Initiatives relating to Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse champions are people from organisations across Doncaster that are committed to tackling domestic abuse.
They come together to form a multi-agency domestic abuse champions network, to keep up to date about the latest information and resources, and to collaborate on improving services.
Champions are expected to complete the following training modules:

• Domestic abuse awareness
• Coercive and controlling behaviour
• DASH risk assessment and the MARAC

If you are interested in becoming a domestic abuse champion please contact Karen.shooter@doncaster.gov.uk 

A new domestic abuse pin badge has been designed to encourage people to talk to a pin badge wearer safe in the knowledge that they have completed domestic abuse training and know how to support them to get the right help and support.
For more information about the pin badges please contact karen.shooter@doncaster.gov.uk 

Doncaster Children's Services Trust has appointed a new Community Engagement Worker who is reaching out to local communities in Doncaster.  The aim is to connect with with local businesses, community groups of all kinds as well as local solutions groups and localities to increase awareness of domestic abuse.

Anyone can experience domestic abuse. Increasing awareness and developing knowledge of local and national support for all family members (person causing the harm, victim and any children) will strengthen and support communities so that ‘we don’t accept this in our community’ becomes part of the fabric of community life. Supporting communities so that domestic abuse is identified early and that people know how to get help if they need it.

If you would like any further information, a friendly chat or would be interested in becoming a Domestic Abuse Champion in your Community please get in touch with Angie Emerton, Community Engagement Worker.  Email: Angela.Emerton@dcstrust.co.uk

Inspire to Change - voluntary programme for people that are abusive to others

SmartWater is a forensic marking product that can transfer onto a person to provide evidence that they were at the scene of a crime.  In Doncaster it is being used to help protect victims of domestic abuse and deter persistent perpetrators from continuing their harassment and abuse.

Find out more about the Smartwater initiative

 

DANS – The Domestic Abuse Navigator service (DAN’s) works whole family in response to domestic abuse to support families to safely recover from their experiences, either together or separately. Originally part of the Growing Futures project innovation funded by the Department for Education, the service has developed into a small specialist team who take an innovative approach to domestic abuse work. Informed by research the service aims to break the patterns of domestic abuse that exist within the relationship itself, in future relationships following separation and as part of the inter-generational transmission of abuse.

The team are highly skilled workers who complete psycho-educational and pyscho-therapeutic work with families ensuring that each family member is provided with the support they need including the victim, the children and the person causing the harm.

For more information visit the Doncaster Children's Services website: Growing Futures | Doncaster Children's Services Trust (doncasterchildrenstrust.co.uk)

Provided by the DAN’s service Caring Dads is a seventeen week evidence based programme that focuses on the relationship between father and child(ren) in the context of domestic abuse in the adult relationship. The aim of the programme is to increase safety for the mother and children, help fathers improve their relationships with their children and end controlling, abusive and neglectful behaviours within relationships.

Getting On is a nine week group work programme for families who are experiencing Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (APVA). Developed from research findings the programme takes a restorative justice approach and focuses on the reparation between the young person and their female parent/carer. Groups are separated and run concurrently with young people in one group and female parent/carers in the other. Learning across both groups is mirrored and safety is a primary consideration.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) is often called ‘Clare’s Law’ after the landmark case that led to it. Clare’s Law gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. Under Clare’s Law, a member of the public can also make enquiries into the partner of a close friend or family member.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme was launched in Doncaster in 2014.  A police led scheme, with two routes available 'Right to Ask' & 'Right to Know'.

The scheme has the following key principles: 

• Introduce recognised and consistent procedures for disclosing information to persons with concerns about a current partner. It enables a current partner of a violent individual to make informed choices about whether, and how, to take forward that relationship. 

• Disclosure is considered if it is lawful, necessary and proportionate to protect a potential person at risk from harm. 

• Disclosure MUST be accompanied by a robust safety plan, based on all relevant information, which delivers on-going support to the potential person at risk.

Right to Know

As a practitioner, if you are aware of the risk to a victim you should make a referral to South Yorkshire Police under the Right to Know route. 

Should someone be at immediate risk of harm, always call 999 in an emergency. For further information and to make a request for a disclosure email:

doncaster_ppureferrals@southyorks.pnn.police.uk

Right to Ask

Clare’s Law gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. Under Clare’s Law, a member of the public can also make enquiries into the partner of a close friend or family member. 

Once an application is made, police and partner agencies will carry out a range of checks. If these reveal a record of abusive offences, or suggest a risk of violence or abuse, the police will consider sharing this information. The aim is to help people to make a more informed decision on whether to continue a relationship and provide help and support when making that choice. 

If the Police decide to make a disclosure, this will usually be made to the person at risk. This is unless, in the circumstances, someone else is better placed to use the information to protect them from abuse. 

Any disclosure will be made in person - none of the disclosure is made in writing and you will not be given any documentation. 

How to make an application under Clare's Law

To make an application the person enquiring will need to attend a police station in person or contact 101 where a police officer or member of police staff will take the details of the enquiry. They will also establish a safe way to contact the victim. 

Professionals should ensure that they are making people aware of the Right to Ask.

For more information visit the South Yorkshire Police website

A DVPN is an emergency non-molestation and eviction notice which can be issued by the police, when attending to a domestic abuse incident, to a perpetrator. Because the DVPN is a police-issued notice, it is effective from the time of issue, thereby giving the victim the immediate support they require in such a situation. Within 48 hours of the DVPN being served on the perpetrator, an application by police to a magistrates’ court for a DVPO must be heard. A DVPO can prevent the perpetrator from returning to a residence and from having contact with the victim for up to 28 days. This allows the victim a degree of breathing space to consider their options with the help of a support agency. Both the DVPN and DVPO contain a condition prohibiting the perpetrator from molesting the victim.
For more guidance visit the Government website.