Domestic Violence (1-2 Days)

This difficult subject is presented in a safe and supportive environment with clear guidelines and an understanding that  statistically one in four women and one in six men will have experienced domestic violence at some point in their lives. There is a high possibility that in most groups at least one participant will find the course highly challenging from a personal perspective. The course is facilitated with this understanding in mind.
This course aims to clarify the confusing questions arising from working with domestic violence. Participants will be shown various methods of dealing with the people involved in violent relationships.

Course objectives:

By the end of this course participants should understand:

• What is meant by ‘Domestic violence’
• What is meant by ‘abuse’
• The extent of the problem as shown by current research.
• Experiences of survivors and victims
• The law: Historic and current perspectives-with particular reference to the policy and procedures of the organisation
• Theoretical perspectives on partner abuse. Understanding: Myths that surround domestic violence; The Duluth
  Power and control wheel and the cycle of Abuse
• Whether domestic violence and abuse is influenced by Gender, Culture, Sexuality issues
• The type of people that are the perpetrators
• The sort of people that are the survivors/victims
• Why women stay in these situations. Looking at a number of reasons including: Fear, economic dependency, the
  belief that the abuser will change, isolation, social and cultural reasons, religion, children, failure of the system to
  help and the controversial idea of “Addiction to violence”
• The effect of domestic violence on children
• Other types of inter-familial violence
• An introduction to practice; how to work with perpetrators and victims
• How to effectively support victims of domestic violence – identifying proactive and reactive ways of working
• The resources available
        -nationally e.g. women’s aid, refuge, the domestic violence intervention project
        -within the local area which services are able to offer targeted support
• Domestic Violence as a political issue and the impact this has on how services are offered
• The impact of working with Domestic violence/abuse on the worker
• How to get appropriate professional support
• The need to recognise our limitations-understanding when it would not be appropriate to work in this area
• The need to hold professional boundaries
• Confidentiality
• How to stay safe

Training methods:

The course will use case scenarios and re-enactment to illustrate the relationships involved. Participants will be invited to join in, and the group as a whole will be fully debriefed. Other methods will include:

• Video presentation
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Group work
• Feedback
• Tutor presentations
• Handouts

CP96/5.9