Isle of Wight Council

Domestic Abuse

Resources for Professionals

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Domestic Abuse Forum (DAF)

The Domestic Abuse Forum (DAF) is part of the Community Safety Partnership. It's membership includes officers from the following services:

  • Isle of Wight Council (Children’s Services, Adults’ Social Care, Public Health, Local Member portfolio holder for Community Safety)

  • Hampshire Constabulary

  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

  • NHS Trust

  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight Probation Service

  • Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group

  • Service providers for those suffering from Domestic Abuse (Paragon, WOW, Hampton Trust and Barnardo’s)

  • Service providers for those suffering from drug and alcohol related issues

  • Office of the Police Crime Commissioner

  • Isle of Wight College

  • Age UK

The forum is held quarterly. It provides effective leadership in the areas of domestic abuse. This is to ensure shared strategic objectives and joint approach are enabled across all services and sectors. It promotes multi agency working, collective decision-making and comprehensive information sharing and data collection.

DAF strategy and priorities

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduces a broad range of new measures designed to strengthen the UK response to domestic abuse. Part four of the Act places a duty on each tier one local authority in England to prepare and publish a strategy for the provision of support within safe accommodation. We are currently developing a draft version which is out for consultation. View the draft Provision of support within safe accommodation. 

 

The current priorities for the DAF are:

  1. To prevent domestic abuse and associated harm from taking place.
  2. To plan and deliver co-ordinated, effective and sustainable services to victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
  3. To understand our local needs and priorities for future planning with regards to domestic abuse services.

If you wish to discuss the work of the DAF or have any news, events or training which you would like us to consider, please send us a message.

Additional resources which may be of use include::

Domestic Abuse Poster

A poster campaign was launched across the Island in 2020. Please feel free to download and use our Domestic abuse can effect anyone poster.

Training

The Isle of Wight Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (SCP) and Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) run training and events within the community on domestic abuse. Please use the links listed below to learn more about on the courses available:

Free training

Domestic abuse awareness and domestic abuse and the impact on children

The training aims to provide an understanding of the subject and the impact that it has on children. This training is available via the learning hub.  If you don’t have access to this please request to be set up by contacting learning.development@iow.gov.uk. Both of these modules will need to be completed prior to attending any of the other courses listed below.

  

 

This course can be accessed via the Learning Hub and selecting the social care tile. 

Dragonfly Project

The Dragonfly project works with isolated communities across the Island. This project aims to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse. Enabling communities to support each other. 

Professionals who work directly with the public are often the first person somebody in a domestic abuse relationship may have contact with. 

By attending the free domestic abuse workshop you can become a champion. In return you will: 

  • Receive dragonfly badge to wear with pride . The dragonfly badges worn by champions let people affected by domestic abuse know who they can talk to.
  • Receive a window sticker. The dragonfly sticker is to displayed in the windows of organisations, shops, schools, etc. This is so members of the community can see it.
  • Speak about what you have learnt.
  • Be able to offer guidance to those experiencing domestic abuse should they approach you. 

This free training is provided by Paragon. For more information call 0800 234 6266.

Reducing Parental Conflict Training

The Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) programme is aimed at conflict below the threshold of domestic abuse. When addressing parental conflict in a relationship practitioners should continue to be vigilant and confident there are no indicators of domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour. If there are signs of controlling behaviour that adversely affects one person in a relationship, this can be an indicator of an abusive relationship.

Where there is domestic abuse there will be an imbalance of power and one parent may be fearful of the other and this is not parental conflict.

Conflict between parents is normal, but if it is frequent, intense and poorly resolved it can have a damaging effect on children. Often resulting in long term mental health issues and emotional, social, behavioural and academic problems as they grow up. Today there is a growing awareness of the importance of the quality of the relationship between parents. Regardless of whether they are together or separated. The need to address any conflict is in the best interests of the children.

Further information is available at Support and Advice for Families.