DOMESTIC ABUSE is a NATIONAL EMERGENCY affecting  parents and children from all backgrounds  irrespective of standing, status, socio economic group or gender

At MAYDAY…..We Safeguard Children exposed to Domestic Abuse and Complex Co-Parenting by:

Training   practitioners to  approach domestic abuse cases through a Trauma Lens and equip them with the skills to identify the hidden harm known as the GREY AREAS

Unconscious Bias, coupled with a lack of expertise in recognising and responding to specific types of  abuse including Parental Alienation and Coercive Control, is contributing to  the  MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

Let’s put an end to outdated narratives about domestic abuse which are being fuelled by the media and placing child victims of domestic abuse at risk of significant harm.

If Local Authorities want different results, they must change their approach and invest in cutting edge training for practitioners, enabling them to confidently engage with children and families to uncover the hidden harm.

• If practitioners cannot differentiate between Coercive Control and Destructive Parental Conflict they  are unknowingly placing  children at risk.
• Maybe parents are telling practitioners there is Parental Alienation but cannot prove it and  cases which should be stepped up to Statutory Services are being closed ?
• Would your team feel confident in dealing with Post Separation Abuse and can  they be sure they have the TRUE voice of the child as children exposed to domestic abuse are coached to keep secrets.
• Do your team feel confident  building rapport with parents experiencing Complex Post Traumatic Stress  or understand how to engage with parents with Personality Disorders? 

obsaTo TBWhilst acknowledging  some high profile cases have raised awareness of Coercive Control, there is still a lack of expertise, knowledge, and skills dealing with this area of domestic abuse.

A YouGov poll from 12 August 2019, found more than 50% of front-line healthcare staff say they do not feel able to identify a domestic abuse victim. At least 48% of NHS and 65% of private-sector staff did not feel adequately trained to identify a domestic abuse victim. There are no similar surveys with other agencies involved in “Working Together to Safeguard Children.”

Front line workers in Children’s Services are overwhelmed with the high volume of referrals involving Domestic Abuse and are often blamed for “getting it wrong”.  The lack of appropriate training and resources to tackle this issue is resulting in poor staff retention, low staff morale and dangerously high caseloads and is placing children at risk.

This issue is replicated across many disciplines and regardless of government initiatives to tackle domestic abuse,  radical changes are still required.  News articles and Serious Case Reviews frequently include domestic abuse so its time to invest in your frontline practitioners and stop the blame game.