TENDER PRESENTATION:

WORKING WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO BETTER SUPPORT WOMEN EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE

Statistics

How many women in Britain experience abuse in a relationship sometime during their lifetime?

1in 100 1 in 201 in 4

Statistics

How many women in England and Wales are

killed each week by their partner or ex-partner?

Defining Violence

Physical Violence Sexual Violence

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE

IsolationEnforced Trivial Demands

DegradationThreats

Displays of total powerOccasional Indulgencies

ExhaustionDistorted perspectives

Commonly Held Beliefs

“Some women seem to choose violent partners

and you see them going from one violent man

to another”

“WOMEN WHO STAY IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS ARE PARTLY TO BLAME FOR THE VIOLENCE”

WHY DO WE WANT RELATIONSHIPS?

What issues are there to consider when leaving a relationship?

What are the additional factors to consider for women leaving

abusive/violent men?

Children

How do abusive men use children to control women?

The Impact on Children

GOOD PRACTICE

Women may present as: Chaotic Smokers Using alcohol and other substances

Professional good practice

Many women who experience violence will be hesitant to name their experience as domestic violence or not realise this is what they are experiencing. Women will be more receptive if you ask questions around the state of their relationship or their personal safety.

Professional good practice

Women experiencing violence will already have survival strategies they find effective. It is essential to acknowledge these and use them as guidance for your work. A safety plan is about allowing women to identify the options available to them within the context of their current circumstances.

Possible questions to ask in drawing up a safety plan

Who can you tell about the violence who will not tell your partner/ex-partner?

Do you have important phone numbers available e.g. Family, friends, refuges, police?

If you left, where could you go? Do you ever suspect when your partner is

going to violent? Eg. After drinking, when he gets paid, after relatives visit

When you suspect he is going to be violent can you go elsewhere?

Can you keep a bag of spare clothes at a friend’s or a family members house?

Are you able to keep copies of any important papers with anyone else? Eg. Passport, birth certificates

Is there somewhere for your children to go to when he is being violent and abusive?

What is the most dangerous part of your house to be in when he is violent?

Which part of the house do you feel safest in?

Effective organisational policies and protocols can easily be developed to allow for a rapid and supported response to emergency situations.

The Stella Project, ‘Good Practice Guidelines’, April 2004 (Tender can send you an electronic copy of this)

For more information please contact: Susie McDonaldSusie@tender.org.uk