Assessing risk

Why?

It is essential to the success of this strategy that all partners across west Cheshire are able to respond effectively to a disclosure of domestic abuse. We need to build a system comprised of workers with the skills, knowledge, and support to assess risk and make decisions with confidence.

Making sure lessons from all the various reviews are communicated clearly and changes get implemented in a way that improves what we are doing is a priority.

The Family X Case Review, was jointly commissioned by the Local Safeguarding Adults Board and the Safeguarding Children's Partnership. It found that the Adult with care and support needs may have been coerced and controlled in relation to attendance at appointments, withdrawal from respite activities and aspects of her personal care. This may not have been apparent to practitioners at the time; however, the Review recommended that practitioner awareness of coercive controlling behaviour could be strengthened.

How?

The pathway outlined below clarifies what will happen in the event of an incident being reported to any professional.

Safety issues, including any need for medical attention will be addressed first.

The professional receiving the disclosure will complete a Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment Risk Identification Checklist (DASH RIC) assessment. The DASH RIC is an evidenced based risk assessment tool. It is a 24-point checklist that asks questions about various forms of abuse; physical, sexual, emotional, financial, coercion and control, including honour-based abuse. The use of this tool ensures a consistent approach to assessing risk across west Cheshire. Where the person who is harmed is a young person the teenage relationship abuse DASH RIC should be completed. This tool should accompany all domestic abuse related contacts to DAIPS services and i-art (Children's Services front door); to ensure that the risk to those who are harmed because of domestic abuse is fully understood and informs next steps. If the DASH RIC indicates a risk of HBV, the specific tool relating to this should also be completed.

Partners across west Cheshire have agreed to share information by way of Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). There are multi-agency meetings focused on increasing the safety of people who are at high risk of harm due to domestic abuse. MARACs are promoted nationally as the best practice response to domestic abuse. During the meeting up to date information is shared and a risk management plan developed.

People who are harmed are considered for MARAC if.

They are identified as high risk (14 or more points on the DASH RIC have been ticked).

If a professional has serious overall concerns about a harmed person or where abuse seems to be escalating.

All people at high risk of domestic abuse are contacted by an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor from the DAIPS service. IDVAs address the safety of people at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners, or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children. Serving as the person's primary point of contact, the IDVA works with their client from the point of crisis to assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop safety plans.

Any risk to children will also be assessed through our integrated access and referral team (i-art), which supports professionals and members of the public concerned about the welfare of a child, and families impacted by domestic abuse requiring a multi-agency response.

As a partnership we will aim for all partner agencies to have robust systems and processes to enable them to identify, support and signpost both those who are harmed and those who harm. A well-trained workforce is key to assessing risk and prevention. The Domestic Abuse training programme is delivered through the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership on behalf of the Local Authority. The refreshed training suite has been tailored to meet the ongoing training needs of the modern workforce and lessons learned from serious case reviews. Delegates can now choose which modules to complete according to the need of their role. It is the expectation that individuals will have completed basic awareness training and then build on their knowledge base through attendance at more advanced training. Ongoing development of the suite is necessary, including specific training for early years settings in recognition that significant proportions of effected children are in the 0 - 5 years age group.

In addition to this training programme partners across west Cheshire provide specific agency-based training to their staff, e.g. Cheshire Constabulary's commitment to provide Safelives Domestic Abuse Matters training to all frontline police officers.

Additionally, through working with the West Cheshire Suicide Prevention we will ensure all frontline staff have access to training in self-harm and suicide prevention to help them recognise risks and include these in safety plans where appropriate for both those who are harmed and those who harm.