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Dear Colleague,
Last week I asked for your help on two topics, recruiting safeguarding governors; and resources about domestic abuse. Both topics prompted many replies. Thank you for the time you took to respond.
Recruiting safeguarding governors
There were so many great replies about this topic that I am going to use them to create a video. Hopefully the contributors will be able to record their own reply!
Domestic Abuse Resources
Thank you to everyone who answered last week's question about sources of support for children who are victims of domestic abuse. We had such a fantastic response and lots of recommendations and links.
There are so many links today that I thought it would be useful to put them into a downloadable pdf which can be downloaded here: https://6282.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Domestic+Abuse+Resources+-+March+2021.pdf
Children to be legally defined as victims
Although in the past children have been seen as 'witnesses' to domestic abuse. The new Domestic Abuse Bill, currently in its Third Reading, will define children as 'victims' for the very first time. The Bill says that a victim of domestic abuse includes a reference to a child who sees or hears, or experiences the effects of the abuse the adult is their parent or someone who has parental responsibility for the child, or are related to the them. (See Domestic Abuse Bill Part 1, Section 3 https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2709)
Introduction
Amanda emailed and raised some very important points for us to think about.
'In response to your asking about resources for Young people experiencing domestic abuse, there are few because it is a very difficult area to offer resources because of the trauma informed practice behind them.
Every council should have a specialist DA charity delivering services. My advice is that schools should tap into them.
I am a previous DA worker for young people and it is a very complex area which can not be addressed in the same way as emotional literacy etc.
What I would suggest though is that schools offer more support for teenage relationships and awareness around what constitutes as abuse. There are many abusive teen relationships which grow beyond the typical teen learning curve of relationships.'
Resources
The original question referred to resources for children who it is known are living with or have lived with domestic abuse. Some of the resources below are specialist tools for support, and will need using sensitively; some may not be suitable for all situations.
I am listing them here because they have been suggested by readers of the Safeguarding Briefing. I haven't checked the resources, organisations or providers. The responsibility to ensure they are used appropriately remains with you and your school. Please remember to do your due diligence.
Some resources are available nationally, others only in certain geographic areas. However, even if the service isn't available where you are, their websites do often have helpful resources and videos. A good example is the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service here: https://www.gdass.org.uk/
Let's Talk (All Change)
Let’s Talk is a creative project that involves using the arts to develop innovative services for families affected by domestic violence. Let's Talk have some good resources to encourage children to talk about their experiences and feelings, including a book of creative ideas.
Website: http://letstalkproject.co.uk/?page_id=10
Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART™)(NSPCC)
In the NSPCC's 'Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART™)' groups, children and mothers can talk to each other about domestic abuse, learn to communicate and rebuild their relationship.
The service, which has been recognised by the Home Office, also provides children and mothers with an opportunity to meet others who have lived through similar experiences.
For further information: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/services-children-families/dart
Buckinghamshire Family Information Service: Helping Hands
Website: https://familyinfo.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
Domestic Abuse: https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/community/community-safety/domestic-abuse/
Essex: Compass
Website: https://www.essexcompass.org.uk/
Gloucestershire: Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS)
We have a local organisation called GDASS which have some great resources and programmes for Domestic Abuse and children. There is also the Hollie Gazzard Trust too.
Website: https://www.gdass.org.uk/
Kent: Rising Sun
Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service supports women and children affected by domestic abuse in Canterbury and East Kent. We support our users through every step of removing abuse from their lives and improving their safety.
Website: http://www.risingsunkent.com/
Kent: Oasis
Website http://www.oasisdaservice.org
Lancashire: Lancashire Violence Reduction Network
Website: https://www.lancsvrn.co.uk/resources/
London: Butterfly Project (Hestia)
The Butterfly Project is a community based women’s group in partnership with Angelou. Run by survivors for survivors, it provides support for women who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic abuse.
https://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/media/9967/hesita-butterfly_project_pdf.pdf
London, Slough and Kent: Hestia
Hestia support adults and children in times of crisis, including victims of modern slavery, women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, young care leavers and older people.
Website: https://www.hestia.org/
Merseyside: Listening Ear (DiAMOND)
Listening Ear developed DiAmond, its dedicated therapeutic pathway for children and young people affected by domestic abuse in the home in 2012. Over 300 professionals have now been trained in this pathway (which is supported by a published workbook/ toolkit).
DiAmond normally offers 1:1 counselling in schools or colleges for children and young people from Knowsley, Wirral and St Helens who are affected by Domestic Abuse.
Website: https://listening-ear.co.uk/diamond/
Salford/Manchester: Survivor Project
The Survivor Project was established to relieve the physical and mental distress of women and men who have been subject to domestic abuse either at present or in the past. In addition they support children affected by disruption in the home because of violence or abuse.
Website: https://thesurvivorproject.co.uk/affects-on-your-children
Lancashire: Nest
Website: https://nestlancashire.org/further-help-and-support/domestic-abuse/
Northamptonshire: The Voice
The Voice can be accessed for counselling of children who’s parent has been accepted for referral to Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service
http://voicenorthants.org/cyp/
North West: Brighter Lives
https://brighterlivesnorthwest.co.uk/
North West: The Look out programme
http://www.the-lookout.org.uk/professional/
Slough: Dash
The Dash Charity (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) provides refuge accommodation for women from all over the UK as well as critical community outreach services to help keep victims of domestic abuse safe in their own homes.
Dash's professional children’s practitioners provide bespoke support to children staying in our refuges, as well as within the community. The children are provided with tools to talk, reflect, learn, recover and develop their own strength and resilience.
Website: https://thedashcharity.org.uk/
Thames Valley: SAFE!
The independent charity SAFE! provides support to children and families around the Thames Valley who have been affected by crime or abuse through one-to-one and group sessions. The organisation has two core services for children and families living anywhere in the Thames Valley area.
The Young Victim Service provides support to children aged 5 up to 18 who have been harmed by an experience of victimisation.
The Building Respectful Families Service provides support to families experiencing Child on Parent Violence.
Website: https://www.safeproject.org.uk/
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The Hollie Gazzard Trust
The Hollie Gazzard Trust was created following the murder of 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard in 2014 by an ex-partner. The charity helps reduce domestic violence through creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships to schools and colleges.
In addition, the Trust funds hairdressing training for young people who may not otherwise have the funds to study – something Hollie was talented at and passionate about.
Website: https://holliegazzard.org/
Embrace - Child Victims of Crime
Embrace works with police and safeguarding professionals to provide a range of emotional, practical, specialist and well-being support services to make a difference in brightening young people’s lives after the devastating effects of crime.
Website: https://embracecvoc.org.uk/
CEASE Programme (Remedi)
Remedi works in partnership with Youth Offending Teams and the Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioner in South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Cumbria and Cheshire.
CEASE is a four session educational programme based around the course creator’s personal experience of supporting her best friend through an abusive relationship that ended in tragedy. The programme aims to:
- Help young people recognise the subtle indications of an abusive relationship
- Have an understanding of the options available to them should they encounter or witness such behaviour
- Identify local sources of socialist support and support access to those services
- Create Empowerment And Self Efficacy
CEASE leaflet: http://www.remediuk.org/wp-http://www.remediuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/remedi-cease.pdf
Website: www.remediuk.org
Incentive Plus
Incentive Plus is a commercial company offering a range of social, emotional, behavioural, mental health and well-being resources, including some which support those who are living with, or have lived with, domestic abuse.
Website: https://incentiveplus.co.uk/product-category/mental-health-well-being/abuse-domestic-violence/
Refuge
Refuge provides specialist support to women, children and some men escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence.
Support for children
https://www.refuge.org.uk/get-help-now/children/
Protecting my children
https://www.refuge.org.uk/get-help-now/protecting-my-children/
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Website: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk (access live chat Monday - Friday, 3pm - 10pm)
Book: The Day My Daddy Lost His Temper (Dr Carol S McCleary)
Dr. Carol S. McCleary is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist from the United States and this is one book in a series intended for adults to use with children to help them verbalise their feelings.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-Daddy-Lost-His-Temper/dp/1500290254
Hideout (Women's Aid)
A web resource for children themselves. Women’s Aid have created this space to help children understand domestic abuse and how to take positive action.
Website: https://thehideout.org.uk/children/home/
Freedom Programme
Freedom Programme is a domestic violence programme which was created by Pat Craven and evolved from her work with perpetrators of domestic violence. The programme provides information, not therapy.
Website: https://www.freedomprogramme.co.uk/
Bright Sky app
Bright Sky is a mobile app and website for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or who is worried about someone else. The app can be downloaded for free via the app stores.
Launched in partnership with Vodafone, the app includes questionnaires to assess the safety of a relationship, and a section on dispelling myths around domestic and sexual abuse.
The website is focused on how to spot the signs of domestic abuse, advice on how to support someone you have concerns for, and ways to find help.
The app is available in 5 languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish and Welsh.
Download for android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newtonmobile.hestia&hl=en_GB&gl=US
Download for iOs: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/bright-sky/id1105880511
Supporting your child with domestic violence (Young Minds)
Website: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/parents-guide-to-support-domestic-violence/
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school's trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.
Operation Encompass Teachers' Helpline
For FREE advice from an Education Psychologist about how best to support children affected by domestic abuse, teachers can call the Operation Encompass Teachers' National Helpline on 0204 513 9990, available Monday to Friday, 8am-1pm.
More information here: https://www.operationencompass.org/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/OE-teachers-helpline-info-040121.pdf
Website: https://www.operationencompass.org/
Speaker: Jane Gregory, CEO of the Salford Survivor Project
Jane was the keynote speaker at our last safeguarding conference, she was fantastic.
Contact: https://thesurvivorproject.co.uk/contact-us
Key Messages
Evelyn emailed to highlight key messages to share with children:
- [domestic abuse] happens to other people too
- adults don't always do the right thing
- the most important thing is that everyone is/stays safe
- other people can help and it is okay to speak to people that the child trusts
- it is not the child's fault
- it can make everyone feel sad but it does get better
Protective Behaviours (Safety Net)
Protective Behaviours is a safety awareness and resilience building programme which helps children and adults to recognise any situation where they feel worried or unsafe, such as feeling stressed, bullied or threatened; and explores practical ways to keep safe.
https://www.safety-net.org.uk/protective-behaviours/
Ann Dix (Dramatherapist)
Ann Dix is a dramatherapist, supervisor and trainer who works with children who have experienced domestic abuse. She has written a picture book called Little-mouse Finds a Safe Place. The book is written for Primary School children (KS2) and contains ideas and activities which could be done with the child. It is widely used by therapists, Birmingham Women's Aid and some schools.
For Little Voices domestic abuse group work programme
Little Voices domestic abuse group work programme is an 8 week, play based programme for key Stage 2 children. It is based around the character of Little-mouse, and the stories about his life which will resonate with children who have experienced living in a family where there has been domestic abuse.
Watch the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aQh2-poGwjYYvgDyABc0dEzcgJYwB4Lx/view
Video: Welcoming children who have experienced domestic abuse back into school after Covid 19 lockdown
This is a really useful video about understanding loss and trauma (not only around domestic abuse). Well worth spending 30 mins watching this.
You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RomVLjuEKDA
You can contact Ann at: dragonflytherapy01@yahoo.co.uk
Incentive Plus
Incentive Plus have resources for support those who are living with DA which might be worth investing in.
https://incentiveplus.co.uk/product-category/mental-health-well-being/abuse-domestic-violence/
Alternative Learning Trust, Sutton
Emma Bradshaw is Executive Principal at the Alternative Learning Trust in Sutton. Emma says, 'We run a program for students and mothers, we also run a Becoming a Man group and a healthy relationship group for girls.'
'We are an Alternative Provision and train all of our schools too. We are commissioned to run groups for the whole LA.'
'Happy to sign post anyone to the right programs, materials and RA's.'
Healing Together
The Healing Together programme enables children to access early intervention by people they trust, and in a space they feel safe. The ‘Healing Together’ programme was born out of a request from mothers who had started their journey of recovery from domestic abuse and violence. They expressed that they wanted similar help and support for their children but could not find anything suitable.
The facilitators programme enables staff (social workers, early help workers, educational staff etc) to attend 3 days of training (via zoom) and deliver the programme to the children (6-16 years).
Website: https://www.innovatingmindscic.com/children-impacted-domestic-abuse
Forthcoming Courses
Advanced Safeguarding for DSLs
ONLINE Tuesday, 23 March 2021 BOOK NOW
ONLINE Tuesday, 6 April 2021 BOOK NOW
...and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience BOOK NOW
Safeguarding for Everyone
Excellent as an online safeguarding session for all staff. Set up for your school on request.
For more information, go to: Whole School Safeguarding Course (Online)
Until next time, keep safe.
Best regards,
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