TRAFFORD
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD
DOMESTIC ABUSE JOINT PROTOCOL
Written 2008
Updated November 2012 and October 2013
Date: January 2016
Review date: January 2017
Contents
Section / Page1. / Introduction / 3
2. / What is Domestic Abuse? / 4
3. / The Police / 4
4. / Action following Police Referrals to Health and Social Care / 5
5. / Guidance for Assessment / 6
6. / Guidance for Response / 7
7. / Tier 2: children and young people requiring a targeted co-ordinated response / 8
8. / Tier 3: children and young people with additional needs who require an integrated response / 8
9. / Tier 4: children and young people with acute/complex needs / 9
10. / Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference MARAC / 9
Appendix 1 / Domestic Abuse Referral Form (PPI) / 11
Protocol for information sharing between agencies (Police, Health, Children’s Social Care) and response to Domestic Abuse incidents
1.0INTRODUCTION
1.1Giving appropriate support to children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse is vital in order to ‘shift’ attitudes, behaviours and decision making.
1.2Almost a million children in Britain are affected by domestic abuse, either as victims or witnesses. The number has increased more than 22 per cent over the past decade. Domestic abuse is not only traumatic for children and young people, but is also likely to adversely impact on their behaviour, performance at school and future decision making.
1.3National research suggests the impact on the lives of children and young people (under 18) can be considerable as a result of being exposed to domestic abuse as they are often in the same room as the abuse or are able to hear it[1]. Some of the ways domestic abuse can affect a child or young person are: anxiety or depression, difficulty sleeping, bed wetting, temper tantrums, a lowered sense of self-worth, older children may begin to play truant or start to use alcohol or drugs, self-harm by taking overdoses or cutting themselves, have an eating disorder[2].
1.452% is the percentage of child protection cases involving domestic violence. 90% is the proportion of domestic violence in which children are in the same or next room[3]
1.5The purpose of this document is to outline the information sharing process between agencies and their agreed response to incidents of domestic abuse where children/unborn babies are a feature.
1.6Currently, information described in this protocol is not routinely shared with Education staff. If necessary MARAT, on receipt of Police information will contact the appropriate Head Teacher when there is significant information on the Police referral
1.7This protocol should be read in conjunction with Trafford Safeguarding Children Board (TSCB) Domestic Abuse Procedures
1.8Levels of need / risk described in this protocol are consistent with the TSCB Threshold Criteria
2.0 WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE?
2.1The cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse is:
Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:
- psychological
- physical
- sexual
- financial
- emotional
Controlling behaviour
- Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive behaviour
- Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim[4]
2.2The Adoption and Children Act 2002 acknowledged the significance of domestic violence for children by amending the definition of harm to include “impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another”
3.0 POLICE
3.1This protocol provides guidance to Specialist Domestic Abuse Investigators concerning the method and responsibility for sharing information with health,and Children’s Social Care (CSC) professionals
3.2The protocol determines which domestic abuse incidents are referred to health and CSC professionals and provides a transparent system so that partner agencies are clear about the threshold for referral/interventions
3.3Risk Assessment:On attendancePolice Officers carry out a risk assessment, which is line with Home Office and Force guidelines in respect of each reported domestic abuse incident
3.4This takes into account nationally agreed risk factors and the circumstances of each incident. The police will then respond accordingly to the identified risk, which in some cases may lead to an external agency referral and subsequent strategy meeting.
3.5Information Sharing:Information involving incidents of domestic abuse will be shared with healthandCSC professionals via the Public Protection Incident (PPI) referral form (Appx 1) where the incident involves any of the following:
Any domestic abuse incident where a child under 18 resides at the location and a crime is recorded.
Where no crime is recorded and this is the third reported domestic abuse incident within the previous 12 months where a child under 18 resides at the location.
Any incident where the victim/informant is pregnant.
Any incident where a child under 18 is a victim or perpetrator (i.e. actively involved), regardless of whether a crime is recorded.
Any incident where a child under 18 has called the police.
Any incident where there is a child abuse marker on the address.
Any incident which is deemed so serious that information must be shared.
Notification following previous information sharing/referral
Any incident involving perpetrators subject to licence or community orders
4.0ACTION FOLLOWING POLICE REFERRALS TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
4.1Referrals will be made by the Police, using the PPIreferral form (which include information from the Force wide Incident notification (FWIN) and DASH (Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment). The referral will be sent by secure e mail, normally within 24 hours of the domestic abuse incident, to
Health (via the Health Safeguarding Team:
CSC via the Multi Agency Referral and Assessment Team (MARAT)
If the case is already open to CSC, MARAT will forward the Police information to the allocated SW
4.2The Safeguarding Health team will securely e mail the PPI referral to the relevant health professional depending on the child’s age (Health Visitor, School Nurse and the Named Midwife for Safeguarding) within 5 working days. For children 16 and 17 years old who have finished school year 11 the information will be securely e mailed to the MARAT health practitioner to inform health agencies working with the child and/or the child’s GP
5.0 GUIDANCE FOR ASSESSMENT
5.1The following are risk and protective factors which need to be considered by MARAT (and CSC if the case is already open) to assess the most appropriate level of response.
5.2 Risk Factors:(SPECSS factors: Separation/Pregnancy/Escalation/Cultural issues/Stalking/Sexual assault[5] )
(i)Parent/Carer with mental health difficulties
(ii)Drug/alcohol misuse
(iii)Pregnancy, post natal, young babies and children in household
(iv)Incidents becoming more frequent and/or violent in nature
(v)Recently separated and/or child contact issues
(vi)Long term relationship characterised by violence/aggression
(vii)Children directly witnessing the violence
(viii)Children reporting violence
(ix)Victim minimising effects of violence on self and children
(x)Child previously subject to a Child Protection Plan or currently on a child protection plan
(xi)Socially isolated due to cultural diversity
5.3 Protective Factors
(i)Contact with Greater Manchester Police to prevent incident escalating
(ii)Seeking legal advice
(iii)Legal order in place
(iv)Domestic Violence Prevention Notice/ Order in place
(v)Awareness of impact of Domestic Abuse on self and children
(vi)Ability to prioritise children’s needs above self and partner
(vii)Support networks in place
(viii)Other agency involvement in supportive capacity, e.g., TDAS, Victim Support, Relate, School, Health Services, Community Drugs or alcohol services, Independent Domestic Violence Advocate
(ix)Perpetrator willing to engage with services
(x)Perpetrator left family home (consider increased risk of separation)
(xi)Where an application for Claire’s Law has been made
6.0GUIDANCE FOR RESPONSE
6.1On receipt of information relating to the domestic incident, MARAT/CSC will decide, based on the risk or protective factors which level this meetson Trafford’s threshold criteria (see section 1).MARAT will make a decision within 24 hours (Monday – Friday 08.30 am – 4.30 pm).
6.2 MARAT may contact partner agencies for information as appropriate
6.3 On receipt of the information from the Police, the relevant Health professional will contact MARAT on 0161 912 5124/5125 if they hold additional relevant information which may have an impact on the level of concern
6.4Professionals should be aware of their own personal safety when following up visits to domestic abuse incidents in line with their own organisations health and safety policies (although this should never result in agencies withdrawing their services without multi-agency discussion/planning - if it’s dangerous for the professional - it’s dangerous for the child)
6.5Individual agencies are responsible for the confidential, safe and secure storage of the information received
7.0 TIER 2 – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REQUIRING A TARGETED AND CO-ORDINATED RESPONSE
7.1Once a decision is reached that no further action is required by MARAT, a MARAT SWwill attempt telephone contact with the victim (to inform) if it is safe and appropriate to do so (victims are given information by Police when they are in attendance at an incident)
7.2The MARAT health practitioner will inform the midwife (where relevant) of the progress of the case and no further action. If the child resides out of Trafford the MARAT health practitioner will inform the health visitor and school nurse of the outcome of the case
7.3On receipt of the incident notification health professional case load holder/duty HV shouldmake an assessment using professional judgement regarding future management of the case
7.4Healthwill offer the family with their consent, a service at level 2. The completion of an early help assessment should be considered.
8.0TIER 3 – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS WHO REQUIRE AN INTEGRATED RESPONSE (MEDIUM COMPLEX – HIGH COMPLEX)
8.1This is the level at which a coordinated multi-agency response is required due to the child/young person’s complex or multiple needs. In these cases an Early Help Assessment (EHA) must be completed, a Family Support Meeting held and a case coordinator from the most appropriate agency appointed. The Family Support Meeting will determine the multi-agency support plan which will be regularly reviewed
8.2In these cases, it is possible that the EHA may uncover additional information which increases the risk to the child(ren). Within Tier 3, there are a group of children with more complex needs (for example those exposed to high levels of domestic abuse) who may be considered to be at the higher end of Tier 3 – it may, therefore be appropriate to re- refer to MARAT at that point
8.3The decision to refer the child/young person should be taken at the Family Support Meeting based on the Early Help Assessment and Plan, the information shared which indicates that the current level of intervention is not improving the outcomes for the child/young person. If MARAT accepts the referral an assessment will be completed by a social worker. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, the child may still be supported at Tier 3 but with social work involvement.
8.4Inthis context consider the following to determine the level of risk:
(i)History of previous domestic violence.
(ii)Serious incident which may have resulted in injury to an adult.
(iii)Parent/carer with mental health issues (refer to Joint Protocol)
(iv)Concerns regarding drug/alcohol misuse.
(v)Moderate/severe learning disability.
(vi)Risk/protective factors exist but the potential for change is unknown.
9.0TIER 4 – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ACUTE/COMPLEX NEEDS
9.1 In these circumstances many risk factors exist and protective factors are either absent or insufficient to affect change.
9.2 Management of concerns at Tiers 2 and 3 haveproved unsuccessful. A decision may be made by MARAT to undertake a section 47 investigationin which case a multi-agency strategy discussion will be held. The outcome of the strategy meetings may be:
No further role for CSC
Recommendation that the case is managed at Child in Need
Recommendation that a case conference should be initiated
9.3In those cases where the child is already an open case to social care, the Police will refer to MARAT as described in this protocol. MARAT will forward the information to the relevant social worker/family support team, whose responsibility it is to make a professional judgement regarding how to proceed with future management of the case in light of new information.
10.0 MULTI AGENCY RISK ASSESSMENT CONFERENCE (MARAC)
10.1MARAC is a multi-agency response to tackling domestic abuse. In a single meeting, a domestic abuse MARAC combines up to date risk information with a comprehensive assessment of a victim’s needs and links those directly to the provision of appropriate services for all those involved in a case: victim, children and perpetrator.
10.2The MARAC has been established in Trafford since 2007. The multi-agency conferences take place every 2 weeks and offer a combined response to high-risk domestic abuse cases across Trafford.
10.3 The aim of the MARAC is:
(i)To share information to increase the safety, health and well
being of victims – adults and their children;
(ii)To determine whether the perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular individual or to the general community;
(iii)To jointly construct and implement a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm;
(iv)To reduce repeat victimisation;
(v)To improve agency accountability;
(vi)Improve support for staff involved in high-risk domestic abuse cases.
(vii)The role of the MARAC is to facilitate, monitor and evaluate effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public safety.
10.4It is vital that Health, Education and CSC are represented at Trafford MARAC. These representatives should ensure that information from their agency is presented to MARAC to contribute to multi-agency risk assessment. In addition, MARAC outcomes should be shared with relevant professionals (within Health, Education and CSC)
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RESTRICTEDAPPENDIX 1Domestic Abuse Referral Form
To: / Trafford Multi Agency Referral and Assessment Team
Date Report Created:
PPI Reference Number:
Person Creating Report:
Division Contact Details: / Trafford Domestic Abuse Unit
Altrincham Police Station
Barrington Road
Altrincham
WA14 1HZ
Tel: 0161 856 7574
Fax: 0161 855 2295
Email:
Reason For Referral
Incident Details
Incident Reference:
Date:
Time:
Incident Address:
Initial Report to Police:
Significant Other
Name:
DOB:
Ethnicity:
Address:
Telephone:
Relationships:
Present at incident?
RESTRICTED
Form 414A / Page 1 of / 2
Significant Other
Name:
DOB:
Ethnicity:
Address:
Telephone:
Relationships:
Present at incident?
Circumstances Of Incident and Safeguarding Activity Undertaken
Additional Information
Strategy meeting requested? / Yes / No (delete as applicable)
Adult Vulnerability Information form submitted? / Yes / No (delete as applicable)
DASH Included? / No / If No, reason why:
Previous Domestic History attached? / No / If No, reason why:
Further Information
(e.g. weapons used, MARAC referral, any vulnerability issues, extra nominal information e.t.c.)
RESTRICTED
Form 414A / Page 2 of / 2
Page 1 of 12
[1] Hughes 1992
[2]RoyalCollege of Psychiatrists 2004
[3] Responding to Domestic Abuse: A handbook for professionals (2005) Department of Health
[4] Home Office definition amended March 2015
[5]