Tag: Domestic Abuse

Understanding the Dynamics Of Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control

Each year In Scotland, in excess of 65,000 incidents of Domestic Abuse are recorded by Police Scotland, yet research shows only 1 in 5 experiencing abuse report to the Police, meaning actual figures will be much higher. This session will examine how domestic abuse, also known as coercive control, is more than physical abuse and involves a range of behaviours that seek to establish control over victim and survivors by attacking and negatively impacting their physical and psychological safety and wellbeing as well as their resources, agency and autonomy. It will address commonly asked questions such as ‘What causes domestic abuse?  Who is impacted? How would I know if someone was experiencing abuse? and of course, What should I do?’

By developing a greater understanding of domestic abuse, in all its forms and how it impacts victims and survivors, the session will enable individuals and organisations to be better placed to be alert to the signs of domestic abuse, understand how it impacts people and where to signpost to support and specialist services. 

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

  • Identify the different types of domestic abuse that people may experience.
  • Recognise the signs and symptoms of someone experiencing domestic abuse.
  • Describe the impact of domestic abuse on individuals
  • Ask the question and responding effectively to a disclosure.
  • Reflect on what they can do to implement supportive response to domestic abuse in their own practice.
  • Be more effective in supporting anyone experiencing Domestic Abuse
  • Identify services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support

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 regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies.  These include COPFS, Police Scotland, Local Authority Social Work Teams, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice, Health Boards, Housing Associations and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships and is passionate about improving the understanding of, and response to anyone experiencing domestic abuse.

Why Doesn’t She Just Leave?

One of the most common questions when discussing domestic abuse is the age-old ‘‘Why doesn’t she just leave?”.  Well intentioned and often founded on the belief that there are numerous laws to protect you, safe, accessible refuges for you to flee to, and surely the best thing, the only thing to do is to pack your bags and leave?   Yet survivors, practitioners, academics and statistics tell us leaving is actually one of the most dangerous points, when behaviour very often escalates and violence may be introduced for the first and fatal time.

This session explores the many concerns and challenges to leaving for women experiencing domestic abuse and seeks to explore and address the victim blaming attitudes and misinformation which create barriers to support and services for women and children impacted by the behaviours of a domestic abuse perpetrator.

Participants can expect to:

  • Be able to describe how women experiencing domestic abuse face significant barriers to leaving and consider the implications and potential dangers of leaving or staying for women, their children and young people
  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices during and after the relationship.
  • Explore and explain the terminology and rationale of the gendered analysis of domestic abuse
  • Consider how to apply the knowledge to their own work in supporting women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse

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.

Children & Young People’s Experiences of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can have a profound effect on children and young people that goes beyond witnessing abuse. This session explores how children and young people are exposed to and experience domestic abuse, how this can impact on all areas of their lives and the coping strategies they may employ.

This session also highlights how abuse can continue to be experienced by children and young people post-separation, demonstrating the importance that any contact is safe contact and does not become a means for the continuation of abuse to the children and/or non abusing parent, usually the mother.  The session will also highlight the importance of listening to children and young people and how difficult it can be for them to be heard and their views acted upon.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify how perpetrators abusive actions and negative parenting choices can impact on a child or young person’s educational and social experiences as well as their physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
  • Describe how children and young people directly and indirectly experience domestic abuse and the coping strategies they can employ and the role of resilience.
  • Build upon best and practice skills and approaches for working with children who have experienced domestic abuse.

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.

Understanding the Dynamics Of Domestic Abuse

Course rescheduled from 25 Feb 25

Each year In Scotland, in excess of 65,000 incidents of Domestic Abuse are recorded by Police Scotland, yet research shows only 1 in 5 affected report to the Police, meaning actual figures will be much higher. This session will examine how domestic abuse, also known as coercive control, is more than physical abuse.

By developing a greater understanding of domestic abuse, in all its forms and how it impacts victims and survivors the session will enable individuals and organisations to be better placed to be alert to the signs of domestic abuse, understand how it impacts people and where to signpost to support and specialist services.

 Learning outcomes 

  • Identify the different types of domestic abuse that people may experience.
  • Recognise the signs and symptoms of someone experiencing domestic abuse.
  • Describe the impact of domestic abuse on individuals
  • Have increased confidence in asking the question and responding effectively to a disclosure.
  • Reflect on what they can do to implement supportive response to domestic abuse in their own practice.
  • Feel more confident in supporting anyone experiencing Domestic Abuse
  • Identify services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support

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.

Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Abuse

The session enables participants to gain an introductory understanding into the nature, impact and prevalence of domestic abuse highlighting abuse take many forms and does not always have to be physical.  It will enable participants to consider and reflect on the reasons why women experiencing domestic abuse face significant barriers to leaving including the implications and potential dangers of leaving or staying for women, their children and young people. It explores and explains the terminology and rationale of a gendered analysis of domestic abuse, and addresses the commonly asked questions, harmful myths and narratives relating to women’s experiences of domestic abuse.

 Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding of domestic abuse and how it impacts on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Understanding the Scottish Government’s definition of domestic abuse and national policy response
  • Understanding the impacts of domestic abuse and economic abuse through theory, research and survivor testimony
  • Myth busting around common narratives about domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, and what it means for practitioners and people experiencing domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.  We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us. Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.

Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Abuse

The session enables participants to gain an introductory understanding into the nature, impact and prevalence of domestic abuse highlighting abuse take many forms and does not always have to be physical.  It will enable participants to consider and reflect on the reasons why women experiencing domestic abuse face significant barriers to leaving including the implications and potential dangers of leaving or staying for women, their children and young people. It explores and explains the terminology and rationale of a gendered analysis of domestic abuse, and addresses the commonly asked questions, harmful myths and narratives relating to women’s experiences of domestic abuse.

 Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding of domestic abuse and how it impacts on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Understanding the Scottish Government’s definition of domestic abuse and national policy response
  • Understanding the impacts of domestic abuse and economic abuse through theory, research and survivor testimony
  • Myth busting around common narratives about domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, and what it means for practitioners and people experiencing domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.  We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us. Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.

Key Approaches in Asking & Responding to Domestic Abuse

How do you provide a validating and supportive response to someone experiencing domestic abuse? What are the signs of abuse?  How do you ask and, importantly how do you respond if someone discloses it’s happening or has happened to them?

Experiencing domestic abuse can be overwhelming.  Survivors responses describe feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment, being unsure of what is happening to them; where they can go and what help they can get, fearful of doing anything which might increase risk to their or their children’s safety. Women who feel able to disclose typically describe a history of long-standing, escalating abuse and violence, remarking on how much they wanted to be able to talk about what was going on, if only someone had asked them.

This session explores the best practice in asking about abuse, potential indicators of abuse, the principles of safety planning and the importance of signposting to specialist services.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Have an enhanced understanding of the main issues in asking and responding to anyone experiencing domestic abuse
  • Have greater knowledge, skills confidence and motivation to recognise and respond to domestic abuse.
  • Have explored and practised the skills, knowledge and tools to better identify risk, assess protective factors and increase safety for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.  We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us. Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.

Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Abuse

Each year In Scotland, in excess of 65,000 incidents of Domestic Abuse are recorded by Police Scotland, yet research shows only 1 in 5 affected actually report to the Police, meaning actual figures will be much higher. This session will examine how domestic abuse, also known as coercive control, is more than physical abuse. It will explore how coercive control is used to control survivors, the considerations involved when staying or leaving, as well as the challenges, risks and safety implications involved to separate and remain separated safely.

By developing a greater understanding of domestic abuse, in all its forms and how it impacts victims and survivors the session will enable individuals and organisations to be better placed to be alert to the signs of domestic abuse, understand how it impacts people and where to signpost to support and specialist services.

Learning outcomes: 

  • Understanding of domestic abuse, how it impacts on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Understanding the Scottish Government’s definition of domestic abuse and national policy response
  • Understanding the impacts of domestic abuse and economic abuse through theory, research and survivor testimony
  • Knowledge of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, and what it means for practitioners and people experiencing domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.  We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us. Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.

Key Approaches in Asking and Responding to Domestic Abuse

How do you provide a validating and supportive response to someone experiencing domestic abuse? What are the signs of abuse?  How do you ask and, importantly how do you respond if someone discloses it’s happening or has happened to them?

Experiencing domestic abuse can be overwhelming.  Survivors responses describe feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment, being unsure of what is happening to them; where they can go and what help they can get, fearful of doing anything which might increase risk to their or their children’s safety. Women who feel able to disclose typically describe a history of long-standing, escalating abuse and violence, remarking on how much they wanted to be able to talk about what was going on, if only someone had asked them.

This session explores the best practice in asking about abuse, potential indicators of abuse, the principles of safety planning and the importance of signposting to specialist services.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Have an enhanced understanding of the main issues in asking and responding to anyone experiencing domestic abuse
  • Have greater knowledge, skills confidence and motivation to recognise and respond to domestic abuse.
  • Have explored and practised the skills, knowledge and tools to better identify risk, assess protective factors and increase safety for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Facilitator:

Judy Ferguson is the National Training Coordinator at Scottish Women’s Aid having previously spent nearly a decade with East Ayrshire Women’s Aid leading on all Domestic Abuse and Gender Based Violence multi agency training within the local Violence Against Women Partnership.

A certified Safe & Together Trainer with a passion and commitment to ensuring addressing domestic abuse becomes everyone’s business, Judy regularly provides training to COPFS, Police, Social Work, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and VAWG partnerships and strives to improving the understanding of, and response to survivors and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Judy strives to support organisations develop robust approaches to end violence against women and girls, recognising it is a breach of human rights and unacceptable in any society and everyone has the right to live free from the threat of violence and abuse.

Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Abuse

The session enables participants to gain a basic understanding into the nature, impact and prevalence of domestic abuse highlighting abuse does not always have to be physical.  It will enable participants to consider and reflect on the reasons why women experiencing domestic abuse face significant barriers to leaving including the implications and potential dangers of leaving or staying for women, their children and young people. It explores and explains the terminology and rationale of a gendered analysis of domestic abuse, and addresses the commonly asked questions, harmful myths and narratives relating to women’s experiences of domestic abuse.

 Learning outcomes:

  • Understanding of domestic abuse and how it impacts on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Understanding the Scottish Government’s definition of domestic abuse and national policy response
  • Understanding the impacts of domestic abuse and economic abuse through theory, research and survivor testimony
  • Myth busting around common narratives about domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, and what it means for practitioners and people experiencing domestic abuse
  • Knowledge of services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support

Facilitator:

Judy Ferguson is the National Training Coordinator at Scottish Women’s Aid having previously spent nearly a decade with East Ayrshire Women’s Aid leading on all Domestic Abuse and Gender Based Violence multi agency training within the local Violence Against Women Partnership.

A certified Safe & Together Trainer with a passion and commitment to ensuring addressing domestic abuse becomes everyone’s business, Judy regularly provides training to COPFS, Police, Social Work, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and VAWG partnerships and strives to improving the understanding of, and response to survivors and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Judy strives to support organisations develop robust approaches to end violence against women and girls, recognising it is a breach of human rights and unacceptable in any society and everyone has the right to live free from the threat of violence and abuse.

Why doesn’t she just leave? Supporting safety for women who stay.

One of the most common questions posed about victims of domestic abuse is ‘‘Why doesn’t she just leave?”

Well intentioned and often founded on the belief that surely the best thing, the only thing to do, is to pack your bags and just leave?   Yet survivors, practitioners, academics and statistics tell us leaving is actually one of the most dangerous points, when behaviour very often escalates and violence may be introduced for the first and fatal time meaning it may in fact be safer to stay.

This session explores the many concerns and challenges to staying or leaving for women experiencing domestic abuse and seeks to explore and address how to support women and children impacted by domestic abuse.

Participants can expect to:

  • Understand why some women experiencing domestic abuse choose to stay
  • Explore the barriers to leaving including the implications and potential dangers of leaving for women, their children and young people
  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Consider the safety planning implications for women who choose to leave or stay
  • Consider how to apply the knowledge to their own work in supporting anyone who has experienced domestic abuse.

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Trainer.

Judy Ferguson worked as the Trainer with East Ayrshire Women’s Aid for nearly 10 years, leading on all Domestic Abuse and Gender Based Violence multi agency training within the local Violence Against Women Partnership,  including securing the establishment and roll out of Safe & Together across Children & Families Social Work and the local Health & Social Care Partnership.  As a SafeLives Subject Matter Expert Judy also delivered the Domestic Abuse Matters training programme to Police Scotland supporting the roll out of the ground breaking Domestic Abuse Scotland Act (2018).  Judy joined the team at SWA full time in July 2021. Judy bringing a wealth of experience and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

Why Doesn’t She Just Leave?

One of the most common questions when discussing domestic abuse is the age-old ‘‘Why doesn’t she just leave?”.  Well intentioned and often founded on the belief that there are numerous laws to protect you, safe, accessible refuges for you to flee to, and surely the best thing, the only thing to do is to pack your bags and leave?   Yet survivors, practitioners, academics and statistics tell us leaving is actually one of the most dangerous points, when behaviour very often escalates and violence may be introduced for the first and fatal time.

This session explores the many concerns and challenges to leaving for women experiencing domestic abuse and seeks to explore and address the victim blaming attitudes and misinformation which create barriers to support and services for women and children impacted by the behaviours of a domestic abuse perpetrator.

Participants can expect to:

  • Understand why women experiencing domestic abuse face significant barriers to leaving including the implications and potential dangers of leaving or staying for women, their children and young people
  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Explore and explain the terminology and rationale of the gendered analysis of domestic abuse
  • Address the commonly asked questions relating to men’s experiences of domestic abuse
  • Consider how to apply the knowledge to their own work in supporting women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.

We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us.

Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.

Hidden Homicides – the role of suicide in domestic abuse

Perpetrators of domestic abuse employ a wide range of tactics to control and abuse their partners or ex -partners. Survivors report a range controlling, emotional and destructive tactics all of which can have devastating effects on their emotional and mental well-being and without support or safety many women feel there is no escape other than through ending their life by suicide.

Recent research by Professor Jane Monckton-Smith and other academics have highlighted many suicides are in fact the ‘hidden victims’ of domestic abuse.  Professor Monckton-Smith has received Home Office funding to examine about 100 suicides related to domestic abuse in order to pick out the patterns and identify the red flags.  The sociologist Prof Sylvia Walby, estimated that about one-third of female suicides were women who had experienced domestic violence. In 2018, a study of 3500 women accessing  services  that support women and children experiencing domestic abuse, established that 24% had felt suicidal and 18% had made plans to end their life.

This session seeks to explore the literature and emerging research in this area, enabling consideration as to how best safety and risk can be considered in this context, potential indicators, the principles of safety planning and the importance of signposting to specialist services.

By the end of the session you will:

  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Have an enhanced understanding of the main issues in asking and responding to anyone experiencing domestic abuse
  • Have greater knowledge, skills confidence and motivation to recognise and respond to domestic abuse.
  • Have explored and practised the skills, knowledge and tools to better identify risk, assess protective factors and increase safety for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy Ferguson worked as the Trainer with East Ayrshire Women’s Aid for nearly 10 years, leading on all Domestic Abuse and Gender Based Violence multi agency training within the local Violence Against Women Partnership,  including securing the establishment and roll out of Safe & Together across Children & Families Social Work and the local Health & Social Care Partnership.

As a SafeLives Subject Matter Expert Judy also delivered the Domestic Abuse Matters training programme to Police Scotland supporting the roll out of the ground breaking Domestic Abuse Scotland Act (2018).  After working with SWA in various capacities over the years Judy joined the team at SWA full time as National Training Coordinator in July 2021. Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

Domestic Abuse, Trauma and Mental Health

Dr Mairead Tagg’s session is for anyone wanting to enhance their understanding of the relationship between mental health and domestic abuse, and a trauma-informed approach to working with women and young people to support their recovery. This session is designed to raise awareness about how domestic abuse and mental health intersect and to offer effective ways to engage with and support women impacted by these issues.

Aims:

  • Debunk myths about mental health, domestic abuse and sexual abuse
  • Understand how the human brain responds to trauma and abuse, how this affects how people may present and be responded to, and creates barriers to seeking help
  • Understand the short and long term effects of domestic abuse on women and children
  • Understand the intersections between experiences of domestic abuse and Mental Health
  • Increase your knowledge about how to provide a trauma and domestic abuse informed response

Facilitator:  Dr Mairead Tagg

Dr Mairead Tagg is a clinical psychologist who worked for Glasgow East Women’s Aid for 19 years, working directly with survivors of domestic abuse and child sexual abuse and providing specialist training on issues relating to psychological trauma in adults and children. She now works as an independent clinical psychologist specialising in gender based violence. As well as working with individuals, she provides court reports in criminal and civil cases where domestic abuse is an issue.  Dr Tagg is also a visiting lecturer at Glasgow University and an associate lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Key Approaches in Asking & Responding to Domestic Abuse

How do you provide a validating and supportive response to someone experiencing domestic abuse? What are the signs of abuse?  How do you ask and, importantly how do you respond if someone discloses it’s happening or has happened to them?

Experiencing domestic abuse can be overwhelming.  Survivors responses describe feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment, being unsure of what is happening to them; where they can go and what help they can get, fearful of doing anything which might increase risk to their or their children’s safety. Women who feel able to disclose typically describe a history of long-standing, escalating abuse and violence, remarking on how much they wanted to be able to talk about what was going on, if only someone had asked them.

This session explores the best practice in asking about abuse, potential indicators of abuse, the principles of safety planning and the importance of signposting to specialist services.

By the end of the session you will:

  • Understand the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices
  • Have an enhanced understanding of the main issues in asking and responding to anyone experiencing domestic abuse
  • Have greater knowledge, skills confidence and motivation to recognise and respond to domestic abuse.
  • Have explored and practised the skills, knowledge and tools to better identify risk, assess protective factors and increase safety for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011, initially as the Chair of South Lanarkshire Women’s Aid, prior to spending 9 years with East Ayrshire Women’s Aid where she was responsible for the East Ayrshire Violence Against Women Multi-Agency Partnership Learning and Development Programmes and the lead trainer in East Ayrshire HSCP for all GBV training.

Recently Judy has become a Safe & Together Certified Trainer and was part of the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff, alongside being part of the Scottish Women’s Aid expert Coercive Control training team supporting the wider roll out of the new Domestic Abuse Scotland Act (DASA) 2018.

Judy previously coordinated and delivered the CEDAR programme and works widely across a range of settings training and awareness raising and is passionate about improving the understanding of and response to women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

 

Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Abuse

Learning Outcomes:  

  • Understanding the Scottish Government’s definition of domestic abuse and national policy response
  • Understanding the impacts of domestic abuse through theory, research and survivor testimony
  • Knowledge of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, and what it means for practitioners and people experiencing domestic abuse
  • Confidence working in a relational, trauma-informed manner to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse get the proper support
  • Myth busting around common narratives about domestic abuse

Facilitator: Marianne Osborne has worked with Renfrewshire Women’s Aid since 2002 as a refuge worker supporting women, children and young people subjected to domestic abuse. She has been delivering training and awareness on Domestic Abuse and other forms of Gender Based Violence since 2004 locally on behalf of RWA and Renfrewshire’s Gender Based Violence Strategy Group. Nationally, Marianne is an associate network trainer for Scottish Women’s Aid delivering to a range of multi-agency partners, including Social Work, Health, Caledonia Programme and Women’s Aid workers.