Domestic Violence Threshold Guidance

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence Threshold GuidanceThreshold Guidance

Jean Miller

Irene Wright

Michelle Lesbirel Jones

Impact of Domestic Abuse:Impact of Domestic Abuse:

• Domestic abuse costs each household £90 per year to Domestic abuse costs each household £90 per year to provide assistance, support and advice for DV victimsprovide assistance, support and advice for DV victims

• Nationally this figure amounts to £23 billion per yearNationally this figure amounts to £23 billion per year

• Domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of Domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of homelessness in the UKhomelessness in the UK

• Domestic abuse is the leading cause of death in women aged Domestic abuse is the leading cause of death in women aged 19-44 years, it is greater than cancer, war, or motor vehicle 19-44 years, it is greater than cancer, war, or motor vehicle accidents accidents

• It accounts for 25% of all violent crimeIt accounts for 25% of all violent crime

Liverpool has an agreed Multi-Agency

Threshold Guidance produced in September 2007

This is to be reviewed in February 2008

Thank YouThank You

Barnardo’sBarnardo’s

Westminster City CouncilWestminster City Council

Southampton Safeguarding Children Southampton Safeguarding Children BoardBoard

London Borough of CamdenLondon Borough of Camden

CAADA (Organisation)CAADA (Organisation)

and many othersand many others

How did we achieve it?How did we achieve it?

• Benchmarking with other LA’sBenchmarking with other LA’s

• Liaison with Canada and IrelandLiaison with Canada and Ireland

• Two LSCB Developments DaysTwo LSCB Developments Days

• LSCB Multi-Agency agreementLSCB Multi-Agency agreement

• Working Party to implement trainingWorking Party to implement training

• Threshold documents acknowledged by Threshold documents acknowledged by JAR inspectionJAR inspection

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceTHE LIVERPOOL SCENETHE LIVERPOOL SCENE

• July 2006: out of 360 referrals to Children's July 2006: out of 360 referrals to Children's Services Careline 120 related to domestic Services Careline 120 related to domestic violenceviolence

• Children unborn CPR 31Children unborn CPR 31stst August 2007 9 CP 6 August 2007 9 CP 6 relate to DVrelate to DV

• Serious case reviews 2003-5 University of East Serious case reviews 2003-5 University of East Anglia sample of 161 with a sub-sample of 47 - Anglia sample of 161 with a sub-sample of 47 - 50% featured domestic violence and 28% related 50% featured domestic violence and 28% related to teenage mothersto teenage mothers

• 10,000 plus incidents per year10,000 plus incidents per year

How many children are How many children are affected?affected?• At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic abuse. Nearly three At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic abuse. Nearly three

quarters of children on CPR live in household where domestic abuse quarters of children on CPR live in household where domestic abuse occursoccurs

Dept of Health (2003)Dept of Health (2003)• About 23.000 children stay in refuges every year and over 11,000 About 23.000 children stay in refuges every year and over 11,000

children use outreach and after care serviceschildren use outreach and after care servicesWomen's Aid (2006)Women's Aid (2006)

• CAFCASS officers state that DV features in about 66% of their casesCAFCASS officers state that DV features in about 66% of their casesHansard. Baroness Howarth (2005)Hansard. Baroness Howarth (2005)

Guidance on the factors contributing to Guidance on the factors contributing to the degree of risk of harm to mothers the degree of risk of harm to mothers and childrenand children

• Separation/violation of contactSeparation/violation of contact “ “If I can’t have her then no one will” If I can’t have her then no one will” particularly prevalentparticularly prevalent within within

the first 2 months of leavingthe first 2 months of leaving• Pregnancy new birth 30 percent of abuse starts or intensifies in Pregnancy new birth 30 percent of abuse starts or intensifies in

pregnancypregnancy• Escalation 35 percent of households have a second incident Escalation 35 percent of households have a second incident

within 5 weeks of the firstwithin 5 weeks of the first• Cultural awareness or isolation- social isolation, not consenting Cultural awareness or isolation- social isolation, not consenting

to marriage, insecure immigration status to marriage, insecure immigration status • Stalking - stalkers are likely to be more violent if they have had Stalking - stalkers are likely to be more violent if they have had

an intimate relationship with womanan intimate relationship with woman• Sexual assault - woman who are sexually assaulted are Sexual assault - woman who are sexually assaulted are

subjected to more serious injuries. One in 12 of all reported subjected to more serious injuries. One in 12 of all reported sexual offenders were considered to be very high risk and sexual offenders were considered to be very high risk and potentially dangerous offenderspotentially dangerous offenders

Other factorsOther factors

• Child abuse - in approximately a third to two thirds of DV Child abuse - in approximately a third to two thirds of DV there is also child physical and sexual abuse involving the there is also child physical and sexual abuse involving the same perpetratorsame perpetrator

• Background of violence/criminal careerBackground of violence/criminal career• Past use of weapons Past use of weapons • Animal abuse – it is estimated that 88 percent of pets living Animal abuse – it is estimated that 88 percent of pets living

in households with DV are either abused or killedin households with DV are either abused or killed• Issues of control - men who believe they should be in chargeIssues of control - men who believe they should be in charge• Recent suicide or homicidal ideation/intentRecent suicide or homicidal ideation/intent• Recent substance abuse dependency - 32 percent of Recent substance abuse dependency - 32 percent of

incidents are alcohol relatedincidents are alcohol related• Recent employment problemsRecent employment problems• Mental health Mental health

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence Level one – twoLevel one – twoAssessed as minor – moderate of short duration:Assessed as minor – moderate of short duration: Children in need of family support as protective strategies are Children in need of family support as protective strategies are

being put in place by mother.being put in place by mother. (For children under 7 threshold could be raised to level 3 as (For children under 7 threshold could be raised to level 3 as

children do not have safety strategies in place and are children do not have safety strategies in place and are dependant on their mothers to protect them and therefore dependant on their mothers to protect them and therefore strategy discussion needed)strategy discussion needed)

Domestic violence where children in family are under 12 Domestic violence where children in family are under 12 months including unborn – even if the child/children was not months including unborn – even if the child/children was not present, any single incident should trigger a strategy present, any single incident should trigger a strategy discussion/meeting and or CP conferencediscussion/meeting and or CP conference

Minor could include:Minor could include:Incident of short duration slap/pushIncident of short duration slap/pushEmotional/verbal abuse towards victimEmotional/verbal abuse towards victimLimited concern regarding parent’s capacityLimited concern regarding parent’s capacity

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4

HealthEducation Emotional & Behavioural Devel.Family & Social RelationshipsSocial PresentationSelf Care Skills

Basic CareEnsuring SafetyEmotional WarmthStimulationGuidance and BoundariesStability

Family History & FunctioningWider FamilyHousing Employment IncomeFamily's Social IntegrationCommunity Resources

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VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

LEVEL 1 UNIVERSAL NEEDLEVEL2 NEED FOR SUPPORTLEVEL3 CHILD WELFARE CONCERNSLEVEL 4 NEED FOR PROTECTION

Universal Service Level 1

No needs identified in relation to child, parent or family.

CASE STUDY

Joe (aged 5) starts in reception class at school. Child and family are not known to the school and only basic information is given on entry. Grandmother/grand father brings child to school and parents are rarely seen. Joe tells his teacher that dad does not live with them but sometimes comes to house and shouts

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence• Moderate could include:Moderate could include:

• Incidents not life threatening but caused injuriesIncidents not life threatening but caused injuries

Attention must be given to duration, frequency of Attention must be given to duration, frequency of incidences – kicked/hair pulling/beaten with incidences – kicked/hair pulling/beaten with hands/fists/headbuttedhands/fists/headbutted

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4




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U. S. LEVEL 1 UNIVERSAL NEEDLEVEL 2 NEED FOR SUPPORTLEVEL 3 CHILD WELFARE CONCERNSLEVEL 4 NEED FOR PROTECTION

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Level 2Need for Support services: child, parent or family. Some needs identified

CASE STUDYFebruary 2003Joe has unexplained absences from school. His appearance is very poor and he is a little under weight. He has begun to wet himself on occasions. and gets upset if the teacher raises her voice

Additional InformationSchool have revieeved anonymous information that Joe's mother has had several threats from her ex-partnerShe has contacted police and has said she will seek legal advice

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Level three – four could includeLevel three – four could include• Attempted strangulationAttempted strangulation• Attempted suffocationAttempted suffocation• Attempted drowningAttempted drowning• Assaults during pregnancyAssaults during pregnancy• Threats with weaponThreats with weapon• Sexual assault/abuseSexual assault/abuse• Attempting kidnapping of mother and childAttempting kidnapping of mother and child• Driving recklessly with mother/child in carDriving recklessly with mother/child in car• Non compliance with Court OrdersNon compliance with Court Orders• Threats of suicide Threats of suicide • Deprived of medical treatmentDeprived of medical treatment• Threat to kill mother and childThreat to kill mother and child• Separation violence Separation violence • Controlling food/money/locking food awayControlling food/money/locking food awayLevel 3/4 should trigger discussion and referral to SG UnitLevel 3/4 should trigger discussion and referral to SG Unit

Domestic violence Domestic violence LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4




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SLevel 3Child Welfare Concerns.

CASE STUDYMay 2003Joe's attendance is a cause for concern and the School Improvement Officer is involved. His appearance is very poor and he often wets or soils himself. He has spoken about Dad's violence to his Mother. He can be aggressive to other children. Additional Information

Joe's mum is now pregnantHealth visitor has seen mother (who has a severely bruised eye) and referred her to DV services. A referral has also been made to Children's Services because of the concerns about the unborrn baby

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceHealthEducation Emotional & Behavioural Devel.Family & Social RelationshipsSocial PresentationSelf Care Skills



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Level 4

Need for Protection.

CASE STUDYOct 2003Joe's attendance has improved a little and he is better dressed. Joe has a specific learning disability and his behaviour can be very challenging. He has covered himself with paint and needs a change of clothes. He is found to have bruising to his buttocks and thighs. He says "Daddy did it and he battered my Mum"

Additional InformationCareline have had several referrals and Police have been called out to DV incidents on four occasions in the last 4 months Mum's partner has DV history with previous partners

What the Safeguarding Unit What the Safeguarding Unit dodoQuality assurance roleQuality assurance roleLearning and Development UnitLearning and Development UnitChair child protection conferences Chair child protection conferences Attend MARACAttend MARACAttend MAPPP meetingsAttend MAPPP meetingsRepresent Unit on SCR GroupRepresent Unit on SCR GroupMembers of LSCB sub-groupsMembers of LSCB sub-groupsContribute to policies and proceduresContribute to policies and proceduresContribute to multi-agency trainingContribute to multi-agency trainingMembers of Domestic Violence ForumMembers of Domestic Violence ForumLearn from best practice and disseminate Learn from best practice and disseminate Contribute to City Wide Staying Safe agendaContribute to City Wide Staying Safe agendaLink into Crime and Disorder Reduction PartnershipLink into Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

A predictor of Good A predictor of Good Outcomes Outcomes

A good parent/child relationship, A good parent/child relationship, particularly with the mother, can particularly with the mother, can buffer children from inter-parental buffer children from inter-parental conflict and is the best predictor of conflict and is the best predictor of good outcomes in childrengood outcomes in children

Janet R Johnston 1994 “ High Conflict Janet R Johnston 1994 “ High Conflict Divorce” the Future of ChildrenDivorce” the Future of Children

The Way forward- Wish ListThe Way forward- Wish List• Multi agency training of thresholds Multi agency training of thresholds • Threshold guidance bedded in Threshold guidance bedded in • Golden hour approach Golden hour approach • Early multi agency intervention teamEarly multi agency intervention team• Neighbourhood resource panel Neighbourhood resource panel • Consider CP register and how much DV is a Consider CP register and how much DV is a

feature feature • Prevention - increased awareness Prevention - increased awareness

throughout the Looked after Children throughout the Looked after Children population population

• Learn and impart the lessons from Serious Learn and impart the lessons from Serious Case ReviewsCase Reviews

LinksLinks

• Barnardo’s practice manual regarding Barnardo’s practice manual regarding Safeguarding Children, Northern Ireland, Safeguarding Children, Northern Ireland, London and CanadaLondon and Canada

• Woman's Aid Woman's Aid www.womensaid.org.ukwww.womensaid.org.uk

• CAADA CAADA www.crag.org.ukwww.crag.org.uk

• Domestic Violence Threshold Document – Domestic Violence Threshold Document – www.safeguardingchildrenboard.liverpool.www.safeguardingchildrenboard.liverpool.gov.ukgov.uk

http://www.womensaid.org.uk/

http://www.crag.org.uk/

http://www.safeguardingchildrenboard.liverpool.gov.uk/

http://www.safeguardingchildrenboard.liverpool.gov.uk/

Documents

Domestic Violence Threshold Guidance