1. Barnardo’s Core Presentation Slide No. 1
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Barnardos Domestic violence: Risk Assessment Model Maddie Bell Domestic Violence Consultant

2. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A Risk Assessment Model
PRINCIPLES OF THE MODEL:
Protecting children is the first priority
Protecting the non-abusing parent usually the mother helps protect the child
Providing supportive resources
Perpetrators are responsible for their abusive behaviour
Respecting the non-abusing parents’ right to direct their life without placing children at increase risk of further abuse.

3. N.Ireland DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A Risk Assessment Model
BACKGROUND:
Adapted from a manual produced by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services in Canada by Barnardos NI
Piloted and implemented with Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland by Barnardos over a 4 year period. ( 2003 to 2008) and case data collected to support development of the threshold scales of risk factors and nine assessment areas
Endorsed by the NI Regional Steering Group for domestic violence, Social Care Trust’s who now fund the model’s implementation and supportive by Trust’s ACPC’s –NI Safeguarding Board is currently being established
Gender specific; assessing male to female domestic violence but includes a framework for understanding female use of violence
The model in NI was initially
designed for use by Social Work staff to assess the severity of domestic abuse experienced by children and young people, living within families exposed to domestic violence.
The model consists of :
A core assessment tool with nine assessment areas
A set of threshold scales which were initially designed to analysis the level of risk to children and young people and have now developed into the multi-agency risk identification scales as outlined in London Safeguarding Board Policy document ‘Safeguarding Children abused through domestic abuse’
Safety planning interventions for women, children, and young people

4. BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model
AIMS:
To help children and young people stay safe and healthy, that is to attain the objectives for children outlined in Every Child Matters and Children Act 1989
To increase the competence of Social care professionals and Multi-agency staff when dealing with domestic violence through a training and mentoring package.
OBJECTIVES:
To assist staff to identify risks to children from domestic violence
To assist staff in decisions whether a case presents as in need of a safeguarding response or family support
To help staff to make appropriate intervention for children, non-abusing parent and perpetrators
To provide a specific domestic violence risk assessment format within initial and core assessments

5. BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model
Implementation:
Phase 1: Formation of Steering Group
Phase 2: Presentation to Local Safeguarding Board
Phase 3: Training Module 1: Multi-agency ½ day DV awareness training and use of the threshold scales and professional guidance.100 Multi-agency staff (inc CAF assessors, health professionals, education)
Phase 4: Training Module 2 & 3- Two days training on initial core domestic violence risk assessment model.
Phase 5: Training Module 4 -One day training on safety planning interventions with children and mothers.
25 social workers or key practitioners. E.g. CP coordinator, Police etc
Phase 6: Mentoring – practice learning session
Groups of 5/6 staff four session each, usually on a monthly bases.
Four separate modules:
Module 1: Multi-agency domestic violence threshold scale
Designed for front-line multi-agency staff to enable screening/ identification of risk and to provide specific guidance for the initiation of CAF and appropriate levels of intervention
Module 2: Domestic Violence Initial Assessment within Social care
Training consisting of a number of triggers for assessing the risk to children and the non abusing parent for use by Social care staff whilst undertaking an initial assessment
Module 3: Domestic Violence CORE assessment within Social Care A specific in-depth DV core assessment tool to be used by Social Care staff when children/ YP are subject to core assessment. Sec 17/47 of CA 89
Module 4: Safety intervention with children and mothers Provides social care staff with safety planning interventions to be undertaken with children/yp and the non abusing parent during initial assessment and core assessment process.

6. BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model
OUTCOMES:
Increased staff awareness and understanding of the dynamics of DV and the risks domestic violence presents for children and young people
An improvement in Social workers ability to respond more effectively to domestic violence.
Safety planning and risk assessment will enable staff to assess children’s safety in families where domestic violence occurs
Non-abusing parent will be more aware of the risks posed by domestic violence and be able to keep themselves and their child safer
More accurate core assessments where domestic violence is intensely assessed
More children and young people will be identified as requiring support and safeguarding
Children/ YP and the non-abusive parent will have safety planning interventions aimed at improving their safety.
Parallel process – model matches other risk assessment tools – Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), SPECCS (Domestic Violence Risk assessment used by the Police) and Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CARDA) .

7. BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model
BENEFITS
Greater support to staff dealing with domestic violence cases
It enhances the assessment process within CAF as a specific risk assessment tool.
It supports the Governments objective within Every Child Matters
Maintains the focus of domestic violence as a main concern within the assessment framework without marginalising any other significant concern
BENEFITS:
More specialised domestic violence assessment of families during section 47 & section 17 enquiries
Provides a consistent multi-agency framework to identify and assess level of risk
Increases safeguarding of children with greater informed decision making.
Greater focus on the needs of children and victims
Offers holistic support to families