Domestic Violence and the risk it poses for children and young people

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• Domestic Violence and the risk it poses for
  children and young people
• Increase knowledge regarding identification,
  assessment and disclosure
• Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Model (DVRAM)
  which incorporates Risk Identification Matrix
  (DVRIM) implemented within London Safeguarding
  Boards procedure- Safeguarding Children Abused
  through Domestic Violence Maddie
  BellDomestic Violence Consultant e mail
  maddie.bell_at_barnardos.org.uk
• www.londonscb.gov.uk

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Barnardos Domestic Violence Risk Assessment
Model (DVRAM) which has developed DVRIM -
Domestic Violence Risk Identification Matrix

• Background
• Adapted from a manual produced by the Ontario
  Ministry of Community and Social Services in
  Canada
• Piloted with Social Care Trusts in Northern
  Ireland over a 5 year period supported by the
  Domestic Violence Regional Steering Group-Support
  for Childrens Evaluated by Martin Calder
  (London and NI.)

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Barnardos Domestic Violence Risk Assessment
Model which has developed DVRIM

• 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.

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London Safeguarding Board Policy Safeguarding
Children Abused Through Domestic Violence

• London Safeguarding Board in its policy document
  Safeguarding Children Abused through Domestic
  Violence. Barnardos Domestic Violence Risk
  Identification Matrix is a key multi-agency
  assessment tool in assessing the level of risk to
  children who experience domestic violence.
• The Matrix has been designed to work in
  conjunction with CAF, SPECSS, MARAC, CAADA and
  MASRAM.

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What was the familys experience of domestic
violence? London Serious Case Reviews

• Mother was suffering or had suffered domestic
  violence (56)
• The percentage of child protection cases
  involving domestic violence 52
• Nearly 75 of children on the CPR live in
  households where domestic violence occurs

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Shaken Babies

• Shaken baby cases where domestic violence was
  present 66
• In the remaining 33 of cases there was no
  information to indicate whether or not domestic
  violence was present
• In the cases where the child was scalded by the
  mother, there was significant domestic violence

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Serious case review research PHYSICAL ASSAULT
AND HEAD INJURIES IN BABIES Factors linked to
the childs father

• There was domestic violence in most of the
  households where children were living (see
  environmental features) and this was most often
  linked directly to the childs father (or their
  mothers partner) who often had a history of
  living in a violent household as a child.
• Where information was recorded about fathers or
  father figures, behavioural problems in childhood
  were common. Current links with probation and
  mental health agencies were more frequent than
  links with childrens social care.
• For some fathers there was a past history of
  contact with childrens social care.

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Serious case review researchPHYSICAL ASSAULT AND
HEAD INJURIES IN BABIES Factors linked to the
childs mother

• A history of witnessing domestic violence in
  childhood, sometimes, but not always, linked to
  parental separation.
• Current or recent domestic violence, including
  domestic violence during pregnancy, sometimes
  requiring hospital admission.
• The effects of domestic violence on the child
  were minimised by the mother.
• Significant maternal illness during pregnancy,
  including illness requiring hospital admission,
  sometimes including discharging self against
  medical advice.
• For some a history of mental health
  difficulties. Past but rarely current involvement
  with childrens social care, CAMHS, or other
  mental health services.

• A minority had a known history of sexual abuse.
• Some had learning difficulties or SEN statements
  when at school, and some were aggressive/violent
  at school and/or at home.
• Some young mothers were described as immature,
  in comparison with other young mothers, with many
  having poor temper control.
• Concerted efforts to conceal identity and
  whereabouts, for example moving frequently and
  changing name several times.
• Partner or father is an adult who poses a risk
  to a child (known as schedule 1 offender).

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Serious Case Review Research Eco-Transactional
Factors

• Understanding Interaction of risk factors is
  Key
• This is difficult for the medical and health care
  staff as there will be patchy information about
  parents and environmental factors.

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Interacting risk factors an Ecological-transacti
onal perspective

• Importance of understanding parental psychology
• 2. Importance of historical context and a
  dynamic, analytical assessment (not incident
  driven)
• 3. Consider dynamics of engagement with
  professionals (resistance, uncooperative)

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Barnardos Domestic Violence Risk Assessment
Model (DVRAM)- Incorporates Four Tools

• Multi-agency Domestic Violence Risk
  Identification Matrix in the format of 4
  threshold scales (DVRIM) links to CAF and
  MARAC assessment processes
• Social Care Initial Assessment (DVRAM) Sect. 17
  47 to include Children's Safety Assessment (to
  be piloted in NI in 2009/10)
• Social Care Core Assessment (DVRAM)- Sect.47
• Safety intervention with children and mothers
• Mentoring support group work programme for
  social care staff to support implementation of
  models tools six months duration

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London Safeguarding Domestic Violence policy
implementing Barnardos Domestic violence
multi-agency Risk Assessment Matrix

• Objectives of DVRIM
• To assist multi-agency and social care staff to
  identify risks to
• children from domestic violence
• To assist multi-agency and social care staff in
  decisions
• whether a case presents as in need of a
  safeguarding response
• or family support
• To help staff to make appropriate interventions
  for children,
• non-abusing parent and perpetrators
• To provide a specific domestic violence risk
  assessment
• format within initial and core assessments
  within social care
• To provide a model of safety intervention work
  for women
• and children

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Identifying Children in Need using CAFDomestic
Violence impacts on at least 80 of assessment
areas in childs developmental needs, parenting
capacity and family and environmental factors
Basic care
Health
Education
Ensuring Safety
Emotional Behavioural needs
Emotional Warmth
Child in Need Safeguarding and Promoting
Their Welfare
Identity
Childs Developmental Needs
Parenting Capacity
Stimulation
Family Social Relationships
Social Presentation
Guidance Boundaries
Stability
Self Care Skills
Family Environmental Factors
Community Resources
Familys Social Integration
Income
Wider Family
Family History Functioning
Employment
Housing
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Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
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High risk factors within the Matrix are built on-

• References/Influential Research Practice
  Consultancy - Victim Focussed Risk Factors
• Guidance on Investigating Domestic Violence 2005
  
• produced on behalf of the Association of Chief
  Police
• Officers by the National Centre for Police
  Excellence
• MPS Metropolitan Police Service Risk Assessment
  Model for
• Domestic Violence
• These factors are based on research and analysis
  conducted
• by the Understanding and Responding to Hate
  Crime Team,
• 2001 and on SARA (Spousal Assault Risk
  Assessment)
• SARA (Spousal Assault Risk Assessment ) developed
  by
• R.Kropp
• CAADA and MARAC ( former Cardiff police Domestic
  Abuse Report) Initial Risk Assessment- SPECSS,
  CUSSCAAM

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High risk factors within the Matrix are built on-

• Child Focussed Risk Factors
• Evidence based practice NI and London (
  Barnet)-application of risk assessment
  threshold scales to over 250
• social work cases.
• Serious Case Review Research UK June 2007-M.
  Brandon and
• London Serious Case Reviews 2007
• M. Calder Consultancy on domestic violence risk
  factors
• within ethnic minority groups
• C. Bell Towards an empirical basis for Domestic
  Violence
• Risk Assessment. In Assessment in Kinship Care,
  by Talbot, C
• Calder, M (2006)
• CAF common assessment framework

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Barnardo's Multi-Agency Domestic Violence Risk
Identification Matrix (DVRIM) within the new
London procedures-Safeguarding Children Abused
Through Domestic Violence

• A multi-agency assessment framework which
  assesses the
• level of risk to a child/young person who is
  experiencing
• domestic violence in their family using a four
  levels threshold
• scale matrix (section 9.2 of London
  procedures)
• It also assesses the level of risk to the
  mother- incorporating
• adult focussed risk factors from SPECSS and
  MARAC
• (section 9)
• It identifies the nature and level of the
  perpetrator's violence
• and abuse (supports Section 9-1-4)
• It indicates the level of intervention required
  to support and
• safeguard children and in doing so also can be
  used to protect
• mother ( section 9.2)
• It begins to examine the impact of the domestic
  violence on
• the child and mother
• ( section 8 and 9)

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Responding to Domestic Violence where there are
no children in the household

• Establish if woman is a vulnerable adult
  refer to POVA
• procedures
• Use risk identification matrix to assess the
  level of risk of
• harm to woman
• Refer the woman to local DV agency if risk of
  harm is at
• threshold 3 consider making a referral into
  the MARAC
• process and threshold 4 make referral to
  MARAC

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London Safeguarding Procedures for Multi-Agency
Risk Identification Matrix (DVRIM)

• Each threshold scale has categories to assist
  the professional
• to think through what the information they
  have is about
• Evidence of domestic violence-this is the
  most significant
• determinate of the scales attention to
  severity, frequency,
• pattern and duration of domestic violence
  incident
• Characteristics of the child or situation
  which are additional
• risk factors/potential vulnerabilities
  these are factors that may
• increase the risk to children
• Characteristics of the child or situation
  which are protective
• factors. Professionals should keep in mind
  that protective
• factors may help to mitigate risk factors
  and potential
• vulnerabilities
• The matrix also identifies the risks to mothers
  and enhances the use of SPECCS, MARAC and MASRAM
  processes

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London Safeguarding Procedures for Multi-Agency
Risk Identification Matrix (DVRIM)

• The younger the child(ren) the higher the risk to
  their safety. Any child aged under 7 or child
  with special needs in the family can raise the
  threshold to scale 3/4 as child(ren) may be
  potentially at risk of significant harm and
  referral into Social Care for section 17 or
  section 47 WHY?
• Young children have no or extremely limited
  self-protection strategies and they seek out
  mothers comfort when anxious/upset-they are
  often caught up or come down into the DV
  incident.
• Older children can develop short-term coping
  strategies that may keep them safe in the short
  term but all children suffer from potential or
  actual emotional abuse.
• All children who experience DV in their families
  are exposed to hostile/tense family environments,
  AND they can directly witness, intervene or be
  directly physically abused or sexually abused
• Child who summons help are at increased risk as
  they may be punished by abuser for calling in
  professional help.

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Factors that increase vulnerability/ level of
risk to child

• Duration of the domestic violence incident
• Severity of the domestic violence and abuse
• Age of children and age range of children within
  the family
• Children under 12 months including an unborn
  child-even if
• the child was not present, any single incident
  of DV will fall
• within scale 4-Section 47 enquiry - referral to
  LA childrens
• social care
• Children or a mother with special needs- (mother
  may be a
• vulnerable adult - consult POVA)
• Interlinking risk factors/cluster effect
  substance misuse,
• mental health issues, neglect/parenting issues,
  age and age
• disparities of mother/father/father figure/adult
  learning difficulties
• Vulnerable history of both women and abuser
• Child/ren or mothers from a BMER community
• Child/ren being physically and sexually abused
• Child/ren may be perpetrating abuse towards other
  family members

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Risk Identification Matrix

• Threshold scales 1 and 2 assess the domestic
  abuse as moderate and family support is deemed
  the supportive intervention. An assessment may be
  completed one each child in family/household.
• Scale 2 has a specific risk factor regarding the
  age of
• children living in the family the age of the
  child
• increases the level of risk and can raise the
  threshold
• scale for the family to scale 3.

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Risk Identification Matrix

• Scales 3 and 4 assesses the severity of
  domestic violence as serious and severe with
  increasing concern regarding childrens well
  being due to additional contributory risk factors
• An assessment is required-Level 3 section 17
  and level 4 Section 47
• At level 3 safeguarding procedures may be
  initiated

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DVRAM Tool Two Social Care Domestic Violence
Initial Assessment tool

• Area 1 ASSESS THE NATURE OF THE DOMESTIC
  VIOLENCE
• Guidance Triggers
• Severity of the incidents - Pattern, frequency
  and duration/process of domestic violence-not
  isolate incident
• Perpetrators level of dangerous weapons,
  criminal history ( refer to threshold scales)
• Is mother pregnant?
• Escalation of abuse-separation violence,
  stalking/harassment and use of isolation.
• Is there protracted custody and contact disputes
• Prior evidence of victim or perpetrator being in
  an abusive relationship
• Use of separation violence/retaliation
  abusive/threatening behaviour of perpetrator
• Co-existence of child abuse, child sexual abuse,
  parental mental health problems, substance misuse
• Parental learning difficulties

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DVRAM Tool Two Social Care Domestic Violence
Initial Assessment tool

• Area 2 ASSESS RISKS TO CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE
• Guidance Triggers
• Age range of children under 7 yrs (young
  children/children with special needs increases
  risk) How where children caught up in the abuse,
  directly witnessed, intervened, coerced into
  abuse of mother, summoned help?- children who
  summons help are at an increased risk of further
  abuse from perpetrator/mother
• .Childs demeanours i.e.. duration of incident,
  childs actions during incident, impact on child
  (aftermath of incident-days following)
• Evidence of child being exposed to domestic
  violence-changes in childs demeanour/behaviour
  self harm, exhibiting distracted behaviours (lack
  of concentration), aggressive, concerning
  behaviour, young carer responsibilities ,child
  neglect, bulling or being bullied, over-eager to
  be and remain in school
• BMER ( black,minority,ethnic,refugee) issues
  causing concern in childs current family
  circumstances

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DVRAM Tool Two Social Care Domestic Violence
Initial Assessment tool

• Area 3 ASSESS PROTECTIVE FACTORS
• Guidance Triggers
• Womans acknowledges risks to self and children
• Woman is receptive to supportive services is
  risk level is high woman will separate and go to
  safe accommodation
• Significant safe other/positive family support
• Perpetrator has made initial attempts to be
  accountable for his abusive behaviour
  compliant, unsure of motivation to seek
  appropriate help
• Protective orders in place/being sought but
  recent separation does not guarantee safety
  risk of separation violence, retaliation violence
  or reconciliation
• Risk matrix scale level and summary of risk
  factors identified in family

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DVRAM Tool Three Domestic Violence Core
Assessment Tool for social care staff undertaking
section 17 and section 47 Enquires
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Domestic Violence Core Assessment Nine
assessment areas

1. Assess the nature of the violence
2. Assess risks to the children posed by the
   perpetrator
3. Assess the risk of life-threatening abuse
4. Assess the perpetrators pattern of assault and
   coercive behaviours.
5. Assess the impact of the violence on the children
   
6. Assess the impact of the abuse on the woman
7. Assess the impact of the abuse on parenting roles
8. Assess protective factors
9. Assess the outcome of the womans past help
   seeking

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Mentoring Programme for DVRAM

• Mentoring programme for DVRAM provided input on
• Engaging with perpetrator-guidance for social
  care staff undertaking an initial interview with
  an abuser
• Childrens resilience-guidance on variation of
  impact on child/ren and possible resilient
  factors
• A framework for assessing female use of violence
  within an intimate adult relationship.
• Parenting style of an abuser an assessment of an
  abusers parenting role
• These additional frameworks need to be developed
  as appendixes to the DVRAM core assessment tool

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DVRAMs Tool Four Safety Interventions with
Women and Children/Young People-a Parallel
Intervention
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Safety Planning- steps with women

• 1. Personnel safety when he is threatening or
  being violent.
• 2. Personnel safety when preparing to leave.
• 3. Personnel safety when you are no longer living
  with with your abusive partner.
• 4. Personnel safety and your emotional health.

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Safety Steps

• 5. Personnel safety when you are working/in
  public.
• 6. Personnel safety when you are using
  alcohol/drugs.
• 7. Personnel safety with orders of protection.
• 8. Personnel safety and my children.

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Safety Planning with Children 5yrs to 12 yrs
using talking pictures-for both front line staff
and supportive DV services
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Childrens Safety Steps

• Sometimes things are OK
• in my family but sometimes
• my parents fight and my dad
• hurts my mum.

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Childrens Safety Steps
I can keep myself safe when dad hurts mum by
staying in my bedroom
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Childrens Safety Steps

• Keeping myself safe by
• staying out of dad and
• mums fights

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Key Safety Messages to Children

• Child is not to blame when dad hits mum
• Domestic violence is not childrens fault. It is
  an adult problem. Child need to go to a safe
  place when dad is hurting mum
• Mum wants you to go to your safe place
• Stay out of the fights as dad could hurt you too
• Children who summons help use of mobile
  phone-Professionals be aware that child can be
  punished for summoning help by parents so must
  seek mothers consent to teach child how to use
  999 in their safety plan
• Children dont have to keep secrets when they are
  being hurt and abused
• Children dont have to keep secrets when they are
  feeling scared
• Just because mum argues with dad or dad feels
  angry with mum,doesnt make it OK for him to hit
  her.

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Barnardo's DVRIM with London procedures and DVRAM
within Social Care-Benefits

• Increased staff awareness and understanding of
  the dynamics of DV and the risks it poses for
  children, young people and victims
• An improvement in social workers ability to
  respond more effectively to domestic violence and
  assess risks to children and young people
• Increased safety measures for children and young
  people in families where domestic violence occurs
• Non-abusing parent will be more aware of the
  risks posed by domestic violence which can
  enable the non-abusing parent to keep themselves
  and their children safer.
• More accurate risk assessments within core and
  initial assessment processes
• More children will be identified requiring
  support.
• Children/ YP and the non-abusive parent will
  learn skills to keep themselves safe
• Parallel domestic violence risk assessment
  process alongside adult risk assessment model
  matches up with MARAC SPECCS and CAADA assessment
• It is an holistic assessment model
• Users perspective on the impact of the assessment
  tool would be beneficial

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Barnardo's DVRIM with London procedures and DVRAM
within Social Care-Benefits

• More comprehensive assessment of families
• Provides a consistent framework to assessing
  level of risk
• Increase safeguarding of children with greater
  informed
• decision making.
• Greater focus on the needs of children and
  victims
• Offers holistic support to families
• Greater support to staff dealing with domestic
  violence cases
• It enhances the assessment process within CAF as
  a specific
• risk assessment tool for domestic violence
• It supports the five outcomes within Every Child
  Matters
• Maintains the focus of domestic violence as a
  main concern
• within the assessment framework without
  marginalising any
• other significant concern

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New Risk Factors identified in DVRIM this year
in NI as it develops and is implemented within
social care assessment processes

• Child who summons help use of 999 AND Child who
  discloses domestic violence may be at risk of
  adverse reaction (be punished) by abusive
  father/father figure
• and also mother for summoning help - needs a
  section 47 response from Social Care
• Use of social care complaints procedures to
  obstruct social care assessment and monitoring
  work- is a another contributing risk factor to
  Agency Assessment Paralysis a risk factor
  identified in serious case review research.

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Specific risk considerationsto be developed as
appendixto DVRIM

• Risk factors associated with Female use of
• physical violence
• Risk factors associated with female
  perpetrators of
• Domestic violence abuse
• Risk factors associated with same-sex domestic
  violence
• Risk factors associated with young people
  perpetrators
• of domestic violence
• Risk factors associated with domestic violence
  and
• contact considerations
• Risk factors associate with domestic violence
  in pre-birth risk assessments