Risk assessment and interventions for victims of domestic abuse: consultation response analysis

Question 4: Key Partners

The fourth question in this consultation asked:

In your view, who are the key partners that should be involved in multi-agency working to support victims of domestic abuse?

While there was an extensive number of organisations or services that were mentioned as key partners within the responses to the consultation, there were some that were mentioned particularly frequently. The following were recommended by a majority of those who responded to the consultation:

• Healthcare (in broad terms, or with reference to specific health professionals)
• Police
• Social work (in general, or specifically either Children and Families Social Work, Adult Social Work, or Criminal Justice Social Work)
• Specialist domestic abuse services
• Housing (in broad terms, or with reference to homelessness services or Registered Social Landlords)
• Education
• Substance abuse and addiction services

The following organisations and services were also recommended by respondents as partners that should be key within multi-agency working:

• Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates, Multi-Agency Independent Advocacy, or equivalent
• Fire and Rescue
• Adult Support and Protection
• Children’s Support and Protection
• Children’s Advocacy
• Legal services (including Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, criminal justice, courts, solicitors, Specialist Court Services, Judiciary and Sheriffs)
• LGBT, disability and minority ethnic organisations
• Scottish Prison Service
• Prison healthcare services
• Victim peer groups or support services
• Offender support
• Sexual assault and sexual abuse organisations
• Equalities organisations
• Family or parenting support
• Welfare Rights officers
• Young Person workers
• Caledonian System women and children’s workers (or equivalent from other services working with perpetrators)
• Community safety
• Public protection
• Advice and information services
• Throughcare (it was not clear if this referred to support for those leaving care, or for those leaving prison)
• Animal welfare agencies and veterinarians
• Named organisations including: Barnardos, Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, Domestic Abuse Service, Engender, Zero Tolerance, ASSIST, CEDAR, Victim Support, Fearless, Vibrant Communities. Some responses named local organisations that they felt should be involved in their areas, such as Fife Cares (home security), Gingerbread, Citizens Advice and Rights Fife, Fife Law Centre, Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre and Kingdom Abuse Survivor’s Project for Fife, and The Daisy Project, Wheatley Group, NHS GG&C Special Needs in Pregnancy Service, NHS GG&C Archway/Sandyford Services and the Navigator Project in Glasgow.

It was also proposed that the victim themselves be considered a key partner, and one response suggested that the victim’s employer be involved.

Responses made specific comments pertaining to some of those that they considered should be key partners:

Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates or equivalent

A number of responses emphasised the importance of having a trained independent advocate to support the victim and ensure that their views are heard in multi-agency working. It was also suggested that they should be able to respond to high-risk referrals within 48 hours, and that there should be a national standard for IDAAs.

Social work

It was suggested that Adult, Children and Families, and Criminal Justice social work should all have separate representatives within multi-agency working. The presence and information sharing from social work partners were noted as people of particular importance in cases where children and young people are involved. ASSIST noted that they have found the absence of Children and Families or Criminal Justice social work from meetings to have considerably hindered the ability to construct a ‘wide ranging safety plan’.

Specialist domestic abuse services

Several responses indicated that they felt domestic abuse services should be key partners in multi-agency working. Women’s Aid was specifically recommended, and it was suggested that the Police should make referrals to Women’s Aid in the same way that they do to Victim Support Scotland and Rape Crisis Scotland. One response, however, argued that the domestic abuse organisations involved as key partners should be ones that represent both men and women.

Healthcare

Primary care was noted as a particularly important partner as GPs may be a key referrer. One response suggested that maternity services should be mandatory in the case of victims who are pregnant. Multiple healthcare professionals were often listed and it was suggested that there should usually be more than one healthcare partner involved, since it is a broad area. Some respondents, however, felt that there should be one ‘lead’ representative from the relevant Health and Social Care Partnership or Board who is responsible for attending meetings and coordinating with other key staff.

Individual areas and roles within healthcare that were specifically mentioned include:

• Health visitors
• Midwives
• Obstetricians
• Special Needs in Pregnancy Service
• Psychiatrists
• (Community) psychiatric nurses
• Mental health services
• Community nursing
• Accident and Emergency
• Sexual and reproductive health
• Health personnel from secondary care environments
• Acute care

One respondent noted that clear communication between different practitioners is key to ensuring that the relevant information is shared and appropriate input is provided.

Education

One response suggested that both head teachers and a representative from directorate level should be involved.

Children’s advocates

Several responses proposed that children and young people involved in cases of domestic abuse should be provided with a dedicated advocacy worker to support them and ensure their views are heard within the process.

The victim

It was suggested that the victim should have the option of being directly involved in multi-agency working and attending meetings themselves, if they choose, and that in many cases they are the best person to advocate in their own interest. The Scottish Commission for Learning Disability proposed that Scottish Government undertake further consultation with professionals and people who have experienced domestic abuse to find out if there is support for this, and in particular the potential impacts for people with disabilities.

Legal professionals

With regards to legal professionals’ involvement in multi-agency working, it was variously suggested that civil and criminal agencies must work effectively together; that legal representatives should be available to provide advice, perhaps in the same way that criminal defendants have the right to legal counsel; that courts should tackle the issue of bails being broken; and that some legal professionals may be involved in more of an observation role.

Family or parenting support

Family or parenting support services were noted as being of particular importance to parents with learning disabilities.

LGBT, disability and minority ethnic organisations

Services for victims with these protected characteristics were noted as being of importance to ensure that this multi-agency working is inclusive. It was suggested that a simplified referral mechanism might make it easier for practitioners to ensure victims receive access to the right support.

‘Where there are cultural issues, a victim may prefer these supports coming from agencies or professionals who have a particular awareness of the cultural context, similiarly victims from sexual minorities may prefer supports coming from dedicated agencies or professionals.’

– Individual

Other comments

In addition to suggestions for specific partners who should be involved in multi-agency working to support victims of domestic abuse, responses also offered more general comments on the nature of who should be involved and what their participation should look like.

Partners adapted to individual circumstance

Several responses suggested that the partner organisations involved should vary on a case-by-case basis. Many of the services and organisations mentioned above may not be relevant for all victims, while sometimes specialist organisations might be able to offer support tailored to aspects of the victim’s identity, needs or experience. Some responses proposed that any relevant organisations that are working with the victim or their family should be invited to participate, although the level of their involvement may vary. It was also suggested that there could be a ‘core’ group of partners, which is complemented by others as required.

Present at the request of the victim

Some respondents felt that the organisations involved in any given case should be there at the victim’s request.

Partners adapted to local context

Other comments suggested that local circumstances and the organisations working in different areas should also be a factor in determining the partners involved. In particular, it was also noted that there may be service gaps in more rural or remote areas and that specific consideration should therefore be given to how the partners involved in multi-agency working in these areas can best ensure effective responses for victims of domestic abuse.

Partners dictated by SafeLives best practice

Some respondents suggested that the 9 core agencies recommended by SafeLives should always be included:

• Local Police
• IDAA (or equivalent specialist practitioner working with victims to the same high standards)
• Criminal Justice Social Work
• Children and Families Social Work
• Education
• Health (including the physical and mental health of adults and children)
• Substance Misuse Services
• Housing (including homeless services)
• Adult Support and Protection

Children and young people

Several respondents advocated for children and young people to be more visible within multi-agency working for victims of domestic abuse, and for attention to be given to including partners who would be best placed to support them. Suggestions here included:

• Child health professionals, including psychologists and community nursing. It was suggested that community nursing or health visitors may be more likely than other health professionals to have access to some children experiencing domestic abuse
• Education staff, who may in particular be able to offer a safer location for victims and their children to access support
• Social work

Consistent and satisfactory participation

There was a strong feeling among responses that organisations involved in multi-agency working should attend and participate consistently, to ensure effective support and interventions for victims. This should include having the time to dedicate to training and research. Organisational and managerial support was thought to be key for this. Responses also highlighted the need for all partners to take a collaborative approach to the work.

Seniority of representatives

Some responses suggested that representatives from partner organisations should be of sufficient seniority to be able to commit resources and prioritise actions agreed in the course of the work.

Single or multiple representatives

One comment proposed that each partner organisation should appoint one primary representative, with a deputy to stand in as required. However another suggested that the representative should be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on who has knowledge or experience of that particular case.

Balance between comprehensiveness and manageability

One respondent highlighted that it is important to strike the right balance between inviting everyone who could useful contribute to a given case, and ensuring that the size and length of any meetings is kept manageable.

Leadership

Some respondents made suggestions regarding who they felt should lead the multi-agency working. Proposals were variously made for specialist domestic abuse organisations such as Women’s Aid, social work, and the Police (in the more serious cases) to take the lead. One respondent suggested that the coordinator should be the one to invite other partners as appropriate.

Administration

It was noted that there is an administrative workload associated with organising this multi-agency work and communicating with all partners, and that sufficient infrastructure should be in place to accommodate this.