulting in Arrest 4B Percentage of DV Incidents with Repeat Victim 6A 6B 6C 6D 6E 6F 6G 6H 6I 6J 6K 6L 6M 6N 6O 6P 6Q Information on Womens Ethnicity Information on Mens Ethnicity Initial Charged Offences Initial Pleas by Defendants Attrition of Cases Received by the CPS Sentences Received by Offenders Evidence in Case Files Number of Previous Convictions Civil Orders in Place Matters Pending in Civil Court Children and Domestic Violence Initial Guilty Pleas, by Site Cases Sent to PTR, by Site No Evidence Offered (NEO) Rate, by Site Late Guilty Plea Rate, by Site Bindover Rate, by Site Victim Retraction, by Site Page 2 Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems Overall, our research indicates the notable and positive benefits of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts and Fast Track Systems in three key ways: · Both `clustering and `fast-tracking DV cases enhances the effectiveness of court and support services for victims. · Both SDVC and FTS arrangements make advocacy and information-sharing easier to accomplish. · Victim participation and satisfaction is improved and thus public confidence in the CJS is increased. All the courts have created the infrastructure necessary for continued improvements in the effectiveness and efficiency in dealing with domestic violence cases Such courts enable the development of best practice in multi-agency, integrated ways of working that place the victim at the heart of the process. Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems Page 3 E Executive Summary Introduction E1. The evaluation of the effectiveness of specialist domestic violence courts needs to be addressed in the context of the dynamics of domestic violence, which is a complex problem, incorporating emotional and psychological abuse as well as crimes of a physical and/or sexual nature. Victims are often (understandably) reluctant to be witnesses in court because of their own relationship to the defendant and, in relationships where children are present, the defendants relationship with their children. They are almost always vulnerable and often intimidated. E2. The work of the criminal justice system (CJS) in addressing domestic violence needs to be evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in providing safety for victims, within a multiagency framework that works with victims, perpetrators and their children. Thus, the Governments Safety and Justice document addressed issues of prevention, protection and support. E3. Jurisdictions or communities that have taken the innovative step of setting up specialist courts should be commended, because they are enabling domestic violence to be tackled within a multi-agency framework designed with the specific needs of domestic violence victims in mind. In addition, they also help reinforce the seriousness of the commitment of CJS, statutory and voluntary agencies to reducing domestic violence. E4. The evaluation research reported here was commissioned by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). The Governments 2001 election manifesto included a commitment to consider whether specialist domestic violence courts would offer more effective protection for victims. This evaluation aims to assist the criminal and civil justice government agencies to judge the effectiveness of specialist courts and thereby help to inform the government policy debate as to whether and how specialist courts should be developed. E5. The research also forms a key part of the CPS two-year Domestic Violence Project, established in the summer of 2003. This project seeks to gather evidence on the efficacy of measures in relation to domestic violence cases that would: · Narrow the justice gap and reduce ineffective trials · Increase public confidence, including that of black and minority ethnic communities · Achieve value for money Research Methods E6. The research, carried out in November 2003 ­ January 2004, evaluated five models of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVC) or Fast Track Systems (FTS) in England and Wales, namely those at magistrates courts in: · Cardiff · Derby · Leeds · West London · Wolverhampton Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems Page 4 The five courts are at very different stages of their development ­ one (Derby) being in operation for six months, and another (Leeds) for four years. Police data indicate widely varying case loads ­ ranging from 99 domestic violence arrests in one site (West London) over a 3-month period to 853 in another (Leeds) over the same period. They also operate in very different spatial and organisational contexts. E7. The evaluation adopted a mixed method approach, designed to meet the wide ranging project aims and objectives. Although the research process was reflective and iterative, with regular research team discussions and much learning from the process itself, there were three broad components of the evaluation: · Mini-literature review of relevant literature from the US, Canada and UK · Qualitative information including analysis of existing reports, site visits, interviews with key informants, process maps for each site, and information about costs and benefits of differing SDVC/FTS models, where available. · Quantitative analysis of CPS files for all sites for one comparable period: August ­ October 2003. Overview E8. A review of relevant literature on specialist courts identified their core components as: · Access to advocacy services. · Coordination of partners. · Victim and child friendly court. · Specialist personnel. · Even handed treatment. · Integrated information systems. · Evaluation and accountability. · Protocols for "); array_files[56]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_feedback.htm","2009-08-18","19K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - feedback on IDVA training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - feedback on IDVA training CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Feedback from CAADA IDVA training courses in Leeds, Bristol and London 2009 The following comments represent just a small selection from the huge amount of positive feedback weve received from our IDVA training course during 2009. Leeds 2009 “Really thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will be able to take the knowledge gained away with me. Thank you. The quality of training was exceptionally high. The support and guidance I received was exemplary. I come from a very small team with not enough support. This training has answered all my questions and concerns. I enjoy my job now. I absolutely enjoyed this training. It has changed me, I feel confident in my job and I have made changes to my service. I am better known in the area by agencies (in a good way!) I feel that this training has been extremely rewarding and an effective use of my time. The training has given me the tools in order to carry out my role effectively. It has made me far more confident in importantly knowing when to say ‘no and when to delegate onto others. Overall my experience of the course was far better than I expected it to be. I was very impressed with the quality of the course. I had no IDVA experience so everything has been useful to aid my future role and will give me confidence in myself to fulfil the role. Overall the course exceeded my expectations, well presented, enhanced my knowledge and skills and was very enjoyable. I had very little confidence at the start of this course. But that has changed over the last five months and I am totally clear about my role and my work. I have learnt more in these five months than I have in five years at my workplace. Any professional who comes across domestic abuse should do this course. It has been excellent. Thank you. Bristol 2009 I contacted my trainer throughout the course and felt totally supported throughout. I feel after completing the training I am a lot more confident in all areas of my work. I now feel I totally understand the IDVA role and can carry out the role fully. Excellent training - I will be advising all workers within domestic violence to try and attend. The training was absolutely fantastic and I have learnt so much from it. Our trainer in particular was very friendly, professional and knowledgeable and this made it very enjoyable. I think from a managers point of view this course is very valuable and even though managers may not have case experience to share it really helps our knowledge to improve. Excellent! Have met many skilled people and have been able to contact them for additional help (e.g. Court IDVAs in Plymouth when client in court out of county). I was very new in the role when I started the course and have found it really helpful to develop my knowledge through both the course and doing the job together. This course has enabled me to work day to day as an IDVA with confidence that Im doing it the best way. I am planning a big evaluation of the service in September and will be updating and revising all out paperwork, especially the safety plans.. London 2009 I was given the impression by colleagues who have attended the course previously that the learning materials, tutorials, guest speakers, etc were all excellent and very relevant. I wasnt disappointed. My colleagues also said that the additional workload was extremely high, I didnt find this to be the case and in fact found completing the worksheets really helpful in terms of consolidating learning. Feedback from my assessor was very useful. I found the quality of training to be very high, professional and informative, challenging and thought provoking. I feel very pleased to have completed the training and can see how it will have far reaching effects on my skills and personal and professional development. I have more clarity in my role and am therefore able to advocate for clients appropriately, with safety as the highest context. The course has encouraged me to reflect on my practice. I found it challenging and affirming. My manager is always keen and has asked after each block what we covered and how we can improve. To date she has been very open to listen and negotiate where and when we can implement and improve. I think the core trainers and majority of guest speakers were fantastic and their knowledge and styles were very well suited to the course. I think this is very good training and all IDVAs should have the opportunity to complete. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[57]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_selection.htm","2009-08-18","14K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - selection criteria for IDVA training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - selection criteria for IDVA training CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Selection criteria Allocation of places In the event that the course is over-subscribed, preference will be given to applicants who are currently working or planning to work as IDVAs, whose job description matches CAADA’s and who work with high risk clients. CAADA’s decision on the allocation of places is final. Please note: As there is a formal application process and selection criteria, it is the individual learner rather than the organisation that is registered for a place on the course. In the case of an individual not being able to attend the course it is therefore not possible for them to ‘give’ their place to a colleague or someone else. Our autumn courses are now closed for applications and we will shortly be in touch with everyone who has applied. We will be running more courses in the spring with probable locations being London, Bristol and Birmingham. Further details will be available here shortly so please keep checking back. Thank you. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[58]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/FIPstraining.htm","2009-08-18","26K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - FIPs training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - FIPs training Overview|IDVA training | IDVA learners area |MARAC training |MARAC champions training | Learners feedback Family Intervention Projects (FIPs) training CAADA is pleased to announce the launch of a new training programme developed on behalf of the Department of Health for practitioners working in Family Intervention Projects. The training will focus on increasing awareness and skills in relation to domestic abuse and risk for FIPs’ teams. What is it? Are you eligible? What does it cover? When and where is it? How do I apply? What resources support it? What is it? CAADA has launched a two-day training programme on behalf of the Department of Health and Family Intervention Projects (FIPs). Family Intervention Projects have developed out of the Governments’ anti-social behavior strategy. FIP teams across the country work to establish the needs of each family member and work in conjunction with the individual within a family to meet those needs. Research shows that domestic abuse is prevalent in families working with FIP teams and this training will ensure that FIPs can offer better services and support in this critical area. Funded by the Department of Health, FIPs Training is being rolled out and delivered in various locations across the country in 2009. This training aims: • To make victims of domestic abuse and their children safer • To provide high quality training to Family Intervention Project team members working with families where domestic abuse is occurring • To equip FIP Keyworkers with information and skills appropriate to their work with these families, including special attention to their role within inter-agency work on domestic abuse Are you eligible? CAADA FIPs Training has been specifically designed for FIP Keyworkers, meaning those practitioners within a FIP who deliver a front line service to families. It is not open to other practitioners and Keyworkers will be prioritized over FIP Managers in the allocation of spaces. If you have any questions about your eligibility please call us for more information or email us at fipstraining@caada.org.uk. For other queries about training offered by CAADA please email training@caada.org.uk. What does it cover? This training programme covers: • Dynamics of domestic abuse • The impact of domestic abuse on children • Recognizing the characteristics of a perpetrator • Stages of change and motivational interviewing • Identifying key risk factors in an abusive relationship, using the CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist • How to work effectively with a MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) In addition to the formal training, CAADA offers ongoing advice to FIP team members and wherever possible will help make links with local IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) services and MARACs in order to reinforce support to victims of domestic abuse. When and where is it? Spring courses are now at full capacity. Autumn dates and venues are listed below. CAADA will run two courses consecutively in one week in order to enable an entire FIP team to be trained, thereby maximising the impact of the training whilst causing the minimum disruption to the work of the project as a whole. Course code Location Dates FIPS09-D Birmingham FULL 2nd /3rd June 2009 FULL FIPS09-E Birmingham FULL 4th /5th June 2009 FULL FIPS09-F London FULL 6th /7th July 2009 FULL FIPS09-G London FULL 8th /9th July 2009 FULL FIPS09-H Newcastle FULL 29th /30th September 2009 FULL FIPS09-I Newcastle FULL 1st /2nd October 2009 FULL FIPS09-J London FULL 20th /21st October 2009 FULL FIPS09-K London FULL 22nd /23rd October 2009 FULL FIPS09-L Leicester FULL 17th /18th November 2009 FULL FIPS09-M Leicester FULL 19th /20th November 2009 FULL FIPS09-N Bristol FULL 14th /15th December 2009 FULL FIPS10-A Leeds FULL 3rd/4th February 2010 FULL FIPS10-B London FULL 23rd/24th March 2010 FULL The training will run from 9.15am to 4.30pm on each day. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please note that this is not a residential course and learners who cannot travel daily to the training will need to make their own accommodation arrangements. How do I apply? If you are a FIP keyworker wishing to reserve a place, please speak to your manager to complete the booking form. Booking forms are available to download in the table below. Please send or fax completed and signed booking forms to: CAADA, 6th Floor, Maxet House, 28 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1NG Email: fipstraining@caada.org.uk Tel: 0117 3178750 Fax: 0117 376 3364 What resources support it? Below you can find a number of documents to support your service. If you cannot find what you are looking for on this page, please let us know at fipstraining@caada.org.uk and we will try to help as best we can. FIPs training booking form FIPs toolkit for MARAC CAADA Risk Identification Checklist 2009 Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[59]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/MARAC_implementation_training.htm","2009-08-18","17K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - MARAC implementation training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - MARAC implementation training Overview | IDVA training | IDVA learners area |MARAC champions training |FIPs training |Learner feedback MARAC implementation training CAADA offers training and support for the implementation and operation of Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) across the UK. Aimed at middle manager MARAC representatives, chairs and co-ordinators (rather than frontline professionals), this training demonstrates how to run a robust and safe MARAC to support high risk victims in the most effective way. The course is designed both for areas that are new to the MARAC process and for those areas that have already established a MARAC but would like to build on their achievements. How is this training delivered? Stage 1: CAADA will visit your area for one day to discuss the structure, the foundations (for example information sharing), and the benefits of running a MARAC. It is important that on this day there are representatives from each of your local partners. For more detail on who should attend please see the list below. If you are already running MARAC we will review the process in detail and advise you if there are any areas where you might make the process more effective. We will send you a written report detailing some key priorities for you to consider. Stage 2: Approximately six months later, CAADA will come and observe your MARAC and share our observations with the attendees. We aim to give practical and constructive feedback about your MARAC and support you to build on your achievements to date. We are also available to meet with individual agencies that have particular issues to review. Again, we will send you written feedback in a report with specific recommendations as appropriate. Stage 3: Approximately twelve months after the second visit, CAADA will carry out a quality assurance review of your MARAC. This will involve a review of your data as well as other written materials (including anonymised minutes) and some telephone interviews with selected participants. A final report will be prepared for the local MARAC team and for the Home Office where appropriate. In some cases, it may involve a further visit. Throughout these stages we will support your area with practical issues relating to implementation and operation of the MARAC. Our MARAC support desk is available via email at marac@caada.org.uk or over the phone on 0117 317 8750. We will also continue to analyse and report back to you on your local data as needed. Who should attend? Middle managers from the following agencies should attend: Police: DI in the chair, officer to report on cases, other public protection officers such as child protection, DV officer Children and Young People’s Services Adult services IDVA service Health: A&E, midwifery, health visitors, child protection nurse, as appropriate Housing and Homelessness Mental Health Probation: Senior Probation Officer, Women Safety Officer Education Local drug and alcohol services CAFCASS Other specialist DV services Sexual abuse services Specialist agencies, such as BME support organisations, LGBT services or those working with children’s safety For further information on the CAADA MARAC implementation training course, including how to apply, please contact us by emailing marac@caada.org.uk or telephoning 0117 317 8750. If you would like practitioner resources relating to MARAC, please visit the practitioner resources section of this website. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[60]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining.htm","2009-08-18","17K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA (CAT) training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA (CAT) training Training overview| IDVA (CAT) learners area |MARAC training |MARAC champions training |FIPs training CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training The Course The CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training course enables Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs - click here for a national definition) to have the skills and tools they need to effectively support high risk victims of abuse. The course equips learners with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, support clients and address the issues that they face in a consistent and professional way. It is an ideal route for those who are seeking professional development or want to enhance their practical knowledge of advocacy. For more information, including details of upcoming courses and learner materials, click here. Please see below for essential information about the CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training course: Our autumn courses are now closed for applications and we will shortly be in touch with everyone who has applied. We will be running more courses in the spring with probable locations being London, Bristol and Birmingham. Further details will be available here shortly so please keep checking back. Thank you. If youre a CAT learner looking to access course materials, please visit our learners area. To read feedback from our 2009 IDVA training course learners, click here. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[61]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_attendance.htm","2009-08-18","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training - attendance required ","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training - attendance required CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Attendance required The course requires 15 days attendance and the completion of five assessed worksheets that are completed away from the training room (see time commitment). Some assessment is done in the training room itself. Time commitment The course is accredited by the Open College Network and gives learners who complete the course 30 credits at level 3. Each credit is expected to be 10 hours in total, this includes in room training, completing assessment and further reading such as training manuals, research etc. The whole course requires 300 hours of study. The training provides approximately 100 hours. We estimate that you should allow about 50 hours to complete all the worksheets. The other 150 hours is ‘notional’ study time during which you will read your manuals, consider further research such as reading reports and government guidance and generally consider what you have learnt in the training room. You may wish to do this in your own time, or you may prefer to discuss having extra time from your employer. CAADA does not negotiate this with your employer and each project will have a different policy on study leave. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[62]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_coursecontent.htm","2009-08-18","22K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training course content","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training course content CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Course content and objectives The CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training course has been developed with the aim of improving the response to high risk clients by building the skills of IDVAs with the knowledge and tools required to facilitate risk management. The ultimate aim of the CAT course is to make victims of domestic violence and their children safer, by giving them effective support and real options through an IDVA. We equip learners with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, support clients and address the issues that they face in a consistent and professional way, as well as improving their ability to work with voluntary and statutory agencies in responding to abuse. This achieved through the four main areas of knowledge: The development of an ‘IDVA toolkit of practical skills The development of expertise in risk Drawing upon a wide range of safety options Understanding the IDVA role within a multi-agency setting The development of an ‘IDVA toolkit of practical skills IDVAs need specific skills to motivate and enable each client to make changes in their lives. We deliver training on an ‘IDVA toolkit that contains all the essential skills and approaches required for the role. The toolkit includes: Motivational Interviewing Stages of Change Active listening Negotiation Pro-social modelling We expect IDVAs to use these tools in their approach to clients, other agencies, and colleagues. We also expect learners to demonstrate these skills in the CAADA training room. The development of expertise in risk IDVAs need a clear understanding of risk identification and risk management. This includes an understanding of how risk in domestic violence situations is linked to the key areas of public protection including child abuse and homicide. IDVAs need to be familiar with risk management strategies both individually and in a multi-agency setting such as MARACs. They need to be confident in identifying the degree of risk faced by a client, in safety planning and in determining when to access other support services. We will train IDVAs on the importance of ‘defensible decision making, and the importance of recording their work in order to ensure accountability and professionalism. Safety should be at the core of everything the IDVA does, and we will explore this throughout the course. Drawing upon a wide range of safety options IDVAs need a thorough practical knowledge of the full range of options available to their clients. This includes the criminal justice system, civil law, housing, support for vulnerable adults and children and other specialist support services. IDVAs need to be able to advise clients on the availability and accessibility of all appropriate services to reduce their risks. We will look at the importance of relating risk directly to individual client safety plans. Throughout the course we will consider how each clients individual needs and circumstances will affect their risk, and we encourage IDVAs to broaden their knowledge of a wide range of client groups and the potential implications in achieving safety. Understanding the IDVA role within a multi-agency setting Finally, IDVAs must recognise that their role does not end with a range of tangible interventions for each client. We expect IDVAs to help every client build their own local support network, and to empower them to make safe choices that will have long-term effects. Moreover, we encourage IDVAs to contribute to the improvement of response to domestic violence at a local and national level. We will explore the wider domestic violence sector and the vast range of agencies that can impact on client safety at strategic and operational level. We expect IDVAs to monitor and evaluate their own work in order to improve their own response to clients. We also equip learners with knowledge about multi-agency working and how to achieve positive institutional change. In developing these four building blocks, by the end of the course, IDVA course graduates will have the confidence to work from the point of crisis with high risk clients. They will be able to utilise various skills and tools to offer a wide range of practical options that can achieve long-term safety for individual clients, and make a real difference in improving the wider response to domestic violence. The IDVA course itself comprises a total of 15 days, broken into five blocks of three day sessions. The following table provides an overview of the topics covered in the course. BLOCK 1 The IDVA role and toolkit Self-care and vicarious trauma Diversity considerations Screening: LGBT and male clients BLOCK 2 Risk management MARAC Multi-agency skills BLOCK 3 Criminal justice response to domestic violence Case management Individual tutorials BLOCK 4 Civil law Safeguarding children Mental health and substance misuse BLOCK 5 Housing BME clients Sexual violence The training programme will NOT cover: • How to become a counsellor with survivors • Dedicated legal advocates’ or legal advisers’ training • How to work directly with children as an advocate • Sexual violence within a non-intimate relationship Gender focus In recognition of the research and reporting information from all the key agencies responding to domestic violence, the main focus of the training will be on work with women experiencing domestic abuse from male partners or ex-partners. However, there will be training provided on responding to women and men experiencing abuse within lesbian and male gay relationships, and men experiencing abuse from a female partner. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[63]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_howtoapply.htm","2009-08-18","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training - how to apply","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training - how to apply CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training How to apply Our autumn courses are now closed for applications and we will shortly be in touch with everyone who has applied. We will be running more courses in the spring with probable locations being London, Bristol and Birmingham. Further details will be available here shortly so please keep checking back. Thank you. Please ensure you are familiar with: • the course content and aims • the dates you will need to attend • the way the course is assessed Click here to view our terms and conditions. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[64]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_cost.htm","2009-08-18","15K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - cost of IDVA training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - cost of IDVA training CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Cost of CAADA Independent Violence Advisor Training The cost of the course includes 15 days in-class training, five CAADA IDVA Training Manuals and assessment and feedback on your written work. Registered charities £1000 Statutory sector £2850 In addition, there is a fee for registration and certification with the Open College network. OCN Fee £90 Cancellation As there is a formal application process and selection criteria for any National Open College Network course, it is the individual (rather than their organisation) who is registered onto the course. If you have to cancel your place it is not possible for you to ‘give’ your place to a colleague or someone else. We regret that no fees can be refunded once a place on the course has been confirmed by CAADA, unless we receive written notification more than four weeks before the start of the course and we are able to fill the place with another learner whose details we already hold on our waiting list. No fees can be refunded once a learner has started the course. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[65]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/training.html","2009-08-18","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - training","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - training IDVA training | IDVA learners area |MARAC training |MARAC champions training |FIPs training | Learner feedback Training CAADA offers a range of training to public agency and voluntary sector professionals working within the domestic violence field. Specialist training is offered in the following areas: IDVA training The CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training course enables IDVAs to have the skills and tools they need to effectively support high risk victims of abuse. The course equips learners with a clear understanding of how to identify risk, support clients and address the issues that they face in a consistent and professional way. It is an ideal route for those who are seeking professional development or want to enhance their practical knowledge of advocacy. As the national provider for domestic violence advocacy training in the UK, CAADA has trained a total of 720 IDVAs to date. For more information, including details of upcoming courses and learner materials, click here. To access the IDVA learners area, click here. MARAC implementation training CAADA offers training and support for the implementation and operation of Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) across the UK. Aimed at middle manager MARAC representatives, chairs and co-ordinators (rather than frontline professionals), this training demonstrates how to run a robust and safe MARAC to support high risk victims in the most effective way. The course is designed both for areas that are new to the MARAC process and for those areas that have already established a MARAC but would like to build on their achievements. MARAC champions training MARAC Champions training is a one day course which aims to cascade awareness of risk identification, information sharing and the MARAC process throughout individual public and voluntary agencies and across the local area. Aimed at MARAC representatives and trainers working within individual agencies, attendents are empowered by this course to deliver training to their own colleagues, thereby spreading awareness of MARACs operating in their local area and increasing buy in from all agency staff. FIPs training Domestic violence training for Family Intervention Projects (FIPs) is available in locations across the UK. The course aims to increase awareness and skills in relation to risk identification for FIPs teams. Research shows that domestic abuse is prevalent in families working with FIPs; this training ensures that frontline staff can offer better services and support in this critical area. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[66]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/training/CATtraining_whoshouldapply.htm","2009-08-18","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training - who should apply?","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - IDVA training - who should apply? CAADA Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training Who should apply? The course is designed for practitioners working directly with clients at high risk of domestic violence. It is accessible to both experienced and inexperienced practitioners alike, however it is expected that all learners have a basic understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence before attending the course. Pre-course reading material will be made available to all successful applicants. Training requirements Please be sure that you can meet the basic training requirements of the course. All applicants must be able to: • attend all 15 days of the training • understand, speak and write good English in order to understand the training materials and be able to fully participate in classroom exercises and complete assessments, • complete all compulsory assessment exercises, both written and oral, within the timescales agreed, • use IT skills and have access to a current version of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and the internet (to access on–line material and assessments and email communications) Our autumn courses are now closed for applications and we will shortly be in touch with everyone who has applied. We will be running more courses in the spring with probable locations being London, Bristol and Birmingham. Further details will be available here shortly so please keep checking back. Thank you. back to CAADA IDVA training Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[67]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/makeadonation.html","2009-08-18","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - make a donation","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - make a donation Make a donation Support CAADAs work by making an online donation today. Every penny that we receive enables us to continue our vital work. Our goal is to empower organisations to protect the 150,000 high risk victims living in the UK, who are at risk of serious injury and murder as a result of the violence they endure. All our online donations are handled by Paypal. We accept Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Switch, Delta, Solo and Maestro. Alternatively if youd prefer to send a cheque please make it payable to CAADA and send it to: CAADA 6th Floor, Maxet House, 28 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1NG Make your gift go further... If you are a UK tax payer, for every £1 that you donate, we can claim a further 28p… at no cost to you! Please choose if you would like to giftaid your donation. Yes No   Please note: you do not need a PayPal account to donate online, simply choose the Dont have a PayPal account? Continue option on the payment page. You will then be able to donate using your debit or credit card Thank you for your support. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust | Charity No. 1106864 Copyright and disclaimer notice "); array_files[68]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.caada.org.uk/copyrightanddisclaimernotice.html","2009-08-18","16K","caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - copyright and disclaimer","",""," caada - co-ordinated action against domestic abuse - copyright and disclaimer Copyright and disclaimer notice Copyright guidance © CAADA 2009. All rights reserved. The contents of our website are protected by copyright laws and other intellectual property rights.The owner of these rights is Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA). Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following: • you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only • you may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge CAADA as the source of the material You may not, except with our express written permission, amend, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system. You may download material from our website for the sole purpose of obtaining resources for your own personal or professional use.However, you may not modify, amend, cite, republish or by any means change any material or information on or downloaded from our website including, but not limited to text, graphics, video, messages, code and/or software without our prior written consent, except where expressly invited to do so, for example in order to complete any test or questionnaire. Written consent can be obtained by contacting copyright@caada.org.uk Website disclaimer The information contained in this website is provided by CAADA, and while we endeavour to keep the information up-to-date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, publications, resources, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website. Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of CAADA. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, CAADA takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control. Funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust Charity No. 1106864 "); array_files[69]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/Without_Consent_Thematic.pdf","2009-08-18","1512K"," 15642_Report","","","Withoutconsent A report on the joint review of the investigation and prosecution of rape offences Contents CONTENTS FOREWORD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY Purpose Background to the review Scope of the review Methodology Str ucture of the report Acknowledgements SETTING THE SCENE Understanding attrition Developments since 2002 POLICE CRIME RECORDING The crime report Crime recording ­ the rules `No crimes Detections Undetected crimes Strengths Areas for improvement POLICE STRUCTURES The situation in 2002 The situation in 2006 The role of the Specially Trained Officer Strengths Areas for improvement FIRST RESPONSE Deployment and scene attendance The use of Early Evidence Kits Preser ving the scene and physical evidence Strengths Areas for improvement AN EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATION Inter views with victims and witnesses Video recordings of interviews with victims Arrests of suspects Inter views with suspects The use of bail conditions Crime scene examinations Forensic evidence Intoxicants 5 7 23 27 28 28 29 30 32 32 33 34 36 39 40 41 42 46 48 51 51 53 54 54 55 58 58 59 60 61 62 62 62 63 64 65 67 68 70 71 72 76 Without consent 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1 Contents Intelligence Super vision Cold case reviews Strengths Areas for improvement 7. FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS The provision of forensic physician services Forensic physicians Quality assurance of forensic examinations Training Cross-contamination issues Delay The prosecutors approach to medical evidence Strengths Areas for improvement AN EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION Background CPS rape co-ordinators Specialist lawyers Specialist caseworkers The prosecution team Strengths Areas for improvement PRE-CHARGE DECISION MAKING Statutor y charging The impact of statutory charging on rape cases Police decisions to submit cases for pre-charge decision making Timeliness of pre-charge decision making File quality CPS Direct Involvement of counsel pre-charge Strengths Areas for improvement REVIEW AND DECISION MAKING Outcomes Background Use of specialists The quality of pre-charge advice and decisions Selection of the appropriate charge The quality of decisions to discontinue Acquittals Convictions Review endorsements Case building The Sexual Offences Act 2003 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 84 85 86 87 88 89 91 91 93 94 94 95 96 96 98 98 99 100 100 101 102 102 103 103 104 104 105 106 106 107 108 109 110 111 111 111 112 114 8. 9. 10. 2 Without consent Contents Hearsay evidence `Bad character evidence Custody and bail decisions Learning from experience Performance management and monitoring of rape cases Strengths Areas for improvement 11. CASE PREPARATION The duties of disclosure of unused material Initial or primary disclosure Continuing or secondary disclosure Sensitive material Third party material Victims recorded interviews Previous sexual history Training Indictments Instr uctions to counsel Case and file management The use of Compass CMS Strengths Areas for improvement THE CASE AT COURT The preliminary hearing Plea and case management hearings The trial Previous sexual history of the victim Selection of counsel and returns Advocacy Counsel Listing Strengths Areas for improvement VICTIMS AND WITNESSES Victim care arrangements Liaison with victims about decisions in cases Victim care after the conclusion of the investigation Court familiarisation visits Personal contact with victims at court Victim personal statements Special measures Effectiveness of special measures Diversity Strengths Areas for improvement 115 116 117 117 118 120 120 121 122 122 122 123 123 124 124 125 125 126 127 127 127 127 129 130 130 131 131 132 133 134 134 134 135 137 138 139 140 140 141 141 142 142 143 145 146 12. 13. Without consent 3 Contents 14. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN Background Child abuse cases Use of video evidence Special measures The Sexual Offences Act 2003 Strengths Areas for improvement PARTNERSHIP WORKING Strengths Areas for improvement ATTRITION Conclusion 147 148 148 149 149 150 150 151 153 155 156 157 161 163 164 168 170 172 173 174 175 15. 16. APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: Implementation of recommendations/suggestions from the 2002 thematic inspection report APPENDIX 2: Stocktake of the implementation of the Rape Action Plan 2002 APPENDIX 3: Police crime recording data APPENDIX 4: Part II of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 APPENDIX 5: The Prosecutors Pledge APPENDIX 6: Review reference group APPENDIX 7: Abbreviations used in this report 4 Without consent Foreword FOREWORD In 2002, Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majestys Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate published a joint thematic inspection report on the investigation and prosecution of rape offences. The report made a total of 18 recommendations and three suggestions to improve the investigation of rape cases by the police, guidance and training for both the police and prosecutors, the decision making and the prosecution of rape offences, and the treatment of victims and witnesses. In response, the Government published a Rape Action Plan in July 2002, accepting virtually all of the recommendations put forward by the inspection report. Relevant agencies agreed to the action plan, and some new provisions in relation to rape and other sexual offences were introduced in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Nevertheless, research has continued to provide a picture of increasing attrition rates. In addition, a stocktake to assess progress on the measures set out in the action plan, carried out in 2005 by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Policy Directorate, identified that, although there were a number of key areas of progress, there were also gaps in implementation. This review was, therefore, conducted to assess progress against the recommendations and suggestions of the 2002 inspection, taking account of the stocktake findings, recent research and legislative changes. In doing so, current working practices and procedures were examined in order to assess the quality and effectiveness of investigations and prosecutions and to establish, where possible, the reasons for the continued high rate of attrition in rape cases. Attrition, from the initial call to the police to the final outcome at court, formed an important part of both the 2002 inspection and the current review, and it will undoubtedly continue to be a focus of attention. However, the review findings also underline the importance of setting attrition in context. The key points at which attrition occurs provide valuable lessons about what must take place to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are as effective as possible, and much has been learned. The police and the CPS have made considerable efforts since the inspection in 2002 to develop and improve their responses to the investigation and prosecution of rape offences, and Inspectors were impressed by the achievements of many dedicated and committed individuals. A considerable amount of good practice was identified. Nevertheless, challenges remain, some of which continue to be significant. The review found, however, that in many cases it is not necessarily about changing what is done, but ensuring instead that what is done is effective and is carried out to a consistently high standard, and that the efforts of those involved are properly supported and co-ordinated. In many respects, the policies are sound and in place. It is not a question of changing the approach, but of ensuring that what should be done is actually done in practice and that full effect is given to the existing sound policies and good practice. Thanks of the chief inspectors are extended to all police forces and CPS Areas that responded to requests for information and, in particular, to those seven forces and Areas that were visited during the fieldwork. Thanks also go to those members of other criminal justice and voluntary sector organisations and bodies, who provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of systems locally and the Without consent 5 Foreword needs of victims and witnesses, and to members of the Reference Group who gave guidance and help to the joint review team at key stages. We hope that this report will inform the debate and the Governments decisions arising out of the consultation paper Convicting Rapists and Protecting Victims ­ Justice for Victims of Rape. To facilitate this, the inspection team has liaised with the Home Office Working Group dealing with the responses received to the consultation paper. Victims of rape remain at the heart of this process and maintaining victim confidence in the criminal justice process is absolutely key if offenders are to be brought to justice. Although successful criminal justice outcomes can never be guaranteed, it is incumbent on all those involved to ensure that every victim of rape receives the highest standard of treatment and care, and that, irrespective of the outcome, every victim can be assured that everything possible was done to build a strong case and present it well. Sir Ronnie Flanagan GBE MA Her Majestys Chief Inspector of Constabulary Stephen J Wooler CB Her Majestys Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service 6 Without consent Executive summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background to the review In 2001, Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Her Majestys Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) conducted a joint thematic inspection into the investigation and prosecution of rape offences. The purpose of that inspection was to analyse and assess the quality of the investigation, decision making and prosecution by the police and the Crown Prosecution Ser vice (CPS) of allegations of rape. In doing so, its aim was to ascertain, if possible, the reasons for the high attrition rate and make recommendations to address this. Published in April 2002, the report made a total of 18 recommendations and three suggestions to improve: q q q the investigation of rape cases by the police; guidance and training for both the police and prosecutors; the quality of advice, decision making, case preparation and presentation at court by prosecutors; and the treatment of victims and witnesses in cases inv "); array_files[70]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20WSO%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","W WomenSafety Officer ­ omen Safety Officer ­ Toolkit for MARAC Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and Women Safety Officers The MARAC will seek to protect those victims you are working with who are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed through a co-ordinated response from all agencies. As a specialist in domestic violence and risk assessment you are in a unique position of being able to offer expert advice to the MARAC about the dynamics of domestic violence and the extent of the risk so that an effective action plan can be developed. MARAC and IDAP Once an IDAP sentence has been ordered by the court the probation service should refer the victim to the MARAC co-ordinator for a mention at the next MARAC if the victim is assessed as high risk. The purpose of this mention is to make all agencies aware that the risk to the victim may escalate as the offender starts the programme. Contact details for the Women Safety Officer will be provided to the MARAC. `The MARAC has encouraged closer working between the IDVAs and the WSOs. Also, it is more likely that Offender Managers will provide enhanced levels of supervision for those perpetrators that are listed at MARAC. Women Safety Officer, London 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? It is crucial that WSOs are a part of the MARAC. You can feed information into the MARAC about the vulnerability of the victim and the abusive behaviour of the perpetrator and you can take information back to the IDAP/CDVP facilitator about additional risk factors and to the victim to create a more effective safety plan. You will develop better relationships with agencies at the meeting which will benefit your work with all survivors of domestic abuse. The MARAC representative is someone with managerial responsibility so that they are in a position to allocate resources. It may be that a WSO does not always attend MARAC ­ but that a Senior Probation Officer takes your information and brings back actions. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evaluated risk assessment tool or through professional judgement, in the case of WSOs SARA will assist you in assessing the risk. Other agencies will generally use the CAADA recommended risk assessment. It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring for cases that have been referred to the MARAC by other agencies? The types of information you should bring to the MARAC will include information on the perpetrator and any risk factors highlighted by SARA or other pre-programme measures such as mental health issues, escalation, and family issues. What actions can we offer? Any actions volunteered by the Women Safety Officer will be linked to ensuring the safety of the victim. Specific actions might include contacting the victim to feed back the results of the MARAC, keeping other agencies updated on the risks faced by the victim, or inputting into any risk meetings you have with IDAP facilitators. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems (i.e. OASys or Delius) for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case including the date. Contact WSO involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and update any safety plans. Completed by Women Safety Officer, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant Women Safety Officer. Passes on any actions to the relevant worker. Completed by WSO or MARAC rep WSO completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Survivor is referred to the Women Safety Officer. WSO completes Risk Identification Checklist (see attached) with the survivor or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by survivor based on SARA/OASys. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC representative. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and support according to policy. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ WSO fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the survivor and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. T "); array_files[71]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20VULNERABLE%20ADULT%20SERVICES%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","989K"," ","","","Vulnerable Adults Services ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (risk identification checklist, referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and any children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the provisions available locally is shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and Vulnerable Adults Services The MARAC will seek better protection for those who disclose domestic abuse to you and are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed through a co-ordinated effort from all agencies and organisations. The MARAC is part of a multi-agency strategy to tackle domestic violence in partnership with other agencies and therefore will help you to meet your objectives in relation to the protection of vulnerable adults. It should give you access to additional information to reinforce your safety planning process. `MARACs provide an excellent opportunity to consider additional options and opportunities to protect the victim from further abuse, or to reduce any existing risks. POVA Co-ordinator, South Wales 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? Thanks to the sharing of information between a range of agencies, the MARAC should achieve more successful outcomes in the most high risk DV cases than you would have achieved working with limited information on your own. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult Services MARAC rep will bring information to the meeting about the household and those within it and offer support around care needs and service provision. In exchange for this they will receive up-to-date information about the level of domestic violence in the household, details of victims who are unknown to Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult Services but are likely to need services, offers of support from specialist domestic violence organisations, and an enhanced package of support from each agency around the table. This will help to keep your clients and potential clients safer in their own homes and help you to identify those who are in priority need. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evaluated risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended risk identification checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 1 What information should my agency bring? The Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult Services MARAC rep (who would normally be someone with managerial responsibility) should bring any information regarding the household that might help assess the risk or inform a safety plan. This can include information on any current service provision and needs of the vulnerable adult and names and DOBs of those residing in the house or visiting the house (other family members, carers etc). You would also be able to share any capacity issues in relation to the victim and the perpetrator(s). You may have insights into the wishes of the vulnerable adult. Other relevant information would include any history of mental illness, any previous history of disclosed domestic violence and whether the perpetrator is the main carer. What actions can we offer? Actions will usually focus on safe accommodation where possible and offering advice to the MARAC on the availability of any service provision, to undertake an assessment of need. You will be able to advise on whether to refer the vulnerable adult through the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult process and/or whether it is applicable to seek the services of an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to the MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant. For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3 Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact practitioner involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Complete research form. Completed by practitioner, or by MARAC rep Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant practitioner. Passes on any actions to the practitioner so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by Practitioner Practitioner completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 4 Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to practitioner. At this point the practitioner will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions. Practitioner completes Risk Identification Checklist (see attached document) with the client or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes to MARAC rep to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. Refer case to IDVA or appropriate DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ Practitioner involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 5 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Gui "); array_files[72]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20SV%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Sexual Violence/ISVA Services ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a victim of domestic violence and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and any children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies MARACs and Sexual Violence Services It is estimated that sexual violence is prevalent in around 60% of domestic violence cases, so it is likely that you will be working with some high risk victims of domestic abuse. The MARAC will seek to protect those who disclose domestic abuse to you and are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed from further abuse through a coordinated response from all agencies. The ISVA/sexual violence workers role at MARAC is crucial, as a trained specialist whose goal is the support and safety needs of your clients you can be a central player in the action plan for those victims you are working with. The MARAC will therefore improve your relationship with those agencies involved, benefiting your work with all survivors of abuse, not only those at high risk. `The MARAC enables resources to be made available more efficiently and quickly, it is hugely beneficial to the client with their key areas of need. ISVA, Yorkshire 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC will allow you to represent the views of the survivors you are working with in your areas co-ordinated response and ensure that appropriate resources are offered by partner agencies. With your expertise on sexual violence, the up-to-date information you have on the wishes of the victim and their current situation, you can act as a bridge between the victim and the MARAC. If your resources are very limited, you may wish to agree for another agency to bring information on your behalf. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What information should my agency bring? The sexual violence service representative should bring any relevant information to the MARAC from the victim that would help the MARAC to create a safe and effective risk management plan. This could include information on barriers to accessing support for the victim, information relating to a serial perpetrator, unreported incidents of rape, any upcoming appointments and content of previous contacts. What actions can we offer? The actions offered by the sexual violence MARAC rep will usually reflect work you are already doing with the victim. Examples of actions could include flagging files so that you can recognise repeat cases of abuse, offering your services to victims and children if the service is appropriate and required, liaising with the IDVA or attending court with the victim. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act, the Human Rights Act and Caldicott Guidelines. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact support worker involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by ISVA or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant support workers and passes on any actions to the support worker so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by ISVA ISVA completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic or sexual abuse is made to support worker. At this point support worker will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions. Support worker completes Risk Identification Checklist (attached) with the client or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC representative to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. Refer case to IDVA or appropriate DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ support worker fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. Domestic abuse c "); array_files[73]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20SDVC%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","959K"," ","","","Specialist Domestic Violence Services ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and any children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and Specialist Domestic Violence Services The MARAC will seek to protect those who disclose domestic abuse to you and are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed from further abuse through a co-ordinated response from all agencies. As a specialist in domestic violence you are in a unique position of being able to offer expert advice to the MARAC about the dynamics of domestic violence and how to safety plan and offer specialised support for the survivor `the MARAC has resulted in other agencies taking domestic violence more seriously and has led to a greater understanding about the dynamics of domestic violence generally rather than just how it impacts on their particular role or organisation. Refuge Manager, North West 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? By attending the MARAC you will help ensure that the response to domestic violence from local statutory and voluntary agencies is safe and focussed on the needs of the survivor. You will develop better relationships with those agencies which will benefit your work with all survivors of domestic abuse. The MARAC representative is someone with managerial responsibility so that they are in a position to allocate resources. If your organisation cannot resource regular attendance at MARAC you will need to agree with another attendee such as the IDVA service to bring your information. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring? The domestic violence services representative should bring any information regarding the survivor that might help to assess the risk to the survivor and children or inform a safety plan. This might include information around the impact of abuse on the survivor, extent of the abuse, and disclosures relating to risk. The survivor might disclose relevant information to their refuge worker that would help the MARAC develop a safer and more effective action plan. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What actions can we offer? Any actions volunteered by the domestic violence services representative should be linked to ensuring the safety of the survivor. Specific actions might include contacting the victim to feed back the results of the MARAC, keeping other agencies updated on the risks faced by the survivor, or providing safe accommodation. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact refuge/outreach workers involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and update any safety plans. Completed by refuge/outreach worker, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant refuge/outreach workers. Passes on any actions to the relevant worker. Completed by refuge/ outreach worker Refuge/outreach worker completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Survivor self refers or is referred to the domestic violence service. Refuge/outreach worker completes Risk Identification Checklist (attached) with the survivor or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by survivor. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and support according to service policy. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ refuge/outreach worker fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the survivor and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. Domestic abuse can take many forms but it is usually perpetrated by men towards women in an intimate relationship such as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. This checklist can also used for lesbian, gay, bisexual relationships and for situations of `honour-based violence or family violence. Domestic abuse can include physi "); array_files[74]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20PROBATION%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Probation ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. You may be familiar with the term `MARAC from your own risk management process. A domestic violence MARAC differs in that it focuses on the protection of the victim. The process is being rolled out nationally and the meeting is chaired by the police with an independent MARAC co-ordinator. MARACs and Probation The MARAC seeks to protect those who are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed from further abuse through a co-ordinated response from all agencies. Clearly, part of this response relates to the management of the perpetrator. The information shared at the MARAC by different agencies is crucial information to have when drawing up the safest and most effective risk management plan for the offender both in terms of the PSR and subsequent licence conditions. Referrals are made via the co-ordinator and will require the referrers attendance with a summary of the case and reason for referral. `We get invaluable information at MARAC particularly whether someone is keeping the terms of a sentence especially in relation to residency, prohibited acts or an exclusion order. Senior Probation Officer, North Wales 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC gives you an opportunity to reinforce your management of offenders by the provision of multi-agency information sharing and action planning. Bringing information about the risks posed by the offender will allow the MARAC to generate a safer and more effective safety plan for the victim. In exchange for sharing this information you will get a fuller picture of the history and current pattern of abuse and what measures would best protect the victim and the public. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring? The probation MARAC rep should bring any information regarding the offender that might help assess the risk or inform a safety plan. This can include information on the offenders current state of mind, their patterns of offending, criminal history, licence conditions and attendance on an IDAP programme. It might include practical information about supervision and courses undertaken. The probation MARAC rep will also provide a link between MAPPA and MARAC. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What actions can we offer? Actions will focus on managing the risks posed by the perpetrator or assisting other agencies to access the victim. The types of actions the probation rep might consider include: using information gained at the MARAC when recommending license conditions or in a pre-sentence report, co-ordinating with specialist domestic violence services when making appointments or referring cases to MAPPA. Under the Criminal Justice Act 2005 requirements can be imposed as part of a Community Order at either pre sentence stage or as an application to amend the Order post sentence such as curfew, exclusion requirements, residency and prohibited activity. What are the legal grounds for sharing information? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk. All information is shared under the proviso that it is nondisclosable to the perpetrator under any circumstances. Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client depends on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all names, addresses, DOBs you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact probation officers involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by Probation officer, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant probation officers. Passes on any actions to the probation officer. Completed by Probation officer Probation officer completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to probation officer/women safety officer. The officer will check with areas domestic violence policy and complete any appropriate actions, including refer ring to women safety worker if appropriate. Probation officer/women safety worker completes risk identification checklist (attached) with the client or makes a professional judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC representative to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep and refer case to appropriate domestic violence service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ probation officer involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC representative will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions "); array_files[75]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20POLICE%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Domestic Abuse Police Officer ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (multi-agency Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and the police In your role as a police officer, you are dealing with the emergency response to domestic violence and its follow up investigation and support. Your MARAC should represent an important additional resource for you. You will be able to work closely with a range of agencies, including your IDVA service, to help ensure that an effective safety plan is implemented. 1. Frequently asked questions What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended multi-agency Risk Identification Checklist. Please be advised that a more extensive ACPO endorsed version is available to all forces). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. This may include cases of extended family violence including so-called `honour based violence. You will play a part in identifying cases that meet the MARAC threshold. What information should my agency bring? The information brought to the MARAC from the police should cover the risks to the victim, children and the perpetrator. You will need to research your recent involvement with every case, provide up to date intelligence about the family including bail conditions. You would also inform your partner agencies on the results of PNC checks to identify previous convictions, warning markers and impending prosecutions. It will be important to research any child protection issues known to the police. What actions should we take before the MARAC? For cases that have come to your attention before the MARAC you should implement any actions you would undertake for any other high risk victim of domestic abuse. This might include target hardening, address/occurrence markers and panic alarms. You will follow your local policy in this regard, and the normal links need to be made in relation to child protection, MAPPA and POVA. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting What actions can we offer at the MARAC? Actions offered by the domestic abuse unit/public protection unit will focus on victim safety and the management of the perpetrator. Your role will frequently include assisting other agencies to offer support to the family safely. This could include going on joint visits with health visitors/IDVAs etc, investigating the offences discussed at MARAC if appropriate and safe to do so, co-ordinating home watch/cocoon watch, prioritizing arrest, or making a referral to the child abuse team. Finally, you will be expected to provide intelligence packages to the relevant officers. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to the MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk. Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting Researching for the MARAC Local practice may differ according to policy and organisational structure. This is an outline of the research process for MARAC for a non-police referral. It is assumed that you would also carry out full research on a police referral to MARAC. Equally other agencies will carry out a similar research process. All cells in white should be completed by the officer who attends the MARAC. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator and children, including any on the agenda. Research database and files to get up to date information. Complete any appropriate actions ahead of MARAC. Note that you should check with the referring agency about safety issues if the case is not known to the police. Completed by Officer involved in the case, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative from unit attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto systems and contacts relevant officers; passes on any actions to officers to make your response to that family as safe and supportive as possible. Completed by Officer involved in the case Officer completes actions and lets MARAC co-ordinator know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Police receive 999 call or other referral of domestic abuse. Attending officer completes risk assessment tool* and makes judgement on risk. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to supervising officer to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC co-ordinator. Refer case to IDVA or appropriate DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC Your MARAC representative prepares the case summary and completes relevant research on the case for the meeting. MARAC MEETING At the meeting information is shared between all agencies and a safety plan agreed. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. * You will be aware of the CAADA DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and `Honour-Based Violence) Risk Tool, which was endorsed by ACPO in January 2009 for use by all forces. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence Enclosed in this Toolkit is a CAADA multi-agency version of the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence. Please be advised that an ACPO endorsed version of this checklist is available to all forces from January 2009. The two models are completely aligned and are based on the same analysis and approach. However, there are practical differences in the responsibility held by police officers and the risk tool for police is more extensive covering a full "); array_files[76]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20MH%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","959K"," ","","","Mental Health Services ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and Mental Health Services As we know up to 20% of female mental health service users will be experiencing current abuse and 50 ­ 60% will have experienced abuse in the past.1 The MARAC will help you ensure that those who disclose domestic abuse to you and are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed are better protected from further abuse by a coordinated effort from all agencies and organisations. It will also help your work by giving you up to date information from other agencies about your clients situation. `The MARAC is crucial in aiding and informing the risk assessment, and flagging areas so that mental health professionals ask pertinent questions, Crisis Manager, South West. 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC will normally achieve more successful outcomes in high risk domestic violence cases than you would have achieved working with limited information on your own. Recognising the impact of domestic violence on your service users, whether they are the perpetrator, victim or children, will make your services more effective and safe. Representation from mental health will assist the MARAC by bringing expertise on the impact of mental health issues, and how best to support those involved. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. 1 Mainstreaming Gender and Womens Mental health: Implementation Guidance (London: Department of Health) 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What information should my agency bring? The MARAC rep from mental health (normally someone with managerial responsibilities) should bring any relevant information relating to the safety of the victim/children and the risk management of the perpetrator. This could include details around what services the victim/perpetrator/children are receiving, whether your agency has capacity to take on service users if there is a need, and information on the history of mental health issues. What actions can we offer? The actions generally volunteered by mental health services are simple actions such as recognising repeat cases of abuse (by flagging files if possible), and offering your services to victims/perpetrators and children if the service is appropriate and required. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact mental health practitioner involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by practitioner, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant mental health practitioner. Passes on any actions to the mental health practitioner so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by practitioner Mental health practitioner completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to mental health practitioner by victim/perpetrator(s)/children. At this point mental health practitioner will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions, including referring to IDVA or specialist DV service. If mental health practitioner is working with the victim they should complete a Risk Identification Checklist (attached) with the client or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC rep to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. Refer case to IDVA or appropriate DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ mental health practitioner involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to thevictim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the que "); array_files[77]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20MARAC%20Representative%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","2035K"," ","","","The MARAC Representatives Toolkit Contents 1. What is the toolkit for? What is in it? 2. What are the aims of MARAC? 3. How CAADA can support your work at MARAC 4. Flowcharts: the MARAC Process and Common Pitfalls 5. Step by Step Guide to the Role of the MARAC Representative 6. The role of the IDVA at MARAC 7. Appendices: a. CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist 2009 b. MARAC Referral Form c. MARAC Research Form 1 2 2 3-4 5-9 10 11 12-19 20 21 22-23 24-32 d. Information Sharing Without Consent Form e. Action Planning Guidance by Agency What is the toolkit for? This toolkit is designed to be a guide for you to clarify your role as a MARAC representative on behalf of your agency and as a quick and easy reference tool, particularly when you need to trouble shoot practical issues at your MARAC to ensure it focuses on the safety of victims. We hope it will help to make your work with the MARAC as productive as possible in terms of safeguarding victims and to make links between your MARAC work and your `day job. This is a generic toolkit aimed at every MARAC representative and focuses on the whole process of which the MARAC meeting is just a part. It is based on the evaluated model of MARACs that is supported by CAADA and the Home Office. If you have specific enquiries about your agencys role at MARAC please contact CAADA on marac@caada.org.uk or read the relevant Practitioner Toolkit which is available to download from our website at www.caada.org.uk. As a MARAC representative you are a very important link in the whole MARAC process and without your engagement the meeting will be much less effective in achieving its goals. What is in the toolkit? Flowcharts to highlight the key steps in running a sound MARAC and to outline where common pitfalls occur. Detailed analysis of each step to show your role within it and how this links in with other partner. Key documents that you will use at your MARAC: the updated risk identification checklist, the referral and research forms for MARAC and the sharing information without consent form. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA 2009. Please do not cite or lift text without CAADAs permission. Registered charity number 1108684. 2 What are the aims of the MARAC? There are four aims of MARAC - to safeguard adult victims, make links with other public protection arrangements in relation to children, perpetrators and vulnerable adults and to safeguard agency staff as well as to address the behaviour of the perpetrator. This is achieved by an information sharing and action planning process at MARAC. To make this work case management and specialist support, before, during and after the meeting, is normally provided by the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor. You should have an IDVA service in your region which will provide specialist support to high risk victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis and be skilled at working and co-ordinating the responses of different agencies. What is the support that CAADA can offer my MARAC? The process that we set out on page three of this booklet may not look exactly like the way the MARAC is working in your area. If this is the case, CAADA aims to offer support in a number of ways. Training: We provide a range of training aimed at all the key participants in MARAC including the Chair, Co-ordinator, Representatives and IDVAs. We also have developed a MARAC Champions training programme that equips local delegates to cascade training and information about the MARAC to front line practitioners. Help Desk: We run a help-desk which can be contacted at marac@caada.org.uk where we will attempt to answer any practical problems regarding the process, but cannot comment on individual cases. Practical Tools: In addition to the appendices to this document, we have created simple checklists to help you create sound information sharing and operating protocols. Data Collection: We also receive quarterly data from your MARAC Co-ordinator and analyse this in relation to the performance of your MARAC compared with others in your region and nationally. This is something that may be of relevance to you in your work and in communicating the value of MARAC to colleagues in your own agency. Cost Benefit Analysis: Equally, CAADA can provide a simple cost benefit analysis for your MARAC if you can provide us with the relevant information in relation to the nature of the cases that you are dealing with. Quality Assurance: We believe that it is important for victim safety that MARACs follow the evaluated model set out in this document. Thus the final part of our implementation package is Quality Assurance, which provides an independent assessment of your MARAC in relation to 11 good practice principles. It focuses heavily on the role of the different partners in the MARAC: the Chair, the IDVA, the Co-ordinator and all the representatives from different agencies and as part of this your views will be sought as to how your MARAC is operating. For more information about the MARAC Quality Assurance process please go to www.caada.org.uk. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA 2009. Please do not cite or lift text without CAADAs permission. Registered charity number 1108684. 3 MARAC Flowchart 1- The Steps to the Process Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA 2009. Please do not cite or lift text without CAADAs permission. Registered charity number 1108684. 4 MARAC Process 2-Some Common Pitfalls Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA 2009. Please do not cite or lift text without CAADAs permission. Registered charity number 1108684. 5 STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO THE REPRESENTATIVES ROLE You are probably already familiar with your organisations procedures for identifying cases involving domestic abuse. However, it may be the case that your colleagues within your agency are less familiar with the existence of MARAC and how they can use it to support victims who they identify. You may wish to use the CAADA Toolkit for your agency which is designed for frontline practitioners to explain the process and their role within it. There may also be a CAADA trained `Champion in your area who is equipped with the relevant training materials to be able to explain the process and address any practical concerns with colleagues. Your role is to make links with front line colleagues, or your in-house domestic abuse specialist so that they are able to contact you if a victim of domestic abuse is identified. Once you have identified someone as suffering domestic abuse, you then need to establish if they are a high risk victim. To do this we would suggest that you: a. Use the CAADA-DASH risk identification checklist and accompanying guidance notes which can be downloaded from www.caada.org.uk. The checklist includes recommendations on how to classify a case of high risk involving both your clinical/professional judgement and an actuarial measure which can help support this decision. b. You may feel less confident about completing the risk identification checklist within your own agency. We would encourage you to consider this, however there may be instances where it is appropriate to refer the case to your local IDVA service and ask them to work with the victim and to identify the level of risk. However, if you have not established whether the victim is high risk by use of the risk identification tool then you will need to have their consent in order to make this referral. c. We would recommend that you make links with the IDVA service and indeed perhaps keep some of their literature at your office so that you are able to explain their work briefly and give information to any victim who might want to contact them proactively. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA 2009. Please do not cite or lift text without CAADAs permission. Registered charity number 1108684. 6 There are clear benefits in all MARAC partners using the same risk identification tool and having common thresholds for referral into the meeting. The thresholds that are set out in our guidance we believe to be defensible in terms of information sharing legislation, however, you may find that the volume of cases in your area is so high that you need to review one or more of these criteria in order to maintain a manageable workload at your MARAC which we see as an average of no more than 20 cases per meeting. Your role is to establish the level of risk, either within your agency, or by making a referral to a domestic abuse specialist such as the IDVA. If you have completed the risk identification checklist and established that the victim is at high risk of harm, the next step is to refer the case to your local MARAC Co-ordinator. You may find it helpful to use the CAADA MARAC Referral Form which gives you an opportunity to outline the key features of the referral and allows the Coordinator to include these on the MARAC agenda which is then circulated to all representatives. It is important to establish at this stage whether the victim consents to have their information discussed at MARAC or whether you have to take the case forward without consent. We have also produced an Information Sharing Without Consent Form which you can use in order to come to a balanced and defensible decision as to whether to share information without the victims consent. Clearly, wherever possible, it is better to have the victims consent and your ability to explain to colleagues how the MARAC works and what it can offer will be instrumental in obtaining this. Your role is to complete the referral form and send it to your MARAC Co-ordinator. Typically eight days before the MARAC you will receive an agenda which has the names and other key information relating to the cases which will be discussed at the next meeting. This should include the name of the case that you referred and also the names that have been referred by other agencies. At this point you will need to research the information that your agency holds on each one of those case "); array_files[78]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20MARAC%20CHAIR%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","963K"," ","","","MARAC Chair ­ Toolkit for MARAC What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally is shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. The aim of the MARAC is to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of the victim ­ adults and any children. The initial evaluation of MARACs shows that over 40% of victims suffered no further abuse at the one year follow up stage. The early outcomes for more recently established MARACs show a 50% reduction in repeat incidents. How this toolkit can help This toolkit will give you the basic steps to make sure that your MARAC is effective, that responsibility for risk management is shared by all agencies, and that the meeting is run as efficiently as possible. This toolkit should be read in conjunction with the MARAC Representatives Toolkit which goes through the MARAC process in detail. The role of the MARAC chair Your aim as chair of the MARAC is to establish a process that addresses the safety of the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in your area in partnership with other agencies. In order to do this you need to have a MARAC which is as consistent, transparent and accountable as possible. CONSISTENCY: You will need to establish a consistent MARAC from the outset. This relates to: the attendance of partner agencies, the information that they bring to the meeting an ethos that actions are timed and completed as agreed within the meeting. TRANSPARENCY: It is important that all agencies at the MARAC are clear about their role and about the referral threshold for MARAC. You may get directly involved in establishing this at the outset and must use your judgement to ensure that the number of cases reviewed at each meeting is broadly consistent and at a manageable level. ACCOUNTABILITY: The key focus for the MARAC should obviously be the victim. Since they are not present at the meeting, you will need to identify someone who has brought information from the victim, where safe to do so, and identify the most appropriate person to inform the victim of any action plan or relevant information agreed at MARAC. This is most frequently the IDVA service, but can vary for individual cases. As chair you are not responsible for the actions of each attendee but equally an ethos of accountability and responsibility to partner agencies must be developed from the start. This relates to their attendance, to the completion of actions in particular and to the recording of data in relation to the MARAC. The MARAC is designed to take responsibility for addressing these high risk cases of domestic violence from one or two agencies and share it between all relevant agencies. Encouraging participation from all agencies is therefore a key task for the chair to help create a proactive safety plan where the risks and needs of victim, children and perpetrator are addressed by the MARAC appropriately. Measuring the outcomes of the MARAC will be a key tool for you to analyse the impact of the process. We believe that the most objective measure for this links to the volume of cases brought to the meeting and the number of cases who suffer a repeat incident of domestic abuse in the following twelve months. For more detail on the definition of repeat victimisation at MARAC please see chapter 3 of the MARAC Implementation Guide. 1. Frequently asked questions What is the threshold for MARAC? The MARAC meeting is only for high risk victims. It is up to your MARAC to agree a common risk threshold that can be used by all agencies and a common understanding of what constitutes an appropriate level of risk to warrant a referral to MARAC and where information can be shared between agencies in a way that is proportionate to the risks faced. This should reflect whether the case would benefit from the resources of all the agencies at the meeting, whether the level of risk is high enough to justify breaching confidentiality if necessary and whether you have the resources to manage the workload that will arise from your chosen risk level. We recommend that your MARAC should deal with the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. The police will have a relatively sophisticated risk assessment process. The CAADA recommended risk identification checklist gives an opportunity for other agencies to have a simple referral framework which is consistent with the evidence base that we have for risk in domestic violence cases. You will need to agree the specific criteria for your area. This should include professional judgement, and/or an actuarial level based on the number of `yes responses on the form, and/or escalation in terms of the number of callouts or attendances to that victim. We would be happy to give guidance on this. We would recommend that you do not hold `threshold meetings for MARAC. Apart from the obvious consequences in terms of resources, it can act as a barrier to multi-agency referrals and places a great responsibility on those responsible for selecting from a group of cases that have already been identified as high risk. Who should attend the MARAC? The criteria for attending MARAC should be that an agency can bring either information or offer actions for a case. The specific agency representative should be able to allocate resources on behalf of their agency. We do not recommend that individual case workers attend since this will inevitably add to the length of the meeting and the MARAC does not typically need this level of detail to make a judgement in a case. Ideally, the MARAC will have full representation from agencies representing services for the victim, perpetrator and children and that both the statutory and voluntary sectors are represented. The MARAC makes connections between fragmented systems such as criminal justice and health or childrens services. However, most MARACs begin the process without commitment from every agency. Our experience suggests that the outcomes from MARAC are clear relatively quickly and that this is the best way of encouraging a broader commitment. If you have particular problems with engaging an agency, CAADA would be happy to put you in touch with their `opposite number at another MARAC so that they can discuss the merits of attending. It can also help to review the names on the agenda with a non-attending agency to permit them to identify the overlap with their own work and the relevance of the MARAC to their own case load. How long should the MARAC spend `discussing a case? Evidence from the MARACs that are currently running around the country is that approximately 12-15 minutes is spent discussing each case. The speed of the process underlines the need for agencies to come well prepared with succinct, relevant information. Your skill as Chair will be to ensure that all agencies have an opportunity to be heard at the meeting. Action planning at MARAC We noted above the skill required to facilitate speedy and comprehensive information sharing. Skill is also required from the Chair in relation to the safety planning process. You will need to strike a balance between encouraging agencies to offer their actions, while ensuring that actions do fall to the most appropriate agency, not just the most enthusiastic! In the initial stages of MARAC, some agencies may not be familiar with the process (especially those from the voluntary sector) and so you will need to help them to feel equal partners in the work. It is important to stress the need for agencies to volunteer or offer their actions. As chair you are not as conversant with the actions that every agency can do as the agency itself. To ensure that actions are always completed, it is important that they are proactively offered by the agency in question. If actions are regularly not completed you may need to address this with the senior management of the agency concerned. List of Toolkits available from www.caada.org.uk If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. If you are a front line practitioner referring to MARAC these toolkits offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of your professional role. A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Co-ordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Agencies attending the MARAC will research for MARAC in different ways, but here is an outline of the process for most agencies. List of names to be discussed at MARAC sent to agencies by the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). MARAC rep for agency check all addresses they have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. MARAC rep for agency check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. MARAC rep to contact local practitioners involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by practitioner, or by MARAC rep Complete resear "); array_files[79]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20LGBT%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","962K"," ","","","Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) voluntary and community organisations ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and LGBT Services There are relatively few LGBT domestic abuse organisations in the UK and most local areas do not have services working specifically with LGBT people experiencing domestic abuse. The MARAC will seek to protect those who disclose domestic abuse to you and are at high risk from further abuse, through a co-ordinated response from all agencies. Representation of an LGBT voluntary or community organisation at MARAC will ensure this co-ordinated effort can be fully informed of the unique needs of LGBT people in terms of risk and appropriate interventions to increase their safety, health and well-being. ``Being able to refer to the MARAC was really important ­ it meant the support of other agencies in developing a safety plan. It was also a powerful message for my client; they realised other agencies would take their experiences seriously. Service manager, GBT domestic abuse organisation, Cardiff 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? While provision for LGBT people experiencing domestic abuse is improving, there remain a number of specific challenges and barriers to supporting LGBT survivors. Having a representative from an LGBT organisation will allow the high risk cases that you identify to get the same level of support as other victims, and will permit you to give expert input in relation to LGBT cases referred by generic agencies. You would only need to attend for cases involving LGBT individuals. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. This may include cases of extended family violence including so-called `honour based violence. Since LGBT victims are typically more reluctant to disclose domestic abuse, it may be that a greater percentage of your referrals meet the MARAC risk threshold.1 What information should my agency bring? As a representative from an LGBT voluntary or community service your knowledge of a victim and any children is invaluable to the MARAC; particularly where an individual is reluctant to disclose their experience to a generic 1 For example, an evaluation of gay men referred to the Dyn Project in Cardiff reported that 31% of referrals were classified as High or Very High Risk ­ to download this report visit the library of resources at www.caada.org.uk 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864 organisation because they are concerned about homo/bi/transphobia. You can also bring information relating to a unique need they may face that is associated with their sexual orientation or gender identity, (e.g. if their partner is telling them that no one will help because they are LGBT). What actions can we offer? Any actions volunteered by the LGBT representative should focus on safety for the survivor. Your organisation could offer support to a victim, either individually or in collaboration with another agency, both for clients that are already engaging with you and those who are not known to your organisation. With the appropriate training, you might also offer advice to those involved to resolve cases where there are counter-allegations (i.e. where both parties in an incident are reported to the police) or where another organisation has labelled a case as involving `mutual abuse. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864 Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact support workers involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by support worker, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information gathered at the MARAC into information systems/contacts relevant support workers. Passes on any actions to the support worker so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by support worker or MARAC rep Support worker completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864 Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to a support worker. Support worker completes Risk Identification Checklist (attached) or makes a clinical judgement of the level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC representative to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. If it does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC The support worker attending the MARAC fills out as much of the research form as possible (attached) and takes it to the meeting. When referring LGBT cases, there may be some specific concerns around confidentiality ­ by referring a victim to the MARAC their sexual orientation or gender will become known to othe "); array_files[80]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20IDVA%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","959K"," ","","","Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and IDVAs The MARAC will help you ensure that those high risk victims you support are better protected from further abuse by a co-ordinated effort from all agencies and organisations. The IDVAs role at MARAC is to represent the views of the victim at the meeting and to liaise where possible between the victim and partner agencies to ensure that the safety plan is indeed safe further; the IDVA will normally be responsible for the case management. The MARAC helps high risk victims access more resources locally, helps you build relationships with local agencies and impacts on the core of your work ­ safety planning with the victim. You may also want to refer to the new MARAC Representatives toolkit which goes through the MARAC process in more detail. `The MARAC provides valuable information which other agencies may have, which will assist to determine the true extent of risk to the victim and her children, ensuring a more effective safety plan. IDVA service manager, Derby 1. Frequently Asked Questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC will allow you to represent the views of the victim in your areas co-ordinated response and ensure that appropriate resources are offered by partner agencies. The kind of partnership working and efficient and effective information sharing at MARAC would not be achievable if it werent for the meeting, it is therefore crucial that you attend to give your expert opinion on domestic violence, share the up-to-date information you have, and act as a link between the victim and the MARAC agencies. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. This may include cases of extended family violence including so-called `honour based violence. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What information should my agency bring? The IDVA should bring any relevant information from the victim that would help the MARAC to create a safe and effective risk management plan. This could include information on level of risk, barriers to accessing support for the victim, wishes of the victim (for example wishing to be re-housed locally), any upcoming appointments and content of previous contacts. The victim will generally disclose more details around the abuse to the IDVA than to any other agency; this may present you with difficult decisions on disclosure where the wishes of your client might conflict with what may help assure their safety. It is therefore crucial that the IDVA attend to ensure the action plan is as safe as possible. What actions can we offer? The actions offered by the IDVA will usually reflect work you are already doing with the victim. This will involve supporting the victim through crisis, discussing options, supporting through criminal/civil process, assisting with housing options, risk assessing and safety planning with the victim and signposting on to other services. In addition you will be able to coordinate some actions with other agencies. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk. The principle that underpins MARAC is that the threshold of risk is so high that consent is not legally necessary from the victim to share info. In practice having the victims support for the process will almost always lead to a more successful outcome. Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you believe it is safe to do so, or whether it would put the victim or any other party at greater risk. It is good practice to contact the victim before the MARAC to gather information on what the current situation is and what the victim wants. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. If you have not already contacted the victim, have capacity, and it is safe to do so, contact each victim on agenda to offer IDVA support. Completed by IDVA involved, or by IDVA attending MARAC Complete research form with any relevant information. This can be done from the files or during contact with the victim if they are engaging with the service. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. Input any relevant information received onto information systems and feedback to IDVAs involved in case. Pass on any actions to the IDVA and communicate outcomes to victim. Completed by IDVA IDVA completes actions and lets MARAC Co-ordinator know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Case is referred to the IDVA service. IDVA contacts victim and completes Risk Identification Checklist (see attached) or Makes clinical judgement on risk, completes safety plan and any other actions necessary according to your projects policies. If risk level meets MARAC threshold discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and refer case to MARAC co-ordinator. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and review case management. Depending on local policy you may need to refer case on to appropriate DV organisations. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC IDVA involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting/passes to IDVA representative who will attend. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the IDVA rep who attended will feedback to the relevant IDVA who will then contact the victim, if safe, to talk through the outcome of the MARAC and complete any actions volunteered. Notify MARAC Co-ordinator once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©C "); array_files[81]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20HEALTH%20VISITOR%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of domestic abuse victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the provisions available locally is shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and the Primary Healthcare Team Identification of domestic abuse can fall largely to the Primary Healthcare Team as they are ideally placed to deal with cases of domestic abuse due to the ongoing relationship with the client. It is for these reasons that the BMA recommend routine enquiry for maternity services. The MARAC will seek better protection from further abuse for those victims who disclose domestic abuse to you and are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed. MARACs have been proven to reduce repeat victimisation through co-ordinating resources locally, therefore have improved the quality of life for some of the children that you work with. `For years and years we didnt have much to offer, except what felt like punishing women by going to social services, now women get a quick response which lets them know that someone is looking out for them Named Nurse (Safeguarding), Salford 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC will normally achieve more successful outcomes in high risk domestic violence cases than you would have achieved working with limited information on your own. Sharing the information you have about the risks to a patient will ensure the action plan drawn up by the MARAC is more likely to succeed. In exchange for this information you will receive a better service for your patients and any children involved from a range of agencies, and specialist support from domestic violence services. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring? The Primary Healthcare MARAC rep (normally someone with managerial responsibilities), should bring any relevant information to the MARAC about the family that will help assess the risk or inform a safety plan. This might include information about recent visits, any contact details, your professional opinion on general health and development, recent attitudes/behaviours of the family members and risk and possible protective factors in that family. Examples of protective factors can include whether or not Mum is accessing health services and who is providing support to the family. This information will also be useful when assessing the safety of practitioners going into the home. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1108684. What actions can we offer? Actions volunteered by the Primary Healthcare rep will usually focus on providing access to the victim for support services, and advising staff on whether home visits are appropriate. Practice nurses within GP surgeries are usually involved in well woman care and therefore are in a position to see female patients without the presence of family members or partners. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your patient will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1108684. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1108684. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency) Check all addresses listed for children and pregnant women whether they are on the agenda or not. Identify healthcare professional, GP and school for each child. Contact relevant professional. Completed by Health professional, or by MARAC rep Healthcare professional completes research form using records (including school files) and knowledge of family. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative feeds back to healthcare professional any relevant information shared by other agencies and any relevant actions so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by Health professional Healthcare professional completes actions and let MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1108684. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to healthcare professional. At this point healthcare professional will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions. Healthcare professional completes Risk Identification Checklist (attached) with the client or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC rep to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. MARAC rep or healthcare professional should then refer the case to IDVA or specialist DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ healthcare professional involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1108684. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalkin "); array_files[82]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20EDUCATION%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","994K"," ","","","Education - Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and Education The MARAC will give you a fuller picture of what is going on at home for the children who are not achieving and who need additional educational support. It will give a voice to the concerns of teachers and education welfare officers about a family in a multi-agency forum, ensuring that those who are at high risk are better protected from further abuse by a co-ordinated effort from all agencies and organisations. The MARAC will also give you the information needed to assess whether the homes that education welfare officers are visiting in your area are safe. `The MARACs are multi agency work at its best, they really get results. Senior Education Welfare Officer, Cardiff 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC is able to target resources at the most complex high risk domestic abuse cases. The education MARAC rep (normally someone with managerial responsibilities), will get valuable information at the meeting about what is happening at home for the child, this will enable you to target your services more efficiently. For example, remedies for a case of bad attendance at school might be effective if you have a better picture of the situation within the family. The education representative can also bring crucial information to the MARAC that the other agencies were not aware of, such as details of siblings. This can be particularly important in cases where so called `honour based violence is suspected. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring? Education can bring straightforward information about the children involved, schools attended, their attendance record, whether the child is achieving, who is collecting the child from school, and what, if any, concerns the teachers have. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What actions can we offer? Actions the MARAC representative might consider would include offering additional support to the child and practical support to the family, for example approving an application from the child for a bus pass from outside the catchment area. Offering the school as a safe place to see those involved in the case is often a realistic action, or ensuring that relevant staff are aware that the father of a family has bail conditions not to come near the school. What are the legal grounds for sharing information? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client depends on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses listed for victim, perpetrator and children, and note whether the children are attending schools in your area. Check information systems for up-to-date information. Contact schools for up-to-date information about children involved if necessary. Complete research form using records and information from professionals/EWO involved in the case. Put flag on file if safe to do so noting that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares information and agrees actions. Feed back to professional/EWO any relevant information shared by other agencies and any relevant actions so they you can make sure their response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be and that they consult you if any further incident arises. Completed by School/EWO or MARAC rep Feed back to MARAC co-ordinator when actions have been completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on making a referral to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Referrals from Education into the MARAC are likely to be less frequent than for some other agencies who are working closely with the adult victim. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to teacher/education welfare officer. At this point they will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions including referring case to local DV services/childrens services. Teacher/EWO refers on to their MARAC rep to consider whether MARAC referral is appropriate given the level of risk disclosed (this can be done using the Risk Identification Checklist attached). If risk level meets MARAC threshold refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC co-ordinator. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep fills out as much of the research form as possible and takes it to the meeting, or the EWO fills it out and passes it to the MARAC rep. Other agencies do the same and information is shared at the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as introducing the victim to the IDVA. Notify your representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional c "); array_files[83]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20DAT%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Drug and Alcohol Services - Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and Drug and Alcohol Services The MARAC seeks to protect those who are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed from further abuse through a co-ordinated response from all agencies. It will also help you to work with clients that might not be cooperating or engaging with you by bringing in other agencies, such as specialist domestic abuse service, to work with the issues around domestic abuse and give you guidance on the safest way to support that client. ``Our clients that are MARACed get an enhanced package of `support from a variety of agencies which can result in behavioural and life changes and break the cycle of re-offending, violence and victimisation. Drug service manager, Blackpool 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? There is a high degree of overlap between the cases reviewed at MARAC and those that are known to Drug and Alcohol Services. The ability to share information and offer services that address all aspects of a victim or perpetrators complex needs is more likely to result in a successful outcome. Representation from the drug and alcohol service will help other agencies at the MARAC by providing information on the impact of substance misuse and how to support those involved. Other agencies attending the MARAC will benefit from the expertise of drug and alcohol services with regards to ensuring the safety of clients with substance misuse issues. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring? The MARAC representative from drug and alcohol services should bring any information relating to the safety of the victim/children and the risk management of the perpetrator(s). This could include details on victim, perpetrator(s), or childrens drug use so that the MARAC can appropriately support and safety plan. You might also bring information on whether the client is receiving your support, including if they are participating on a programme. If they are not known to your service you might offer advice about how best to access services locally. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What actions can we offer? Possible actions offered by the drug and alcohol services will focus on prioritising the provision of services, and liaising with other agencies at MARAC including the IDVA/specialist DV service. Making sure that both the perpetrator and victim have contacts or prescribing appointments at different times from each other (if safe to do so) would be an example of an action the representative could offer. Also you might liaise with other agencies over appointment times so that they can make contact safely with the victim. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to the MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk. Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx eight days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check records for engagement with victim, perpetrator and children Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact support workers if necessary. Completed by support worker, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant support workers. Passes on any actions to the support worker so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by support worker Support worker completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to a drug and alcohol worker. Support worker completes Risk Identification Checklist (attached) or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC rep to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. Refer case to IDVA or appropriate DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/support worker involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on t "); array_files[84]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20COORDINATOR%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","961K"," ","","","MARAC Co-ordinator/Administrator ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The aim of the MARAC is to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of domestic abuse victims, both adults and their children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the provisions available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. How this toolkit can help This toolkit will give you the basic steps to make sure that your MARAC is effective, that responsibility for risk management is shared by all agencies, and that the meeting is run as efficiently as possible. You may also want to refer to the new MARAC Representatives toolkit which goes through the MARAC process in more detail. I found this role a challenge but the rewards far outweighed this. I played a key part in bringing different agencies onboard. This enabled an appropriate, comprehensive safety plan for the victims and families of high risk domestic violence. MARAC Coordinator, Staffordshire The role of the MARAC Coordinator COMMUNICATION: Your role is crucial in establishing effective communication between all parties who attend MARAC. You may need to give appropriate information to partner agencies about the MARAC process. You will also need to work with the Chair to identify agency gaps within the MARAC and continue to establish links with these agencies to enable full participation at the MARAC. ADMINISTRATION: You may need to develop new forms and organise ways of sending information, for example by secure email. You will need to access police systems and databases to ensure that the MARAC list is as accurate as possible before distribution. The MARAC list needs to be circulated at least eight days before the meeting. Appropriate and accurate minutes need to be produced and distributed as soon as possible after the MARAC. All forms are available on the CAADA website (www.caada.org.uk) to download if required. OUTCOMES: It is important to record your MARAC data. This will allow you to feedback and monitor how effective your MARAC is. You can then inform partner agencies of the impact that this coordinated response is having. Being able to highlight statistics may help with future funding for further resources and identify if there are particular communities that are not currently engaging with any service providers. 1. Frequently asked questions What cases are discussed? Your MARAC Operating Protocol should have set criteria for what constitutes an appropriate threshold for referring a case to MARAC. It is the referring agencys responsibility to identify the level of risk and forward the cases to you. The cases can be referred by any agency as long as they meet the threshold for discussion at MARAC. How do I send out the information for the meeting? You will need to identify which agencies have a secure email system. If you have a Data Protection Officer, they will be able to guide you on best practice. You may need to send the documents by registered post until you have a secure system in place. What information should I include on the MARAC list? You will need to include all names, dates of birth and addresses of victim, children and perpetrator. This information needs to be as accurate as possible with any alias names included. Your attending agencies will be 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. relying on this accuracy to check their own records prior to the MARAC. You will also need to ensure a safe contact number is forwarded to the IDVA so the victim can be contacted prior to the MARAC. How will I know if an action has been agreed? Sometimes the pace of MARAC is fast and it can be difficult to follow which actions are definitely agreed and what precisely is meant. It can be helpful for the Chair and other agency attendees if you summarise the actions after each case, highlighting who is responsible for the action, and by when it will be completed. How will I know if an action has been completed? Good communication between you and the attending agencies is essential. They will need to keep you updated via email or telephone concerning the completion of actions. It is important that you are aware of incomplete actions and record them on the agenda for the next meeting. The Chair can then highlight outstanding actions before the new cases are discussed. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to the MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk. Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether agencies discuss the MARAC with the victim will depend on whether they referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Your role in the MARAC process Practice may differ in your area according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the coordinators administrative role for the MARAC assuming that they are based in a police station. Statutory and voluntary agencies complete referral form and Risk Identification Checklist (see attached) and forward it to you having already established that they meet MARAC threshold. Search databases and create MARAC list including names/addresses and dates of birth of victim, children and perpetrator. Distribute MARAC list and previous MARAC minutes at least eight days before the MARAC using secure email or registered post. Create agenda for MARAC including apologies from agencies unable to attend. Ensure that any agency that is not attending provides you with the research or a report from their organisation before the MARAC on each case where they hold information which is relevant to share. This can either be read out by you or the Chair. Provide spare copies of MARAC list /agenda for attendees. Help the Chair to identify who is in attendance with the smallest number of cases and rearrange order of cases if necessary to accommodate this. You may be required to take the minutes of the meeting. Ensure that you record the difference between fact and opinion. You will need to summarise the actions after each case. After the meeting distribute the actions to any relevant colleagues and any agency who was not in attendance but may have an action. Facilitate joint visits by providing contact details for agencies. Feedback any information from the MARAC to the police that may need actioning immediately. Completed by Co- ordinator Complete minutes as soon as possible and distribute to all attendees via secure methods. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Although you will not directly be referring cases into the MARAC, the referral process below will be a helpful overview for you in your role as coordinator. Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to a practitioner b "); array_files[85]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20CAFCASS%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Cafcass ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (risk indicator checklist, referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. You may be familiar with the term `MARAC from your own risk management process. A domestic violence MARAC differs in that it focuses on the protection of the domestic abuse victim. The process is being rolled out nationally and the meeting is chaired by the police with an independent MARAC co-ordinator. MARACs and Cafcass The MARAC seeks to protect those who are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed from further abuse through a co-ordinated response from all agencies. Participation in MARAC will give you additional information about the domestic circumstances of children you represent in both private and public law cases. It can give a voice to the concerns of Cafcass officers about a family in a multi-agency forum, ensuring that those who are at high risk are better protected from further abuse by a co-ordinated effort from all agencies and organisations. `For too long, children in private law proceedings have been isolated from the services to which they have a right to promote their safety and well being. The MARAC offers Cafcass a way to bridge this gap. Cafcass Officer, London 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? The MARAC is able to target resources at the high risk domestic abuse cases. The Cafcass MARAC representative (normally a service manager), will get valuable information at the meeting about what is happening at home for the child, this will enable you to represent the interests of the child more effectively in court proceedings. Equally your knowledge of individuals from previous proceedings might be relevant in cases where they have formed new partnerships or where it relates to siblings. This can be particularly important in cases where `honour based violence is suspected. You may work in an area where you are required to attend more than one MARAC, in order to manage your workload you may wish to agree with the chair that you attend only for cases where you have either a current or a historic knowledge of the victims concerned. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% in terms of risk profile, the volume of cases will therefore vary according to the local population and numbers of very high risk. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What information should my agency bring? The Cafcass MARAC rep should bring any relevant information regarding the family that might help assess the risk or inform a safety plan. This can include information to the current state of court proceedings or accurate terms relating to residence and contact arrangements. This can be shared in the `furtherance of child protection without the prior consent of the court. What actions can we offer? Actions will focus on using the information gained at MARAC to inform court proceedings so that contact and residence arrangements are genuinely safe for both child and non-abusive parent. Discretion will need to be exercised to ensure that information shared with the court does not put the victim at further risk. An example of this might be the fact that a mother had consented for her information to be shared at MARAC. What are the legal grounds for sharing information? Disclosures to the MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For information about the family court disclosure rules in relation to individual cases, contact Cafcass Legal. For more general information around disclosure of information at MARAC for all agencies see the FAQs document available at www.caada.org.uk. Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client depends on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. As well as this document, other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: A&E Adult Services B&ME Services Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC co-ordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all names,addresses, DOBs you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact Cafcass officers involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by Cafcass officer, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information, and describes actions that can be taken within the Cafcass remit. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant Cafcass officers. Passes on any actions to the Cafcass officer. Completed by Cafcass officer Cafcass officer completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a Private Law case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. It is assumed that public law cases would be referred by the local authority representative at MARAC. Disclosure of domestic abuse by a victim with children is made to Cafcass officer. The officer will check with Cafcasss Safeguarding Framework and complete any appropriate actions. Cafcass officer completes risk identification checklist (see attached document) with the client or makes a professional judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to the MARAC rep to do so. They will review whether the referral would be in the `furtherance of child protection. If risk level meets MARAC threshold refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions in line with Cafcass Safeguarding Framework. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ Cafcass officer involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to "); array_files[86]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20B&ME%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Black and Minority Ethnic Services (B&ME) ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (risk identification checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and any children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies MARACs and Black and Minority Ethnic Services The MARAC can help the survivors you work with get a better response by coordinating the resources in your area. By getting involved in the process you will make sure that this co-ordinated effort is fully informed of the unique needs of B&ME survivors in terms of risk and appropriate interventions to increase their safety, health and wellbeing. 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? You will appreciate some of the complexities and cultural issues that might apply in cases of both intimate partner violence and extended family violence. Some of these might be less clear to the generic agencies who attend MARAC. Your input can be important in relation not only to the cases that you know individually, but also others where survivors or perpetrators from minority communities are involved. If you do not have the resources to attend MARAC regularly, you may wish to work with another agency such as the IDVA to take your information to the meeting. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached for CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. This may include cases of extended family violence including so-called `honour based violence. What information should my agency bring? If you have worked directly with a survivor or their children, you should consider sharing information about the nature of the abuse suffered if this is not known to other agencies, the support and services that you have offered such as refuge accommodation and insights into any wider cultural implications of addressing the survivors safety. You may have up to date information on someones immigration status or history of abuse to siblings, especially in cases of `honour based violence. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What actions can we offer? You may be able to offer support services to a survivor including refuge accommodation, links to survivor networks as well as practical help with translation where English is not the first language of the survivor. You will be able to guide partner agencies in designing a safety plan that is appropriate. What are the legal grounds for sharing information where consent is not given? Disclosures to the MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act. Information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the risks faced by the survivor and other named individuals in the household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the survivor need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your client will depend on whether you referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: Accident and Emergency Adult Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator approx 8 days prior to the meeting (the MARAC coordinator usually sits within the police, or whichever agency is the lead agency). Check all addresses you have for victim, perpetrator(s) and children, including any on the agenda. Check information systems for up-to-date information and flag files as MARAC case with date. Contact support worker involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by support worker, or by MARAC rep Complete research form. Put flag on file if not already done or make a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares relevant information and agrees actions. MARAC representative inputs any relevant information onto information systems/contacts relevant support workers. Passes on any actions to the support worker so that you can make sure your response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be. Completed by support worker Support worker completes actions and lets MARAC rep know when completed. 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Referring a case to the MARAC Policies on referring to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to support worker. At this point support worker will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions. Support worker completes risk identification checklist (attached to this Toolkit) with the client or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by client or passes up to MARAC rep to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold (i.e. high risk) refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. Refer case to IDVA or appropriate DV service. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ support worker fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as going on a joint visit. Notify MARAC representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) & Quick Start Guidance for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. Domestic abuse can take many forms but it is usually perpetrated by men towards women in an intimate relationship such as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. This checklist can also used for lesbian, gay, bisexual relationships and for situations of `honour-bas "); array_files[87]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/TOOLKIT%20-%20A&E%20final%20version%2009.pdf","2009-08-18","960K"," ","","","Accident & Emergency ­ Toolkit for MARAC Contents: 1. Frequently asked questions 2. Flowcharts steps to the MARAC process, tracking the research and referral processes for MARAC 3. Forms from CAADA (Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), referral and research forms) What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)? The main aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a domestic abuse victim and to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of other victims, both adults and any children. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies. MARACs and health professionals Health professionals are often in a good position to identify cases of domestic abuse, 12% of A&E attendances are due to domestic violence and 30% of domestic abuse commences during pregnancy. The MARAC seeks to protect those patients who are at high risk of being killed or seriously injured from further abuse through a co-ordinated effort from all agencies and organisations. The MARAC will also highlight cases that might require a particular response or where issues of staff safety are important. MARACs have been proven to reduce repeat victimisation, therefore directly improving the quality of life for the patients and children that you work with. `the MARAC has huge benefits; we see things here all the time we are very concerned about. Previously we would have hesitated before calling the police. Now we can refer direct to MARAC Lead Nurse for Domestic Abuse, South Wales 1. Frequently asked questions Why does a representative from my agency attend? Matching the information you have about the risks to a patient with information known to other agencies will help to ensure that the action plan drawn up by the MARAC is more likely to succeed. Your representative will also be best placed to know what actions you can offer within the safety plan and what might need to be put in place to address patient and staff safety. What cases are discussed? The highest risk cases of domestic abuse are discussed in your MARAC. These will have been identified by a practitioner from any agency using an evidence based risk assessment tool (see attached document for a CAADA recommended Risk Identification Checklist). It is recommended that the MARAC should initially see the top 10% of cases in your area in terms of risk profile. What information should my agency bring? The A&E rep should bring relevant and basic details on the patient and the services they required that might relate to the domestic abuse. This could include names, DOBs, dates of attendances at A&E, summary of injuries sustained, whether domestic violence was disclosed, who attended and what relevant services have been accessed. This can highlight the severity of abuse to other agencies. 1 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. What actions can we offer? Actions volunteered by the A&E rep will frequently focus on ensuring that the response to the patient in future reflects the fact that they are a high risk victim of domestic violence and that any further incidents would prompt an enquiry into their cause and a possible referral to the appropriate person/agency. For example, it would be important to see the patient alone at appointments to do this safely and where possible to `flag files to highlight that the case has been referred to MARAC. What are the legal grounds for sharing information? Disclosures to MARAC are made under the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act and Caldicott Guidelines. Relevant information can be shared when it is necessary to prevent a crime, protect the health and/or safety of the victim and/or the rights and freedoms of those who are victims of violence and/or their children. It must be proportionate to the level of risk of harm to a named individual or known household. For further information see the FAQs on disclosure of information at MARAC available at www.caada.org.uk Does the victim need to know they are being discussed at MARAC? Whether you discuss the MARAC with your patient depends on who referred the case to MARAC. IF YOU ARE THE REFERRING AGENCY: It is good practice to discuss the referral with the victim if it is safe to do so. You will need to use your professional judgement to decide whether it is safe. IF YOU ARE NOT THE REFERRING AGENCY: You should check with the referring agency before contacting your client to gather relevant information to ensure it is safe to do so. Please see the back page of this toolkit for an easy to use contact list where details of your local MARAC representatives can be documented. Other MARAC toolkits and resources If you or someone from your agency attends the MARAC meeting, you can download a MARAC Representatives Toolkit from www.caada.org.uk. This essential document troubleshoots practical issues around the whole MARAC process. Other frontline Practitioner Toolkits are also available from www.caada.org.uk. These offer a practical introduction to MARAC within the context of a professional role. Please feel free to signpost colleagues and other agency staff to these toolkits where relevant: Independent Domestic Violence Advisors LGBT Services MARAC Chair MARAC Coordinator Mental Health Services Police Officer Probation Sexual Violence Services Specialist Domestic Violence Services Adult Services B&ME Services Cafcass Children and Young Peoples Services Drug and Alcohol Services Education Health Visitors, School Nurses and Community Midwives Housing/Homelessness For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the new MARAC Guide 2009 ­ From Principles to Practice can be ordered by contacting marac@caada.org.uk. This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 10 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. 2 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 2. Flowcharts Steps to the MARAC Process 3 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Researching for the MARAC Practice in your agency will differ according to local policy and organisational structure, but below is an outline of the research process for MARAC. All the cells in white should be completed by your MARAC representative. List of names to be discussed at MARAC received from the MARAC co-ordinator (Approx 8 days prior to the meeting). Check all addresses, DOBs and names listed for children and patients plus any additional you have in your records. Contact any relevant healthcare professionals who were involved in the attendance. Contact healthcare professionals involved if necessary to get up-to-date info and complete any appropriate actions in line with domestic violence policy. Completed by healthcare professional, or by MARAC rep Complete research form using records and information from healthcare professional. Put flag on file if safe to do so making a note that MARAC took place, the date, and who to contact with queries. MARAC representative attends MARAC, shares information and agrees actions. Feed back to healthcare professional any relevant information shared by other agencies and any relevant actions so they you can make sure their response to that family is as safe and supportive as it can be and that they consult you if any further incident arises. Completed by healthcare professional or MARAC rep Feed back to MARAC co-ordinator when actions have been completed. Referring a case to the MARAC 4 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. Policies on making a referral to your particular MARAC will be available locally but here is an outline of the process. Disclosure of domestic abuse is made to healthcare professional. At this point healthcare professional will check with domestic violence policy and complete appropriate actions. Healthcare professional completes Risk Identification Checklist (see attached document) with the patient or makes a clinical judgement of level of risk faced by patient or passes up to MARAC rep to do so. If risk level meets MARAC threshold refer to manager to discuss safety options to put in place now. Fill out referral form (attached) and hand to MARAC rep. If does not meet the threshold: continue to complete appropriate actions and refer to local specialist domestic abuse services. END REFERRAL MADE TO MARAC MARAC rep/ healthcare professional involved fills out as much of the research form (attached) as possible and takes it to the meeting. Other agencies do the same and information is shared at the meeting. MARAC MEETING Following the MARAC meeting the MARAC rep will inform you of any information that was shared which could have an impact on your response to the victim/perpetrator(s). Also you might have been assigned actions to help improve the safety of the victim and any children, such as introducing the patient to the IDVA. Notify your representative once those actions are completed. 5 Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk Tel 0117 317 8750 Fax 0117 376 3364 ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Registered charity number 1106864. 3. Forms CAADA Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) & Quick Start Guidance for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of dom "); array_files[88]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/sarcs-getting-started.pdf","2009-08-18","148K"," Sexual Assault Referral Centres","","","SEXUAL ASSAULT REFERRAL CENTRES (SARCs) GETTING STARTED GUIDE ACPO RAPE WORKING GROUP Sexual Assault Referral Centres `Getting Started This paper should be read in conjunction with the joint HMCPSI/HMIC Thematic Inspection on Rape Investigation (2002) Page 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Introduction History Different Concepts Funding Facilities Staffing Training Communication Drugs and Medical Supplies Policies and Procedures Audit and Quality 3 3 4 7 7 11 13 14 14 15 16 Appendices: 1. 2. 3. Examples of Staffing Levels Access to Further Information Contact Details 18 19 20 2 ACPO RAPE WORKING GROUP 1. Introduction 1.1 This paper provides advice and guidance on developing a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). It will detail the background and history of SARCs and give guidance on the different concepts. The information contained in this document has been collated from the dedicated staff connected with existing referral centres. Special thanks go to Dr Jan Welch and Detective Chief Superintendent David Gee whose input into this document has been invaluable. There are two imperatives to service provision given by a SARC following sexual assault: Forensic examination so that evidence can be collected for use in the investigation of crime; and Care of the victim to minimise the risk of subsequent physical and mental difficulties and promote recovery. The unique aspect of a SARC is that victims can make use of all the facilities whilst their anonymity is preserved. The partnership between the police, the health services, and good liaison with other statutory and voluntary agencies, is therefore essential in meeting victims needs. 2. History 2.1 The first SARC in England and Wales was established in 1986 at the St. Marys Hospital, Manchester, jointly managed by the local Health Authority in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Police (GMP). 2.2 The background to its introduction was the treatment of victims of this type of crime that was less than professional. This was evidenced in the now infamous TV documentary in the early 1980s in the Thames Valley Police area. 2.3 Many forces recognised the relatively poor treatment of rape victims in particular and several made a determined effort to improve facilities so that the improved care afforded to victims might realise an improvement to the poor attrition rate in cases of this nature. 2.4 In addition to the above, Her Majestys Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI)/Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) joint thematic inspection into rape investigation was published in April 2002. It identified the concept of dedicated, multi agency facilities as good practice and an area that forces should seek to develop in the quest for improved victim care. This should, in the first instance, lead to increased reporting of 3 ACPO RAPE WORKING GROUP offences as victims gain confidence in the Criminal Justice process. However, we should also see a commensurate increase in the conviction rate, which stood at 5.6% for all reported offences of rape in 2002. 2.5 Services required following sexual assault will depend on the needs and wishes of victims, and the time that has elapsed since the assault. SARCs aim to provide an efficient and sensitive service to all victims of serious sexual assault. 2.6 The St. Marys Centre continues to flourish providing quality care for victims from the GMP area. Since its introduction, it has become the model on which similar establishments have been based and introduced in other force areas. The concept, therefore, has become reality and all bespoke centres are examples of good practice in the treatment of victims of sexual assault. 3. Different Concepts 3.1 There are now very different examples of SARCs around the country, each performing a vital role in the treatment of victims and the investigation of crime. Those SARCs situated in hospitals and other health authority premises have some additional customer benefits in terms of better access to Doctors, drugs, and links with Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics. However, it is important to visualise the SARC as a concept rather than a building. Enhanced victim care is the main ingredient. 3.2 SARC centres are currently being established around the country. The following are examples of existing SARCs. Further information can be obtained on the different SARC models by contacting helen.musgrove@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk St Marys Sexual Assault Referral Centre 3.3 To date over 8,900 victims have been provided with services by the centre. It provides care for victims subject of offences within the GMP area. 3.4 It is funded jointly by GMP and the Central Manchester and Childrens University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust. The cost per annum to operate the facility is around £400k. This equates to £271,555 from GMP and £108,440 from Health. The Haven Centres - Metropolitan Police Area 3.5 The Haven Camberwell is located within Kings College Hospital in Southeast London. It opened in May 2000 to provide 24/7 services to victims of serious sexual assault. The Haven Paddington was opened in March 2004. Haven Whitechapel was also established in the early part of 2004. The 4 ACPO RAPE WORKING GROUP Havens offer a full range of services integrated into Sexual Health services, so that staff and facilities can be shared and supplemented by follow-up clinics staffed by the clinical team. 3.6 The Centres are funded by the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Health Service, with the NHS contribution being `top sliced from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). The set up costs for each centre is around £300k with running costs of up to £1 million per thousand cases per annum. During the first year of its introduction, The Haven Camberwell saw a throughput of 6761 complainants. It is anticipated that once the facilities are expanded and developed, these figures will increase year on year. 3.7 The MPS has now moved to dedicated sexual offence teams (Project Sapphire) that bridge the professional gap across London, ensuring that, in conjunction with the Haven Centres, victims in that area receive a high quality of service from both the police and other agencies. This not only encourages the reporting of more offences but also assists in providing victims with the confidence to persist with the complaint safe in the knowledge that all the necessary support and expertise is available. The Rape Examination Advice Counselling Help Centres (REACH) ­ Northumbria Police Area 3.8 Operating across the Northumbria Police Areas the two REACH Centres are based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sunderland respectively. They were established in 1991 and offer the full range of services to victims of sexual assault in line with the St. Marys model. 3.9 Unlike St Marys and The Havens, the REACH centre in Newcastle is situated in an adapted 5 storey terraced house. REACH Newcastle has close links to other services such as the GUM clinics and an immediate referral system in place. 3.10 Northumbria Police, the four local Health Authorities and six Local Authorities jointly fund the Centres with the overall annual running costs amounting to £230k of which £150k is devolved directly to the Centres Manager. This funding has recently been renegotiated to incorporate a threeyear deal from its previous annual review, thereby providing the funding of the Centres with a degree of longevity. Juniper Lodge - Leicestershire 3.11 This facility, whilst operating with the concept of SARC ethos is an example of what can be achieved by a provincial force where resources are limited and in which the 24 hour fully staffed facility is neither desirable nor 1 Haven figures 5 ACPO RAPE WORKING GROUP necessary. Many of the start up costs have been acquired through sponsorship with local and national companies. 3.12 The unit is called the Sexual Assault Response Centre and is housed within the Leicester General Hospital complex. The services provided vary slightly to the St. Marys and other centres in that the facility is not open 24 hours a day but does provide 24/7 assistance on an on call basis. SAFE Centre ­ Lancashire 3.13 The Lancashire SAFE centre in Preston and is again situated within Health Authority premises. The centre has been operational since July 2002. The SAFE centre was the first purpose build SARC. It again provides all the services to men women and children of all ages. It is jointly funded by Lancashire Constabulary and the teaching hospital trust. Millfield House ­Derbyshire 3.14 Derbyshire Constabulary opened a SARC in November 2004. Millfield House operates in line with REACH practices in Newcastle. The premises comprise two semi-detached police houses situated on a housing estate. These premises have been completely refurbished and adapted into a purpose built SARC containing full forensic facilities and managed on a dayto-day basis by Derbyshire Rape Crisis. New Pathways-South Wales 3.15 The South Wales SARC was opened in December 2004. The project was instigated by the registered charity New Pathways using local grant and lottery funding. The police and Health Authorities have now joined the project. It is situated in Merthyr and housed in two properties, which incorporate 26 rooms. 3.16 The above examples give an overview of the different concepts that currently fall into the definition of a SARC. As can be seen the priority is not what the centre looks like or where it is situated but that it provides a multiagency strategy for enhanced victim care and as a result aids any subsequent police investigation. 3.17 Given that victims of this type of offence are often more reluctant to report the occurrence, they need to have the confidence that once they have reported the offence, they will be cared for promptly, with empathy and afforded all the necessary expertise. The ideal is that necessary resources and expertise are available to victims as soon as possible after the report is received. 6 ACPO RAPE WORKING GROUP 4. Funding 4.1 The key issue when seeking to establish a SARC is the provision of sustainable funding. There are examples where the NHS and the police have collaborated to achieve joint funding; there are also exampl "); array_files[89]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/RIC%20with%20Quick%20Start%20Guidance%20%20Disclaimer%2021052009.pdf","2009-08-18","270K"," ","","","CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) Aim of the form: · To help front line practitioners identify high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and `honour-based violence. · To decide which cases should be referred to Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and what other support might be required. A completed form becomes an active record that can be referred to in future for case management. · To offer a common tool to agencies that are part of the MARAC1 process and provide a shared understanding of risk in relation to domestic abuse, stalking and `honour-based violence. · To enable agencies to make defensible decisions based on the evidence from extensive research of cases, including domestic homicides and `near misses, which underpins most recognised models of risk assessment. How to use the form: Before completing the form for the first time we recommend that you read the full practice guidance and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers2. These can be downloaded from www.caada.org.uk/marac.html Risk is dynamic and can change very quickly. It is good practice to review the checklist after a new incident. Recommended Referral Criteria to MARAC 1. Professional judgement: if a professional has serious concerns about a victims situation, they should refer the case to MARAC. There will be occasions where the particular context of a case gives rise to serious concerns even if the victim has been unable to disclose the information that might highlight their risk more clearly. This could reflect extreme levels of fear, cultural barriers to disclosure, immigration issues or language barriers particularly in cases of `honour-based violence. This judgement would be based on the professionals experience and/or the victims perception of their risk even if they do not meet criteria 2 and/or 3 below. 2. `Visible High Risk: the number of `ticks on this checklist. If you have ticked 14 or more `yes boxes the case would normally meet the MARAC referral criteria. 3. Potential Escalation: the number of police callouts to the victim as a result of domestic violence in the past 12 months. This criterion can be used to identify cases where there is not a positive identification of a majority of the risk factors on the list, but where abuse appears to be escalating and where it is appropriate to assess the situation more fully by sharing information at MARAC. It is common practice to start with 3 or more police callouts in a 12 month period but this will need to be reviewed depending on your local volume and your level of police reporting. Please pay particular attention to a practitioners professional judgement in all cases. The results from a checklist are not a definitive assessment of risk. They should provide you with a structure to inform your judgement and act as prompts to further questioning, analysis and risk management whether via a MARAC or in another way. The responsibility for identifying your local referral threshold rests with your local MARAC. What this form is not: This form will provide valuable information about the risks that children are living with but it is not a full risk assessment for children. The presence of children increases the wider risks of domestic violence and step children are particularly at risk. If risk towards children is highlighted you should consider what referral you need to make to obtain a full assessment of the childrens situation. 1 2 For further information about MARAC please refer to www.caada.org.uk/marac.html For enquiries about training in the use of the form, please email training@caada.org.uk or call 0117 317 8750. ©CAADA 2009 ­ Please do not reproduce without permission Name of Victim: Case ID Number: Restricted when completed Date: Time: CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist for use by IDVAs and other non-police agencies3 for MARAC case identification when domestic abuse, `honour- based violence and/or stalking are disclosed Please explain that the purpose of asking these questions is for the safety and protection of the individual concerned. Tick the box if the factor is present . Please use the comment box at the end of the form to expand on any answer. It is assumed that your main source of information is the victim. If this is not the case please indicate in the right hand column 1. Has the current incident resulted in injury? (Please state what and whether this is the first injury.) Are you very frightened? Comment: What are you afraid of? Is it further injury or violence? (Please give an indication of what you think (name of abuser(s)...) might do and to whom, including children). Comment: Do you feel isolated from family/friends i.e. does (name of abuser(s) ...........) try to stop you from seeing friends/family/doctor or others? Comment: Are you feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts? Have you separated or tried to separate from (name of abuser(s)....) within the past year? Is there conflict over child contact? Does (......) constantly text, call, contact, follow, stalk or harass you? (Please expand to identify what and whether you believe that this is done deliberately to intimidate you? Consider the context and behaviour of what is being done.) Are you pregnant or have you recently had a baby (within the last 18 months)? Yes (tick) No Dont Know State source of info if not the victim e.g. police officer 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Is the abuse happening more often? 11. Is the abuse getting worse? 12. Does (......) try to control everything you do and/or are they excessively jealous? (In terms of relationships, who you see, being `policed at home, telling you what to wear for example. Consider `honour-based violence and specify behaviour.) 3 Note: This checklist is consistent with the ACPO endorsed risk assessment model DASH 2009 for the police service. ©CAADA 2009 ­ Please do not reproduce without permission Name of Victim: Case ID Number: Restricted when completed Date: Time: Tick box if factor is present. Please use the comment box at the end of the form to expand on any answer. 13. Has (........) ever used weapons or objects to hurt you? 14. Has (........) ever threatened to kill you or someone else and you believed them? (If yes, tick who.) You Children Other (please specify) Yes (tick) No Dont Know State source of info if not the victim 15. Has (.........) ever attempted to strangle/choke/suffocate/drown you? 16. Does (........) do or say things of a sexual nature that make you feel bad or that physically hurt you or someone else? (If someone else, specify who.) 17. Is there any other person who has threatened you or who you are afraid of? (If yes, please specify whom and why. Consider extended family if HBV.) 18. Do you know if (...........) has hurt anyone else? (Please specify whom including the children, siblings or elderly relatives. Consider HBV.) Children Another family member Someone from a previous relationship Other (please specify) 19. Has (..........) ever mistreated an animal or the family pet? 20. Are there any financial issues? For example, are you dependent on (.....) for money/have they recently lost their job/other financial issues? 21. Has (........) had problems in the past year with drugs (prescription or other), alcohol or mental health leading to problems in leading a normal life? (If yes, please specify which and give relevant details if known.) Drugs Alcohol Mental Health 22. Has (......) ever threatened or attempted suicide? 23. Has (.........) ever broken bail/an injunction and/or formal agreement for when they can see you and/or the children? (You may wish to consider this in relation to an ex-partner of the perpetrator if relevant.) Bail conditions Non Molestation/Occupation Order Child Contact arrangements Forced Marriage Protection Order Other 24. Do you know if (........) has ever been in trouble with the police or has a criminal history? (If yes, please specify.) DV Sexual violence Other violence Other Total `yes responses ©CAADA 2009 ­ Please do not reproduce without permission Name of Victim: Case ID Number: Restricted when completed Date: Time: For consideration by professional: Is there any other relevant information (from victim or professional) which may increase risk levels? Consider victims situation in relation to disability, substance misuse, mental health issues, cultural/language barriers, `honour- based systems and minimisation. Are they willing to engage with your service? Describe: Consider abusers occupation/interests - could this give them unique access to weapons? Describe: What are the victims greatest priorities to address their safety? Do you believe that there are reasonable grounds for referring this case to MARAC? Yes / No If yes, have you made a referral? Yes/No Signed: Do you believe that there are risks facing the children in the family? Yes / No If yes, please confirm if you have made a referral to safeguard the children: Yes / No Date referral made .................................................... Signed: Date: Date: Name: Practitioners Notes ©CAADA 2009 ­ Please do not reproduce without permission Name of Victim: Case ID Number: Restricted when completed Date: Time: CAADA Quick Start Guidance for the Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. Domestic abuse can take many forms but it is usually perpetrated by men towards women in an intimate relationship such as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. This checklist can also used for lesbian, gay, bisexual relationships and for situations of `honour-based violence or family violence. Domestic abuse can include physical, emotional, mental, sexual or financial abuse as well as stalking and harassment. They might be experiencing one or all types of abuse; each situation is unique. It is the combination of behaviours that can be so intimidating. It can occur both during a relationship or after it has ended. The purpose of the RIC is to give a consistent and simple tool for practitioners who work wi "); array_files[90]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/Quick%20Start%20Guidance%20&%20RIC%2009062009.pdf","2009-08-18","324K"," Contents:","","","CAADA Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) & Quick Start Guidance for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and `Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. Domestic abuse can take many forms but it is usually perpetrated by men towards women in an intimate relationship such as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. This checklist can also used for lesbian, gay, bisexual relationships and for situations of ,,honour-based violence or family violence. Domestic abuse can include physical, emotional, mental, sexual or financial abuse as well as stalking and harassment. They might be experiencing one or all types of abuse; each situation is unique. It is the combination of behaviours that can be so intimidating. It can occur both during a relationship or after it has ended. The purpose of the RIC is to give a consistent and simple tool for practitioners who work with adult victims of domestic abuse in order to help them identify those who are at high risk of harm and whose cases should be referred to a MARAC meeting in order to manage their risk. If you are concerned about risk to a child or children, you should make a referral to ensure that a full assessment of their safety and welfare is made. The RIC should be introduced to the victim within the framework of your agencys: Confidentiality Policy Information Sharing Policy and Protocols MARAC Referral Policies and Protocols Before you begin to ask the questions in the RIC: Establish how much time the victim has to talk to you? Is it safe to talk now? What are safe contact details? Establish the whereabouts of the perpetrator and children; Explain why you are asking these questions and how it relates to the MARAC Whilst you are asking the questions in the RIC: Identify early on who the victim is frightened of ­ ex-partner/partner/family member Use gender neutral terms such as partner/ex-partner. By creating a safe, accessible environment LGBT victims accessing the service will feel able to disclose both domestic abuse and their sexual orientation or gender identity. Revealing the results of the RIC to the victim: Telling someone that they are at high risk of serious harm or homicide may be frightening and overwhelming for them to hear. It is important that you state what your concerns are by using the answers they gave to you and your professional judgement. It is then important that you follow your areas protocols when referring to MARAC and Childrens Services. Equally, identifying that someone is not currently high risk needs to be managed carefully to ensure that the person doesnt feel that their situation is being minimised and that they dont feel embarrassed about asking for help. Explain that these factors are linked to homicide and serious harm and that if s/he experiences any of them in future, that they should get back in touch with your service or with the emergency services on 999 in an immediate crisis. Please pay particular attention to a practitioners professional judgement in all cases. The results from a checklist are not a definitive assessment of risk. They should provide you with a structure to inform your judgement and act as prompts to further questioning, analysis and risk management whether via a MARAC or in another way. The responsibility for identifying your local referral threshold rests with your local MARAC. Resources: Be sure that you have an awareness of the safety planning measures you can offer, both within your own agency and other agencies. Be familiar with local and national resources to refer the victim to, including specialist services. The following websites and contact details may useful to you: National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247 - For assistance with refuge accommodation and advice ,,Honour Helpline - 0800 5999247 - For advice on forced marriage and ,,honour based violence Sexual Assault Referral Centres - http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/sexualoffences/sexual-assault-referral-centres/referral-centre-locations/ Broken Rainbow - 08452 604460 ­ www.broken-rainbow.org.uk for advice for LGBT victims Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Please contact copyright@caada.org.uk for advice 1 Risk Identification Checklist Quick Start Guidance We ask about PHYSICAL ABUSE in questions 1, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 19 & 23 Physical abuse can take many forms from a push or shove to a punch, use of weapons, choking or strangulation. You should try and establish if the abuse is getting worse, or happening more often, or the incidents themselves are more serious. If your client is not sure, ask them to document how many incidents there have been in the last year and what took place. They should also consider keeping a diary marking when physical and other incidents take place. Try and get a picture of the range of physical abuse that has taken place. The incident that is currently being disclosed may not be the worst thing to have happened. The abuse might also be happening to other people in their household, such as their children or siblings or elderly relatives. Sometimes violence will be used against a family pet. If an incident has just occurred the victim should call 999 for assistance from the police. If the victim has injuries they should try and get them seen and documented by a health professional such as GP or A&E Nurse. We ask about whether the victim is experiencing any form of SEXUAL ABUSE in question 16 Sexual abuse can include the use of threats, force or intimidation to obtain sex, deliberately inflicting pain during sex, or combining sex and violence and using weapons. If the victim has suffered sexual abuse you should encourage them to get medical attention and to report this to the police. See above for advice on finding a Sexual Assault Referral Centre which can assist with medical and legal investigations. COERCION, THREATS AND INTIMIDATION is covered in questions 2, 3, 6, 8, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23 & 24. It is important to understand and establish: the fears of the victim/victims in relation to what the perpetrator/s may do; who they are frightened of and who they are frightened for (i.e. children/siblings). Victims usually know the abusers behaviour better than anyone else which is why this question is significant. In cases of ,,Honour Based Violence there may be more than one abuser living in the home or belonging to the wider family and community. This could also include female relatives. Stalking and harassment becomes more significant when the abuser is also making threats to harm themselves, the victim or others. They might use phrases such as If I cant have you no one else can... Other examples of behaviour that can indicate future harm include obsessive phone calls, texts or emails, uninvited visits to the victims home, workplace etc, loitering and destroyed or vandalised property. Advise the victim to keep a diary of these threats, when and where they happen, if anyone else was with them and if the threats made them feel frightened. Separation is a dangerous time: establish if the victim has tried to separate from the abuser or has been threatened about the consequences of leaving. Being pursued after separation can be particularly dangerous. Victims of domestic abuse sometimes tell us that the perpetrators harm pets, damage furniture and this alone makes them frightened without the perpetrator needing to physically hurt them. This kind of intimidation is common and often used as a way to control and frighten. Some perpetrators of domestic abuse do not follow court orders or contact arrangements with children. Previous violations may be associated with an increase in risk of future violence. Some victims feels frightened and intimidated by the criminal history of their partner/ex-partner. It is important to remember that offenders with a history of violence are at increased risk of harming their partner, even if the past violence was not directed towards intimate partners or family members, except for ,,honour-based violence, where the perpetrator(s) will commonly have no other recorded criminal history. Web www.caada.org.uk E-mail marac@caada.org.uk ©CAADA Please acknowledge CAADA when reprinting. Please contact copyright@caada.org.uk for advice 2 Risk Identification Checklist Quick Start Guidance E CONOMIC ABUSE ­ Question 20 Victims of domestic abuse often tell us that they are financially controlled by their partners/ex-partners. Consider how the financial control impacts on the safety options available to them. For example, they may rely on their partner/ex-partner for an income or do not have access to benefits in their own right. The victim might feel like the situation has become worse since their partner/ex-partner lost their job. The Citizens Advice Bureau or the local specialist domestic abuse support service will be able to outline to the victim the options relating to their current financial situation and how they might be able to access funds in their own right. We ask about EMOTIONAL ABUSE and ISOLATION in questions 4, 5 & 12. This can be experienced at the same time as the other types of abuse. It may be present on its own or it may have started long before any physical violence began. The result of this abuse is that victims can blame themselves and, in order to live with what is happening, minimise and deny how serious it is. As a professional you can assist the victim in beginning to consider the risks the victim and any children may be facing. The victim may be being prevented from seeing family or friends, from creating any support networks or prevented from having access to any money. Victims of ,,honour based violence talk about extreme levels of isolation and being ,,policed in the home. This is a significant indicator of future harm and should be taken seriously . Due to the abuse and isolation being suffered victims feel like they have no choice but to continue living with the abuser and fear what may happen if they try and leave. This can often have an impac "); array_files[91]=new Array(0,8,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/Quick%20Start%20Guidance%20&%20RIC%2009062009.doc","2009-08-18","241K","Quick%20Start%20Guidance%20&%20RIC%2009062009.doc","",""," CAADA Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) & Quick Start Guidance for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Violence You may be looking at this checklist because you are working in a professional capacity with a victim of domestic abuse. These notes are to help you understand the significance of the questions on the checklist. Domestic abuse can take many forms but it is usually perpetrated by men towards women in an intimate relationship such as boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. This checklist can also used for lesbian, gay, bisexual relationships and for situations of honour-based violence or family violence. Domestic abuse can include physical, emotional, mental, sexual or financial abuse as well as stalking and harassment. They might be experiencing one or all types of abuse; each situation is unique. It is the combination of behaviours that can be so intimidating. It can occur both during a relationship or after it has ended. V The purpose of the RIC is to give a consistent and simple tool for practitioners who work with adult victims of domestic abuse in order to help them identify those who are at high risk of harm and whose cases should be referred to a MARAC meeting in order to manage their risk. If you are concerned about risk to a child or children, you should make a referral to ensure that a full assessment of their safety and welfare is made. V The RIC should be introduced to the victim within the framework of your agencys: . Confidentiality Policy . Information Sharing Policy and Protocols . MARAC Referral Policies and Protocols V Before you begin to ask the questions in the RIC: . Establish how much time the victim has to talk to you? Is it safe to talk now? What are safe contact details? . Establish the whereabouts of the perpetrator and children; . Explain why you are asking these questions and how it relates to the MARAC V Whilst you are asking the questions in the RIC: . Identify early on who the victim is frightened of - ex- partner/partner/family member . Use gender neutral terms such as partner/ex-partner. By creating a safe, accessible environment LGBT victims accessing the service will feel able to disclose both domestic abuse and their sexual orientation or gender identity. V Revealing the results of the RIC to the victim: Telling someone that they are at high risk of serious harm or homicide may be frightening and overwhelming for them to hear. It is important that you state what your concerns are by using the answers they gave to you and your professional judgement. It is then important that you follow your areas protocols when referring to MARAC and Childrens Services. Equally, identifying that someone is not currently high risk needs to be managed carefully to ensure that the person doesnt feel that their situation is being minimised and that they dont feel embarrassed about asking for help. Explain that these factors are linked to homicide and serious harm and that if s/he experiences any of them in future, that they should get back in touch with your service or with the emergency services on 999 in an immediate crisis. V Please pay particular attention to a practitioners professional judgement in all cases. The results from a checklist are not a definitive assessment of risk. They should provide you with a structure to inform your judgement and act as prompts to further questioning, analysis and risk management whether via a MARAC or in another way. The responsibility for identifying your local referral threshold rests with your local MARAC. V Resources: Be sure that you have an awareness of the safety planning measures you can offer, both within your own agency and other agencies. Be familiar with local and national resources to refer the victim to, including specialist services. The following websites and contact details may useful to you: V National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247 - For assistance with refuge accommodation and advice V Honour Helpline - 0800 5999247 - For advice on forced marriage and honour based violence V Sexual Assault Referral Centres - http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime- victims/reducing-crime/sexual-offences/sexual-assault-referral- centres/referral-centre-locations/ V Broken Rainbow - 08452 604460 - www.broken-rainbow.org.uk for advice for LGBT victims If you are a professional working with domestic abuse and would like to know more about the Risk Identification Checklist you can find the following publications on our website: V CAADA-DASH MARAC Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) 2009 for the identification of high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and honour based violence This is the downloadable version of the RIC which has a Severity of Abuse Grid (SAG). The SAG gives practitioners the chance to profile the domestic abuse in more detail and identify significant concerns which may be relevant to include in a safety plan or share at a MARAC. V Practice Guidance for Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) using the CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist 2009 This is a full and detailed guide for IDVAs and practitioners using the RIC. It takes you through the process of completing the RIC with your client and provides detail on why and how to ask each question. It also provides supplementary questions to gather additional detail about each risk factor and provides general safety planning advice. This is a helpful guide for IDVAs or practitioners new to the RIC and who want to become more familiar and confident in managing the process. V CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist - without guidance This is a basic version of the RIC to download and use in everyday practice. V CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist - Frequently Asked Questions This addresses a number of practical questions relating to the use of the checklist and the recent changes to the RIC. For additional information and materials on Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), you can find the following on our website V The new MARAC Guide 2009 - From Principles to Practice This provides detailed guidance on the whole MARAC process and is linked to the 11 Principles which form the basis of the Quality Assurance audit and national standards for MARAC. It is aimed to be used by MARAC steering groups, those MARACs approaching the QA audit and for MARACs who are seeking comprehensive guidance on implementation issues. V MARAC Representatives Toolkit The representatives toolkit is designed to be used by MARAC representatives who attend the MARAC meeting itself. It highlights their crucial role in each stage of the process before, during and after the meeting. V Toolkits for specific practitioners attending the MARAC These are aimed at front line practitioners who may encounter a victim of abuse and consider a MARAC referral or who may be asked to undertake research on a MARAC subject or their children. The full range of agencies covered can be viewed on our website this list is being expanded regularly so please keep an eye on this page for updates. We also have a library of resources and information about your nearest IDVA training course, Continuing Professional Development for IDVAs and how to develop IDVA Services through our Leading Lights programme. CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) Aim of the form: . To help front line practitioners identify high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence. . To decide which cases should be referred to MARAC and what other support might be required. A completed form becomes an active record that can be referred to in future for case management. . To offer a common tool to agencies that are part of the MARAC[1] process and provide a shared understanding of risk in relation to domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence. . To enable agencies to make defensible decisions based on the evidence from extensive research of cases, including domestic homicides and near misses, which underpins most recognised models of risk assessment. How to use the form: Before completing the form for the first time we recommend that you read the full practice guidance and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers[2]. These can be downloaded from www.caada.org.uk/marac.html Risk is dynamic and can change very quickly. It is good practice to review the checklist after a new incident. Recommended Referral Criteria to MARAC 1. Professional judgement: if a professional has serious concerns about a victims situation, they should refer the case to MARAC. There will be occasions where the particular context of a case gives rise to serious concerns even if the victim has been unable to disclose the information that might highlight their risk more clearly. This could reflect extreme levels of fear, cultural barriers to disclosure, immigration issues or language barriers particularly in cases of honour-based violence. This judgement would be based on the professionals experience and/or the victims perception of their risk even if they do not meet criteria 2 and/or 3 below. 2. Visible High Risk: the number of ticks on this checklist. If you have ticked 14 or more yes boxes the case would normally meet the MARAC referral criteria. 3. Potential Escalation: the number of police callouts to the victim as a result of domestic violence in the past 12 months. This criterion can be used to identify cases where there is not a positive identification of a majority of the risk factors on the list, but where abuse appears to be escalating and where it is appropriate to assess the situation more fully by sharing information at MARAC. It is common practice to start with 3 or more police callouts in a 12 month period but this will need to be reviewed depending on your local volume and your level of police reporting. Please pay particular attention to a practitioners professional judgement in all cases. The results from a checklist are not a definitive assessment of risk. They should provide you with a structure to inform your judgement and act as prompts to further questioning, analysis and risk management whether via a MARAC or in another way. The responsibility for identifying your local referral threshold rests with your local MARAC. What this form is n "); array_files[92]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/prosecuting_rape.pdf","2009-08-18","161K"," 17663 rape booklet","","","CROWN PROSECUTION S E RV I C E Rape Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Introduction Definition of rape The role of the CPS The Code for Crown Prosecutors Is there enough evidence to prosecute? Accepting pleas Bail Helping victims and witnesses to give evidence Sentencing Conclusion 9 10 2 1. INTRODUCTION This document explains the way we deal with cases in which an allegation of rape has been made. Rape is one of the most serious offences, and our aim is to prosecute each case effectively. There is a general perception that most rapes are committed by a single man against a woman unknown to him. In fact, the majority of rape victims know their rapist. Rape involves male victims too. This policy statement covers the handling of all types of rape case, including marital and relationship rape, acquaintance and stranger rape, against male and female victims. All are equally serious and traumatic for the victim. Rape also has a devastating effect on families of victims. We realise that victims of rape have difficult decisions to make that will affect their lives and the lives of those close to them. We acknowledge that barriers exist, which mean that some people are less likely to report offences. Victims who are or have been in a relationship with their attacker may blame themselves or feel that agencies will blame them, as well as facing wider difficulties such as disruption to the lives of their children and extended families. People from Black and minority ethnic communities may have experienced racism. They may fear that they will not be believed, or that they will not be treated properly. As a result they may be reluctant to report offences or support a prosecution. Cultural and religious beliefs may also prevent people from reporting offences or supporting a prosecution. In cases involving 3 rape within same sex relationships, victims may fear homophobic reactions from the CPS or the wider criminal justice system, as well as being outed by the process. Disabled people may fear reporting rape if the offender is a carer, or fear the loss of residential care. Lack of transport may also be a barrier to disabled people reporting rape. We currently work with a number of national and local organisations, for example the Witness Support Service, which offer support to victims throughout the proceedings. Special measures that can be used to help a victim or witness to give evidence are discussed below at paragraph eight. We will consider every case carefully and sensitively. Our decisions will be objective but made within a framework that promotes support for victims by keeping them informed. 2. WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF RAPE? The definition of rape has been substantially changed by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which came into force on 1 May 2004. Under the previous law as set out in the Sexual Offences Act 1956, the statutory definition of rape is any act of non-consensual intercourse by a man with a person; the victim can be either male or female. Intercourse can be vaginal or anal. It does not include non-consensual oral sex. Consent is given its ordinary meaning, and lack of consent can be inferred from the surrounding circumstances, such as submission through fear. It is a defence if the defendant believed that the victim was 4 consenting, even if this belief was unreasonable, and this is a matter of fact for the jury. Offences committed before 1 May 2004 will be prosecuted under the 1956 Act. Offences committed on or after 1 May 2004 will be prosecuted under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The Act extends the definition of rape to include the penetration by a penis of the vagina, anus or mouth of another person. The new Act changes the law about consent and belief in consent. The meaning of consent was not defined in previous legislation. Instead, the meaning was established in case law, which meant that the legal meaning of consent was not always clearly understood. The word consent in the context of the offence of rape is now defined in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. A person consents if he or she agrees by choice, and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice. The essence of this definition is the agreement by choice. The law does not require the victim to have resisted physically. The question of whether the victim consented is a matter for the jury to decide, although we consider this issue very carefully when first reviewing the file. The prosecutor will take into account evidence of all the circumstances surrounding the offence. We are aware that the meaning of consent can be of particular relevance in rapes where there has been, or is, a pre-existing relationship between the defendant and the victim, or where domestic violence has existed prior to the rape. As the 2003 Act makes it clearer what is meant by the term consent, it will help juries in 5 deciding whether the victim was able to, and did in fact, give his or her consent at the time. The defendant must now show that his belief in consent was reasonable. In deciding whether the belief of the defendant was reasonable, a jury must have regard to all the circumstances, including any steps he has taken to ascertain whether the victim consented. In certain circumstances, it is presumed that the victim did not consent to sexual activity and the defendant did not reasonably believe that the victim consented, unless he can show otherwise. Examples of circumstances where the presumption applies are where the victim was unconscious, drugged, abducted or subject to threats or fear of serious harm. 3. THE ROLE OF THE CPS The police are responsible for investigating allegations of rape and for gathering the evidence. Recent changes in the law mean that the CPS will take over responsibility for deciding the charge in all but the most minor offences. This change is gradually being introduced from May 2004. It will mean that prosecutors will become involved at an early stage in advising on all aspects of cases. As we are committed to improving the way that allegations of rape are handled we have established a network of specialist prosecutors in each CPS Area. Specialist prosecutors will work closely with the police to ensure that all possible avenues of evidence are explored and that the correct charge is identified. A specialist prosecutor will be responsible for the case from advice stage to the end of the case. 6 This degree of continuity is important. It will allow us to ensure that the victim is provided with the best possible support throughout the progress of the case. We will ensure that the prosecuting advocate has the right skills for rape prosecutions and efforts will be made, wherever possible, for the same prosecuting advocate to deal with the case throughout. Where we decide to drop or substantially reduce the charge the specialist will refer the case to a second specialist rape prosecutor before the final decision is made. In all cases of rape where a decision is taken not to proceed after charge, or to reduce the charge, the victim will be informed in writing of the decision and the reasons for it. The letter will offer the victim a meeting with the prosecutor. If the victim wishes, a meeting with the prosecutor will then be arranged to provide a fuller explanation. 4. THE CODE FOR CROWN PROSECUTORS The Code for Crown Prosecutors provides guidance on how Crown Prosecutors make decisions about whether or not to prosecute. The Code is a public document. We review the cases referred by the police to us in accordance with the two tests set out in the Code. First test ­ the evidential test Crown Prosecutors must first be satisfied that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against each defendant on each charge. This means that a jury, properly directed in accordance 7 with the law, is more likely than not to convict the defendant of the charge alleged. If a case does not pass the first test (the evidential test), it must not go ahead, no matter how important or serious it may be. Second test ­ the public interest test If a case does pass the evidential test, the Crown Prosecutor must decide if a prosecution is needed in the public interest. A prosecution will usually take place unless there are public interest factors tending against prosecution which clearly outweigh those tending in favour. When considering the public interest test, one of the factors Crown Prosecutors should always take into account is the consequences for the victim of the decision whether or not to prosecute and any views expressed by the victim. If the evidential test is passed, we believe that rape is so serious that a prosecution is almost certainly required in the public interest. The burden and standard of proof If a case passes the tests in the Code, and proceeds to trial, it is for the prosecution to prove the case so that the jury is sure that the defendant is guilty. 5. IS THERE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE? Rape usually takes place in a private setting where the victim is the only witness. Unless the defendant pleads 8 guilty, the victim will almost certainly have to give evidence in court. Where there is conflicting evidence, the prosecutor has a duty to assess the credibility and reliability of the victims evidence. This will always be done in a careful and sensitive way, using all the information provided to the prosecutor. A case may not proceed, not because the prosecution does not believe the victim, but because the test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors indicates that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction. There are rules about disclosing to the defence relevant material obtained during the investigation, which is not part of the prosecution case. The rules are complex, but broadly speaking, there is a duty to disclose to the defence any such material that might undermine the prosecution case or assist the defence. The police will always look for corroboration or supporting evidence, particularly any medical or scientific evidence, but it is not essential and a prosecution can still go ahead without it. However, the prosecution must always prove the defendants guilt. Cases may fail because a jury cannot decide bet "); array_files[93]=new Array(0,4,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/PRACTICE%20GUIDANCE%20FOR%20IDVAs%20USING%20THE%20CAADA-DASH%20RIC.pdf","2009-08-18","592K"," Microsoft Word - 090514 PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR IDVAs USING THE CAADA-DASH RIC.doc","","","PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR IDVAS USING THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST 2009 This practice guidance is designed to be used with the CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist. The following related documents are available from our website at www.caada.org.uk/marac.html 1. CAADA-DASH MARAC Risk Identification Checklist 2. CAADA-DASH MARAC Risk Identification Checklist for the identification of high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and `honour-based violence including the Severity of Abuse Grid 3. CAADA-DASH MARAC Risk Identification Checklist Frequently Asked Questions 4. Quick Start Guidance CAADA-DASH MARAC Risk Identification Checklist 5. Survivors Guide to the CAADA-DASH MARAC Risk Identification Checklist 1 APRIL 2009 ­ PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR USE WITH THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST 2 APRIL 2009 ­ PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR USE WITH THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST Introduction: This guidance aims to provide assistance to IDVAs1 when completing the checklist with their clients, who are assumed to be the adult victim of abuse, and to help them identify suitable cases to be reviewed at a MARAC. We hope that much of the information contained here will also be relevant to other practitioners although the specific safety planning options will vary between different agencies and their roles. The notes below are intended to be an aid to practitioners when considering how to ask the questions on the RIC and identify additional questions which might be useful to ask to gain contextual information that will help address the risks that their clients face. How to use the checklist: It is very important to ask all of the questions on the checklist. Try to be familiar with the checklist before you work with your first client so that you feel confident about the relevance and implications of each question. Be sure that you have an awareness of the safety planning measures you can offer and put into place and are familiar with local and national resources to refer your client to, including specialist services. Please note that the `dont know option is included where the victim does not know the answer to a specific question and where ticking `no would give a misleadingly low risk level. This will also highlight to your agency and the MARAC where the gaps in information are and where you might need to gather further information. 1 The guidance is designed specifically for IDVAs but was used by other professionals during the piloting of the checklist. Clearly some of the safety planning options identified will not apply to all professionals reading this guidance. 3 APRIL 2009 ­ PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR USE WITH THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST When to use the checklist: You should try and carry out a Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) with every client disclosing abuse to you to help you identify the levels of risk a client may be exposed to and to offer appropriate services. You should aim to ask the questions on your first contact with the client, as close as possible in time to the last incident. Where the questions in the RIC refer to `recent or current, suggest a time span of several weeks to a month to your client. Other questions do allow for historical information, for example, `separation within the past year or `has the perpetrator ever mistreated an animal or family pet. In the questions relating to current/recent abuse, each practitioner will have to interpret what `current means in each case. However, in practice, the risk identification checklist will not easily apply to historical domestic abuse cases, i.e. if most of the abuse has ceased and the client is in need of general support not crisis services. (N.B. Current/recent abuse covers the spectrum of emotional, physical, financial, sexual and psychological abuse.) Who should the checklist be used with: Normally the checklist will be completed with the adult victim of domestic abuse including stalking and `honour-based violence. However you may get specific information from other professionals such as the police and if so, please note this on the form. You should take great care in obtaining information from other family members without the express permission of your client, since in certain situations they can pose a threat themselves. The Evidence: These indicators can be organised into factors relating to the behaviour and circumstances of the alleged perpetrator(s) and to the circumstances of the victim. Most of the available research evidence, upon which the following factors are based, is focused on male abusers and female victims in a current or previous intimate relationship. Generally these risk factors refer to the risk of further assault, although some are also linked to the risk of homicide. We have also highlighted factors linked to `honour-based violence which must always be taken extremely seriously. 4 APRIL 2009 ­ PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR USE WITH THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST Introducing the checklist to your client: It is important to explain your confidentiality, information sharing and MARAC referral policies before beginning to ask these questions. This will create transparency and clarity for the client about how and when the information they disclose might be used and shared. You should ask your client to sign a form confirming that they understand and consent to these policies, if possible, or explain that, if they agree, you will sign on their behalf confirming they have understood and consented to the policy over the telephone. Before you begin the checklist it may be useful to also gather: How much time the client has to talk to you; The safe contact details of the client in case the call is terminated or they have to leave in an emergency; Whether the perpetrator is around, due back or expected back at a certain time; If this is a telephone call, whether it is safe for them to talk right now; Introduce the concept of risk to your client and explain why you are asking these questions. You should also be aware that an LGBT person accessing services will have to disclose both domestic abuse and their sexual orientation or gender identity. Creating a safe and accessible environment where victims feel they can do this and using gender neutral terms such as partner/ex-partner is essential. How to use the practice guidance: The practice guidance below is set out to follow the flow of the questions in the checklist and explains in turn the significance of the question, additional questions that might be posed and where relevant the research is linked to the specific risk factor. Note on use of language: IDVAs will normally refer to the person who is referred to their service as `clients. The terms `victim and `survivor are often used by other agencies and in research. In this document we use the terms `client and `victim interchangeably depending on the context. 5 APRIL 2009 ­ PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR USE WITH THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST Step by Step Guide to Using the Checklist Q1. Has the current incident resulted in injury? PRACTICE POINT: It is important to understand the level of injury to identify if any current action needs to be taken: When did the incident occur? What injuries have been sustained? How does this compare to previous injuries? Establish what the worst injury and incident were. Does the victim need immediate medical attention? Has this incident been reported to the police? Q2. Are you very frightened? And Q3. What are you afraid of? Is it further injury or violence? PRACTICE POINT: We are trying to understand the fears of the victim in relation to what the perpetrator/s may do to them. It is important to understand: What is the victim frightened of? Who is the victim frightened of? It is important you identify who the perpetrator is. Note that in extended family violence there may be more than one perpetrator living within the home and who belongs to their wider family and community. It will also be useful to know where they live to build this into any risk management/safety plan. Who they are fearful for? (i.e. themselves/children/siblings/partners/parents.) What do they think the perpetrator may do? What do they think the perpetrator is capable of? This could be physical or sexual abuse or murder of them/children/siblings/partners/parents. It might include fear of being forced into an engagement or marriage or being abducted to another country. It is important to note if they are fearful as a result of persistent stalking and harassment from the perpetrator/their associates as this can be associated with homicide. Document these fears carefully. LGBT clients may fear that the perpetrator will disclose their gender identity or sexual orientation to their friends, family, and colleagues. 6 APRIL 2009 ­ PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR USE WITH THE CAADA-DASH RISK IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST It is important to listen carefully to the victims perception of their safety and what it is the perpetrator may actually do. When victims are very frightened, when they report being afraid of further injury or violence, when they are afraid of being killed and when they are afraid of their children being harmed, they are significantly more likely to experience additional violence, threats and emotional abuse (Robinson, 2006a). The victim will have intimate knowledge of the perpetrators capacity to harm her/him and significant others. In cases of `honour-based violence, they will understand the family dynamic and view of `honour-based systems. However, minimising the abuse and blaming the abuse on themselves is common among victims of domestic abuse and practitioners should be aware that sometimes victims may not acknowledge current threats or actions as giving them cause for concern. It is important to use your professional judgement, register your concerns with the victim and note this on the risk identification checklist and through the information sharing process at MARAC. Conversely, if the victim does express significant concern about their safety this should be taken seriously. Q4. Do you feel isolated from family/friends i.e. does (name of abuser(s)............) try to stop you from seeing friends/ "); array_files[94]=new Array(0,8,"http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/National%20definition%20of%20IDVA%20work.doc","2009-08-18","25K","National%20definition%20of%20IDVA%20work.doc","",""," National definition of IDVA work What is an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor? The main purpose of independent domestic