Domestic abuse is ‘any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are “personally connected” and the behaviour is abusive. Abuse can be direct or indirect (e.g. through a child). Children can be victims if they are related and see, hear or experience the abuse.
Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
Psychological and/or emotional abuse.
Physical or sexual abuse.
Financial or economic abuse.
Harassment and stalking.
Online or digital abuse.
Children are suffering multiple physical and mental health consequences as a result of exposure to domestic abuse. Children see parents or carers suffer, often at the hands of someone else they love. They suffer physical, sexual and emotional abuse themselves. Sometimes they are forced into colluding with the violent partner; sometimes they feel deeply responsible for the non-abusing parent or carer, or for their brothers and sisters. Children can be further affected when adult victims of domestic abuse sometimes find it difficult to be the caring, supportive parents they would want to be, even after leaving the abusive relationship, because they have been hurt and traumatised by their experiences.
Amongst other impacts, over half (52%) had behavioural problems, over a third (39%) had difficulties adjusting at school, and nearly two thirds (60%) felt responsible for negative events. A quarter of both boys and girls exposed to domestic abuse exhibit abusive behaviours themselves… children were more likely to show abusive behaviours after exposure to the domestic abuse had ended.
In relationships where there is domestic violence, children witness about three-quarters of the abusive incidents. About half the children in such families have themselves been badly hit or beaten. Sexual abuse and emotional abuse are also more likely to happen in these families.
As with other forms of abuse there is the potential for children’s behaviour to change, for example they could become withdrawn and isolated, but equally they could become angry and aggressive, becoming an abuser themselves. Children or young people may be wary of adults, have difficulty concentrating, have difficulty developing relationships, have poor attendance, have low self-esteem, self-harm or misuse substances or alcohol.
Dorset domestic abuse guidance for professionals
HRDA - High Risk Domestic Abuse - High Risk Domestic Abuse (HRDA) is a multi-agency response to high risk cases of domestic abuse. Make a referral or find out more about HRDA, including practitioner meetings.
SafeLives Resource Hub - The SafeLives resources library builds on the quality support offered by the Marac development programme, and opens it up to all professionals working with families affected by domestic abuse. We want to provide you with tools and services to make your job easier, and ensure families living with abuse get the best quality support as quickly as possible.
Respect website - a pioneering domestic abuse organisation developing safe, effective work with perpetrators, male victims and young people who use violence.
Advice on housing options for those that have experienced domestic abuse
Dorset Council offer courses for people who have experienced domestic abuse and live in Dorset:
Clare's Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme) - The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme(DVDS), also known as “Clare’s Law” enables the police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending.
Dorset Domestic Abuse Strategy
In plain sight: Effective help for children exposed to domestic abuse. - Report by CAADA (now SafeLives) looking at the impact on children of domestic abuse. Looks at what children are living with, how we can identify children who may need support and how we can provide effective support to children.
Are they shouting because of me? - Voices of children living in households with domestic abuse, parental substance misuse and mental health issues.
Paragon - integrated domestic abuse service. Paragon work with women, men and children. Free phone: 0800 032 5204 (Please be aware that calls to 0800 numbers may show up on itemised phone bills)
See Dorset Police's information on domestic abuse.
Women's Aid - Phone: 0808 2000 247, Women’s Aid have a directory of domestic abuse support services across the UK.
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 from the app stores. Only download the app if it is safe for you to do so and if you are sure that your phone isn’t being monitored.
BCP MARAC - Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference - A MARAC is a meeting where information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives of local police, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), probation and other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors.
Operation Encompass Teachers’ National Helpline – 0204 513 9990 open 8am -1pm Monday to Friday. The helpline is for school staff to seek guidance and discuss queries they may have following an Operation Encompass notification and in preparation for supporting a child experiencing domestic abuse
The Hideout - is a space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it's happening to you.
Victim Support website - An independent charity who provide one to one support for all victims of crime, including support for female and male victims of domestic abuse, non-recent sexual abuse. Victim Support, support children and young people affected by crime. Their specialist children and young people domestic abuse supporter works with children aged 4–17 to help them cope and manage with lived experience of domestic abuse. Support is free, confidential and tailored to your needs.
Barnardo’s - support for families affected by domestic abuse
Family Lives - support through online forums
ManKind Initiative – a specialist organisation supporting male victims of domestic abuse and their children
Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327 open Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm or email info@mensadviceline.org.uk
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse helpline – 0800 999 5428 Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm
Rail to Refuge – a scheme providing free rail travel to refuge accommodation for women, men and children fleeing domestic abuse through a member organisation of Women’s Aid, Welsh Women’s Aid, Imkaan or Respect (which runs the Men’s Advice Line)
Rape Crisis England and Wales – an organisation representing rape crisis centres across England and Wales which provide support for women and girls of all ages who have experienced any form of sexual violence: 0808 802 9999 (website also offers a live chat service)
Refuge – an organisation operated by an all female staff that provides support for all victims of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk (access live chat Monday to Friday 3-10pm)
Respect – an organisation that works with male victims of domestic abuse and domestic abuse perpetrators
Sign Health Domestic Abuse Service – a specialist domestic abuse service to support the health and wellbeing of deaf people.
Surviving Economic Abuse – a specialist organisation dedicated to supporting victims of economic abuse, working in partnership with Money Advice Plus to provide money and debt advice to victims experiencing financial difficulties
If you know of a resource that you would like to recommend or you would like to provide feedback on the intranet please click the button below.
