Dr Marianna Tortell Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP)

Dr Marianna Tortell Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP)

One of the first DVPPs established in the UK 25 years of innovation and action to prevent domestic violence, hold perpetrators to account and support survivors One of the first 2 DVPPs in the UK to achieve Respect accreditation and still the only Respectaccredited provider in London

Al Aman the UK s only language and culture specific service working with Arabic-speaking perpetrators and survivors. Oneto-one work with male perpetrators and one-to-one and groupbased services for women, whether or not their (ex) partners are accessing VPP work Yuva specialist service for young people (11-18 years) using abusive behaviour in their relationships with a parent/carer, sibling or intimate relationship. One-to-one work with young people and one-to-one and group support for survivors/victims

Children s Therapy specialist therapeutic service for children and young people affected by domestic violence. Oneto-one weekly sessions on both a short and long-term basis, including play therapy and art therapy. Support is also provided to the non-abusive parent/carer throughout the child s engagement with the service Family Court Team detailed expert risk assessments in both public and private law cases where domestic violence is a risk in child contact cases

Domestic Violence Prevention Programme - 26-session group programme to challenge and support men to end abusive, violent and controlling behaviour. Sessions focus on different aspects of violence and control, and on skills for better relationships and parenting. Goal is long-term attitude and behaviour change difficult to achieve in a short intervention or programme Women s Support Service - integrated support service for women whose (ex) partners are engaged in a DVPP or 1:1 work. Group-based and 1:1 support, continues for 4 months after (ex) partner completes the DVPP

Co-location - consultancy, case by case guidance and training by co-located DVIP practitioners in local authority Children s Services. Working closely with Social Workers to increase confidence and improve responses and outcomes Men and Masculinities - specialist DVPP for men with problematic substance use and integrated partner support service. Provided in partnership with Cranstoun Drive - partner in West Sussex Drive pilot with Hampton Trust. Diversion and disruption 1:1 interventions with men; partner support provided by IDVA service

Individual behaviour change leading to cessation of violence and abuse Improved risk assessment and management due to extensive contact with perpetrator and survivor and contribution to local co-ordinated responses, strategies and risk management processes Improved outcomes for children in child protection and contact arrangements due to contribution of information about the perpetrator from the DVPP to these processes Proactive partner support leading to increased contact with survivors who may not otherwise have accessed support, resulting in greater safety, space for action and control over own lives

Most men who complete a Respect accredited domestic violence perpetrator programme (DVPP) stop using violence and reduce most other forms of abuse against their partner. At the start, almost all the women said their partners had used some form of physical or sexual violence in the past three months. Twelve months later, after their partner or ex-partner had completed the programme, most said that the physical and sexual violence had stopped. Most partners and ex-partners of men on programmes say that they feel and are safer after their partner or ex-partner completed the programme. At the start of the programme nearly three out of every four women said that they didn t feel safe. After 12 months, eight out of ten said that they do feel safe. Kelly, L. and Westmarland, N. (2015, in press) Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes: Steps Towards Change. Project Mirabal Final Report. London and Durham: London Metropolitan University and Durham University.

Social Workers have repeatedly acknowledged the value of having DVIP s expertise on hand, being able to consult with DVIP practitioners face-to-face, and receiving ongoing feedback. Even more crucially, there is clear evidence that the knowledge and skills brought by DVIP are being circulated and applied in different areas and cases, making inroads to cultural change within the organisation such that the possibility of perpetrators routinely being visible and held accountable in child protection cases could become a reality

Of the 30 men who were assessed, 26 commenced treatment (86%) 20 men completed over 30 hours of structured domestic violence prevention work (76%) Proactive contact established with 53% of partners and ex-partners 93% of partners reported cessation of physical abuse There was an average reduction of 29% in substance misuse, and on average, participants reported a 40% improvement in overall quality of life

Long-term DVPP interventions with perpetrators and dedicated, integrated support for survivors have a tangible, positive impact on the lives of both adult and child survivors and perpetrators Reduction in physical and sexual violence Increased feelings of safety and greater space for action for survivors Improved relationships for perpetrators with intimate partners and their children Young people have the space and opportunity to address and reduce the impact of domestic violence on their lives DVIP s co-location model improves Social Worker confidence and responses to perpetrators and survivors of domestic violence

Marianna Tortell, CEO marianna.tortell@dvip.org www.dvip.org https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/criva/projectmirabal finalreport.pdf