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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC ABUSE IN SCOTLAND - PROGRESS REPORT
WORKSHOPS
TRAINING
DELTA project, Edinburgh - Laura Aitken
The aim of the DELTA project was to implement the Multi-Agency Strategy to Tackle Violence Against Women in Edinburgh through the development of cluster groups. Delta itself did little direct training but arranged training days with those agencies with the relevant expertise. Basic awareness training was undertaken by Delta, Women's Aid, Shakti Women's Aid, the Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and Pathway. Specific training had been undertaken by housing providers, police, the Domestic Violence Probation Project and West, a substance support group.
Three cluster groups were established, one in Pilton associated with the local Social Inclusion Partnership group, one in Craigmillar and one in south Edinburgh. The latter had proved to be the most difficult because it covered a large area comprising several different communities. Membership of the groups included the police, education, social work, health, housing and benefits agency.
It had originally been intended to have a cluster group for disabled and black and ethnic minority communities but concern was expressed about having separate clusters, mainstreaming being the preferred option.
Moving from training into practice, Glasgow - Isabelle Kerr and Kirsty Hay
The Glasgow Multi-Agency Partnership on Violence Against Women seeks to improve co-ordination and cohesion of existing initiatives and responses by all agencies in Glasgow, as well as to address gaps and weaknesses. There were currently 6 multi-agency forums in Glasgow and one coming on stream, which feed into the Partnership encouraging a bottom up approach. The membership of the local forums mirrored those of the Partnership.
The Partnership also facilitated work by other agencies and had organised briefing sessions around the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland and Preventing Violence Against Women: Action Across the Scottish Executive.
The Partnership was considering a rolling training programme starting with basic awareness raising and would meet soon to discuss the practicalities. For example there might be difficulties in agencies releasing staff to attend the courses, especially teachers. Also planned is a training providers database and an evaluation of work carried out in Easterhouse. This will be to assess the impact of the course on practice after 8 months.
The Development of a Training Package for Teachers in East Renfrewshire - Eleanor Thomson
East Renfrewshire is a small local authority area with only 7 secondary schools which makes training easier. However, the development of a women's aid group in East Renfrewshire was relatively recent, with funding from the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund. The area's first refuge was currently under construction with funding from the Refuge Development Programme. This meant that schools had had no training on domestic abuse and little experience of children from abusive backgrounds.
A beginning had been made by looking at education materials already available in Scotland, including the North Ayrshire Healthy Relationships pack, material from Dundee on nurseries and an excellent pack from Glasgow. These materials were going out to schools in the area.
Some training has already been done with guidance staff and the local authority has a calendar for training, which provides 4 days training for teaching staff. All primary headteachers have requested training. The Education Department has also made a presentation to the Child Protection Committee and a drama production "To Have and To Hold" has been performed in secondary schools by the Baldy Bane Theatre Company.
Discussion
The group made a number of suggestions, viz:-
- There should be inducements to encourage people to attend training sessions, especially with regard to doctors and legal practitioners. For example, to make it part of a professional qualification.
- There should be a national list of resource packs. But care would have to be taken that they were kept up to date.
- A champion should be found in the field of education.
- The priorities for future action were training for policy makers/senior practitioners; in-service training for staff; multi-agency training, development of curriculum materials and monitoring of the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund and Helpline.
WORKING WITH MEN
CHANGE (Men Learning to end their Violence to Women) Ltd - Monica Wilson
CHANGE was established in 1989 as a pilot criminal justice-based men's programme founded on a shared understanding of domestic abuse informed by women's experiences and by agencies working with women. The goals for intervention were victim protection, offender accountability, and changing the existing social climate. As a national training initiative, CHANGE currently receives funding from the Scottish Executive through section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
CHANGE is based upon a model of good practice developed in the USA which comprises a Women's Service, Men's Programme and Related Services. The aims of the Women's Services are to:
- Increase safety / emotional wellbeing of women and children
- Promote realistic expectations of work with men
- Provide appropriate, safe and accessible services
The aims of the Men's Programme are:
- To focus on violence / abuse
- To change attitudes and beliefs
- To develop skills for non-violence
- To monitor progress
Currently CHANGE Ltd is consulting with local authorities in Scotland about training needs and is holding awareness raising days with local Women's Aid groups. CHANGE provides specialist skills training, and is involved in the monitoring of responses and evaluation of outcomes.
Domestic Violence Probation Project - Moira Andrew
The workshop was shown a diagram illustrating where the work of the DVPP was traditionally placed, i.e within the criminal justice system working with court-mandated men. There is not a lot of information on working with men, and much of what does exist comes from women as victims. A partnership of agencies had now been developed in Edinburgh to look at this issue and to consider the development of services for men outwith the criminal justice system.
A number of men are not accessing intervention service for a variety of reasons, such as
- Partners work in criminal justice system
- Members of black and minority ethic community
- Partners are ill
- Partners fear social services will remove children
- Partners feel they are not being abuse in a 'criminal' way (i.e. non physical abuse)
- Partners afraid to contact police
A recent consultation found that the bulk of practice was directed towards women and children, and that abusing men were rarely approached. Workers are often unskilled at working with men and are therefore unwilling or afraid to do so. Often there is no facility for referral, or workers are reluctant to get involved for fear of making things worse. A large number of agencies were found to be unaware of Edinburgh's strategic plan to tackle domestic abuse but welcomed the suggestion of a multi-disciplinary access service for men.
The Working with Men Partnership Group which has been established in Edinburgh is comprised of a wide range of agencies including - Council Social Work Dept, Primary Health Care, Reporter to the Children's Panel, Lothian and Borders Police, Women's Aid, Couple Counselling and the Council Education Dept.
South Lanarkshire Council - work with men - Mairi Brackenridge
The impetus to look at the issue of working with men, came initially from training provided to Council officers on gender awareness and on domestic abuse - both of which suggested that work with men should be a vital part of their work. This belief was strengthened when training was provided by CHANGE. South Lanarkshire Council is now very keen to develop work with men and to adopt a partnership approach to this work. Money has been provided from the Community Safety budget, though it is clear that there is still a large imbalance between funding levels for offenders and victims.
South Lanarkshire Council is hoping to work with men on probation and to provide two female workers from the Criminal Justice Services Dept who will work as Partner Support Workers. It is planned that group work with the men will take place over a period of 12 weeks. Local police have agreed to conduct external checks on the safety of the women. There is a strong will to continue with this type of work and to develop the Council's domestic abuse programme.
Discussion
- Several delegates wondered how the effectiveness of work with men was measured.
Monica Wilson said that research had been conducted into the impact of perpetrator programmes. Although this research was still controversial, it suggested that 75% of men who had not been on a perpetrator programme would re-offend after a year. And 33% of men who had attended a programme would re-offend after a year. There is a need for further research in this area. Concern was expressed over 'quick-fix' anger management courses which men are sometimes advised to go on. It was felt that such courses do not look at the beliefs underpinning the abuse and can also provide the man with an excuse or reason for his actions.
- Moira Andrew stressed the need for a partnership approach to working with men, and the need for links between agendas and agencies both nationally and locally. She also suggested that there was a need for more local authority housing for men, as this was a more economical and more effective means of dealing with the problem.
A number of delegates felt that there was a shortage of funds available to provide for perpetrator programmes. Sandra MacInes agreed that efforts should be increased to rehouse men rather than women. She pointed out that when a man is bailed and chooses not to return to his home, he is deliberately homeless and the local authority is not therefore required to do anything for him. Mairi Brackenridge said that another problem was the lack of local authority housing available.
- Several delegates asked where their local forum or authority should start if they wanted to look at developing work with men.
Monica Wilson suggested that the criminal justice system was the most usual starting point and offered to come to local areas to help them get started if this would be helpful.
PUBLICITY
Presentation 1
Publicity materials from Fife Domestic Abuse Forum were demonstrated, including magazines for women and for children and young people; a range of posters; key rings with a concealed compartment for telephone numbers and telephone cards with contact numbers and 5 minutes of free phone calls. The materials had all been made widely available around Fife, the children and young people's magazines being distributed through schools.
Presentation 2
Phone cards similar to Fife's, produced by Midlothian Domestic Abuse Forum, were also demonstrated, along with costings and information about production.
Presentation 3
Dawn Wilson and Susan Mitchell of Angus Partnership on Domestic Abuse gave a presentation about developing and implementing a publicity strategy. In a rural area, and with no domestic abuse co-ordinator, it has fallen to a few to do publicity work. Attention has been concentrated on people who can effect change in their organisations. An inter-agency awareness raising day was held to look at the roles of each agency. All partners are mentioned on publicity for awareness raising, which has focussed on giving women information about their options. Leaflets have been produced with contact numbers and tips for leaving/staying, whichever women choose. Cards to fit in purses with contact numbers have been produced and are given out through the police domestic abuse liaison officer.
Training is provided to the police - as a first point of contact for many women, their response is very important. Leaflets are sent to women as a follow up after the police have been called. Usually this is after the man has been arrested and before he is released - but safety issues were a concern. The Women's Aid phone number is only given to women if the man has been removed from the house.
Publicity ideas from other areas included:
Leaflets for GPs to give out to women; adverts on bin lorries in Argyll & Bute as they go everywhere in rural communities; info on NHS Board pay slips; outreach surgeries in local Housing Offices throughout Angus; quiz in schools with free pen with contact phone numbers; video produced with Dunoon High School pupils; have contact phone number non-geographical so it is not associated with particular area; questionnaire for midwives about domestic abuse and leaflet in packs for new mothers; leaflet in toilet at ante natal clinic with red sticker to be applied to urine sample receptacle if more info desired.
Difficulties had been experienced in engaging with GPs and getting them to attend training. It had been found to be more successful to pay GPs to attend training. The cost of advertising in newspapers was also a difficulty, especially in large rural areas with no free newspapers.
WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
Young People Producing Peer Materials - Sandra Paton
Work developed in South Ayrshire is aimed at involving young people in the production of peer materials on domestic abuse. This involved direct contact with a mix of pupils from both urban and rural backgrounds with funding and support from South Ayrshire Council. A group was formed, including a practising teacher, to work with fifth year pupils in Carrick Academy. Pupils' views were sought on what they would expect teachers to do in dealing with a domestic abuse situation. The consensus was that teachers could demonstrate greater willing to engage pupils in open and frank dialogue; teachers to receive specific training in order to provide direct support and counselling to pupils in a domestic abuse situation and to be more aware of the signs and patterns of behaviour of pupils who may be in a domestic abuse situation. These views were taken back to the teachers.
The Group also engaged nineteen pupils of mixed age and social background in a range of activities on an awayday. These involved young people participating in activities using several different mediums including artwork and videoing designed to encourage debate on the myths and realities associated with domestic abuse. This approach was very well received by the pupils involved. This resulted in the publication of the Carrick Academy Handbook "domestic violence happens to nice people - we want to be safe." It is anticipated that the materials will eventually be used in other schools, further developed by young people themselves from their ideas, experience and views.
Input into PSD Curriculum - Francine Orr and Michelle McCann
Work in Clackmananshire is aimed at knitting together the Children's Services Plan. This is primarily being done by raising awareness in schools through a number of initiatives and led by a team teacher. Some initiatives which have been delivered are; the Grampian Child Safety interactive CD-ROM; a drama modelled around themes concerning domestic abuse attitudes; the 'Feeling Yes' 'Feeling No' programme and the 'Home Truths' package. This package depicts in cartoon form how children are affected by domestic abuse but also assures them that there is a network of support there for them. The difficulties are getting both families and teachers on board. Teachers need to be trained to deal with issues such as disclosure. Community Schools for example aim to bring more co-ordinated support to families.
The consensus was that an across the board awareness training programme was required. The view was that the legal system let children down with regard to providing evidence in court against a perpetrator who was known to them. Currently, any request to erect a screen between accused and victim required the Sheriff's approval. It was felt that the introduction of a screen should be mandatory in all cases involving young people involved in giving evidence against someone known to them. It was recognised that it was difficult to get advice to Procurators Fiscal and to General Practitioners and others and there was clearly a need for training to be provided to these areas to achieve consistency of approach.
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