Providing services for children and young people
Why?
Children and young people are often the hidden victims of domestic abuse. Children of any age are affected by domestic abuse whatever the risk level. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact on a child's social and physical development. Living in an adverse environment or prolonged exposure to adverse experiences subject the developing body to an extended period in the "fight or flight response" which can alter the way the brain, nervous and immune systems develop. Children affected by the trauma associated with domestic abuse experience poorer physical, emotional, mental health, educational and employment outcomes, and their potential to enjoy healthy, happy respectful relationships. It can increase the likelihood of them having unhealthy and abusive relationships or perpetrating harmful behaviours towards others, including their parents. Domestic abuse amongst older young people aged 16 - 18 year old is becoming more prevalent and abuse in this age range often coexists alongside youth culture regarding use of social media and can be a feature associated with exploitation. Without early and comprehensive assessment and intervention, the impact of domestic abuse on children can be life-long.
How?
This strategy recognises the importance of early intervention and how agencies working in partnership can reduce the risk of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people.
Professionals and members of the public with concerns about the welfare of a child, families requiring multi-agency support and individuals affected by domestic violence and abuse are able to contact our integrated Access and Referral Team (i-art). This team comprises social workers, early support officers and partners from health and drug and alcohol services, i-art is co located with the Domestic Abuse Intervention and Prevention Service and Cheshire Police Referral Unit ensuring a holistic and timely response to the impact of domestic abuse. Where there are immediate safeguarding concerns for children and young people i-art will recommend a social worker offers support and interventions to reduce the risk.
In situations where there are not immediate safeguarding concerns and there are identified complex needs our Early Help and Prevention service can offer interventions and support. This can also include therapeutic interventions, recovery group work and safety planning.
We will reduce the impact of domestic abuse on children, young people and families by working restoratively with families.
We consider children and young people who use violence towards their parents as being a safeguarding issue.
When a family require safe accommodation by way of our commissioned refuge provision, a children's worker is available to offer support, counselling and play therapy.
It is critical that we engage with children at the earliest opportunity to support them to understand about healthy relationships.
Schools within west Cheshire are signed up to Our Ways or Working and engaging with children using trauma informed practice. As a result of Operation Encompass education settings within west Cheshire are able to support the child/young person and where needed their family to recover from an incident and improve outcomes. Some settings use Emotional Literacy Support Assistant and the 'do you feel what I feel' toolkit (Monkey Bob) to support children.
Where children and young people are impacted upon by domestic abuse we will:
- offer interventions that safeguard and support those children and young people that require it.
- provide evidence-based recovery programmes for children and young people.
- work in collaboration to ensure the impact of domestic abuse is recognised and acted upon.
- ensure that there are children's representatives at MARAC to ensure the child's voice is heard
- have a trauma informed response to the experiences of children and young people
- ensure DVA awareness is embedded in all training relating to children and families.
- promote awareness of healthy relationships.