Improving Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and interventions for victims of domestic abuse: consultation

Part 3: What We Want to Achieve

The Scottish Government wishes to improve multi-agency risk assessment and working for victims of domestic abuse in Scotland and ensure a more consistent approach locally. We recognise the importance of taking a multi-agency approach towards protecting victims at high risk from domestic abuse, and we wish to explore how best to strengthen local arrangements to support the objectives of Equally Safe.

The Scottish Government wishes to explore:

• Models of risk assessment
• Information sharing
• Safety planning
• Relevant partners
• Guidance
• Provision in statute for effective arrangements

Relevant agencies/sectors we wish to include in developing our approach to this work:

• Police Scotland
• Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates (IDAAs)
• Education
• Children and Families Social Work
• Criminal Justice Social Work
• Adult Protection
• NHS Scotland (physical and mental health representatives)
• Drug and Alcohol Services
• Local authority housing services which may include Scottish Federation of Housing Authorities (SFHA) and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)
• Scottish Prison Service
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Specialist domestic abuse and children's support services
• Violence Against Women Partnerships

Improving and embedding effective working across Scotland is a part of our work to support victims of domestic abuse and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. This requires a coordinated approach across services, ensuring that they respond appropriately and sensitively to victims at a local level. The inclusion of different services in a genuinely multi-agency approach recognises that many factors are at play in cases of domestic abuse and that the effective sharing of information about individuals is vital to identify and mitigate risk of serious harm and to improve agency accountability.