The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 puts a definition of Domestic Abuse (DA) in law for the first time. DA can affect anyone.
The definitions of DA are:
DA consists of the above between two people aged 16 or older who are ‘personally connected’. ‘Personally connected’ includes those in an intimate personal relationship or those who are related.
The definition recognises children as victims of DA if they see, hear or otherwise experience the effects of abuse and are related to either the abuser or the abused.
The ‘Act’ introduced the following duties:
Where a person discloses that they have been subject to DA, they should be supported to be open and listened to. In all cases, a DASH Risk Assessment should be completed. Practitioners should also follow their own agency safeguarding procedures.
It is also important to ensure any disabilities are reviewed/explored during risk assessment as this may impact on safety and support planning requirements for the individual.
This includes:
Combined DASH Homicide Timeline Assessments (presenting mental health issues) (PDF 182.64KB)
Completed DASH Risk Assessment documents can be emailed to Victim Support.
Email: cumbriaidsva@victimsupport.org.uk
Documents should be password protected with a follow up email containing the password.
After receiving the documents, consideration will be given as to the best method of support, including referral to MARAC.
The SafeLives Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for the identification of risk in cases of DA, stalking and ‘honour’-based violence in young people’s relationships.
The Young People’s SafeLives Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) will allow you to apply the wide-ranging research available on risk in adult cases of DA, combined with the more limited evidence base that relates to young people experiencing intimate partner abuse, and use it to begin the risk assessment process with a young person who is being harmed within a relationship.
Date risk checklist: young people (Safe Lives)
Note that this is yet to be updated with the Homicide Timeline.
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference weekly (MARAC) is a meeting to discuss how to help victims at high-risk of murder/serious harm.
As a multi-agency meeting it allows the sharing of information and resources between agencies and professionals.This allows agencies to volunteer specialist actions/support – which create multi-agency risk management action plans. Together the attendees write an action plan for each victim
The MARAC enables agencies to work together and share resources and increases the safety, health and wellbeing of victim’s adults and their children.
14 'yes' ticks on the DASH (evidence-based tool which informs practitioners about clients circumstances and the risk of serious harm)
Professional Judgement - Use your professional judgement in conjunction with the DASH risk indicators to assist in identifying and grading the risk
Definition of Professional Judgement:
Professional Judgement should be used if:
Support is available to those who are fleeing DA, including adults and their children. There is a Statutory Duty to provide accommodation and support.
Please contact Cumberland Council
Breaking the cycle of DA is key to providing safety for all citizens of Cumberland.
Turning the Spotlight (TTS) provides a RESPECT accredited holistic whole family approach to working with those causing harm and abuse. This also includes situations where conflict within relationships is becoming or has the potential to become abusive. This is based on a 12-week healthy relationships group programme.
TTS is also piloting a high-risk service ‘They Matter’ which works with perpetrators of DA who have been assessed as causing a high risk of harm. The programme is 27 weeks and combines both group and 1:1 work.
All the services provided by Victim Support Cumbria are free and you may or may not need to have reported to the police (meaning Perpetrators of DA can access programmes without conviction).
