Support for professionals working with domestic violence cases

Jump to:

• Raise awareness
• Identify risk and make a referral
• Safety planning
• Domestic abuse and suicidality
• Supporting children and young people
• Abuse of older people
• Working with those who harm
• Sexual abuse
• Child to parent violence (CPA)
• No recourse to public funding
• Domestic abuse training

Raise awareness

We have a series of domestic abuse videos on YouTube. These cover topics such as what domestic abuse is, coercive control, consent, love-bombing and stalking.

You can request posters or business cards for free from Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit.

Identify risk and make a referral

The Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment Risk Indicator checklist (DASH RIC) is part of our referral form for Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit.

DASH risk checklist and guidance from SafeLives - it is good practice to be familiar with the key risk indicators and to use this checklist where concerns are growing for someone’s safety.

High risk cases are notified to MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) where agencies share information and plan actions to make families as safe as possible. 

Safety planning

• Personal safety plan (MS Word, 81KB)
• Survivors hand book from Women's Aid - practical support and information for women experiencing domestic abuse.
• Digital breakup from Refuge - help to secure digital devices and platforms against tech abuse from a partner or ex partner.

Domestic abuse and suicidality

Those that have experienced domestic abuse can be at greater risk of death by suicide. See the self-harm and suicide prevention and support page for:

• Safety planning resources for those at risk of suicide or self-harm
• Domestic abuse and suicidality toolkit 

Supporting children and young people

The NSPCC has information on protecting and supporting children and young people living with domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse of older people

The Older People Supplementary Question Checklist has been designed to assist professionals in assessing the risk of domestic abuse in older people, and for those who provide care for an older person and are personally connected.

• Supplementary questions to the DASH RIC for Older People (MS Word, 56KB)
• Guidance for using the older people supplementary questions (PDF, 179KB)

Working with those who harm

People who acknowledge some responsibility for harmful behaviour can be supported to change. See support to change my abusive behaviour.

See also: Get help with my harmful behaviour from MyCWA.

Sexual abuse

Services for those who have been recently assaulted, those who are being supported through criminal justice processes and those who are in recovery.

• Advice on responding to sexual abuse

Child to parent abuse (CPA)

Sometimes children and young people can hurt others in their family. Parents tell us they often keep this a secret and so it gets worse. They are also afraid of calling the police as they don’t want their child in trouble. We want everyone to be safe and manage their feelings and behaviours.

The Parent Education Growth and Support (PEGS) website has more information on how to recognise and respond to CPA. 

No recourse to public funding

There are several agencies who can advise women about immigration and financial issues with relation to domestic violence. Always seek specialist advice on these and other related issues. You can contact the following organisations for advice on domestic violence and immigration:

• Southall Black Sisters
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
• Women's Aid
  
• Women Acting in Today's Society (WAITS)

Domestic abuse training

We can deliver bespoke domestic abuse training. Contact dafsu@cheshireeast.gov.uk.