Assessing Risk and Identifying Safety Planning for Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Women experiencing domestic abuse do not have any control over their partner’s or ex-partners abuse, but they can have agency and choices about how to respond to situations and how they can act and develop a safety plan with the aim of keeping themselves (and their children) as safe as possible.

Whether or not women wish to leave the abuser or remain in the relationship– there are tools and techniques they can use to maintain a sense of control and work towards increasing their safety addressing risks the perpetrator may pose. The session will explore safety planning techniques women may find helpful, increasing workers knowledge of how to support women to develop and manage a safety plan and what additional tools and resources they can use to assess risk and help women feel safer.

The session will also explore approaches focussing on both Domestic Abuse Informed Practice and Trauma Informed Practice to help us to assess how we can adapt our practice and engage with, and support individuals impacted by domestic abuse in a sensitive and survivor centred manner.

By the end of the session you will be able to:

• Identify the types of risks and harm perpetrators of domestic abuse may cause to partners or ex-partners.
• Describe and apply risk assessment tools and frameworks that aim to increase safety and manage risk for women impacted by domestic abuse.
• Describe and apply dynamic safety planning techniques that can support women to develop and manage a safety plan if they want to stay with their partner, if they want to leave or if they have already left.
• Reflect on how to enhance approaches to ensure best and safe practice in working with people who are or who may have been impacted by domestic abuse.
• Know where to signpost to specialist support and resources.

Trainer: Judy is the National Training Coordinator at Scottish Women’s Aid, a certified Safe & Together Trainer and a qualified IDAA Judy spent nearly 10 years working in a specialist domestic abuse service and 5 years serving on the board of Scottish Women’s Aid. Judy works widely across a arrange of settings and is passionate about improving the understanding of, and response to anyone experiencing domestic abuse.