Evaluate requirements relating to addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence
Overview
This standard is about your ability to identify and prioritise requirements for services and related activities towards addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence. It includes identifying associated opportunities for enhancing your organisation’s provision within your community.
It also covers evaluating the opportunities and potential benefits of services and provision, based upon realistic reviews of the needs of the community.
This standard is for practitioners who support those experiencing domestic abuse, which may include instances of sexual violence in a domestic violence context.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1. identify services for addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence which meet the needs of your community
2. evaluate trends and developments of services which address domestic abuse and sexual violence
3. identify the level and nature of service provision available which meets your community’s needs including:
• services provided by your organisation
• strengths and weaknesses of provision offered by your organisation
4. identify opportunities and constraints for service provision requirements which meet your community’s needs
5. identify gaps in available information which informs analysis of service provision in your community
6. assess potential risk of information gaps for conclusions that may be drawn
7. address information gaps identified which impact on evaluating requirements for service provision in your community
8. draw conclusions for domestic abuse and sexual violence service requirements based on available information and which meet the needs of your community
9. evaluate your organisation’s services and related activities against the needs of those affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence, and consider:
• the likely demand of services and related activities
• the requirements of resources
• factors influencing take up of services and related activities
10. provide recommendations for priority actions which meet your
community’s needs
11. present information and arguments to others in line with organisational policies and procedures, including:
• priority actions
• assumptions made
• risks involved
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1. legal, organisational and policy requirements relevant to your role, the role of others in your organisation and the activities being carried out
2. the relevant national and local guidelines, policies and procedures available and how and when they should be accessed
3. relevant others you may need to work with including:
• agencies and organisations
• colleagues
• community representatives
• stakeholders
• individuals
4. your organisation’s role, remit and services for addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence
5. what constitutes domestic abuse and sexual violence, and its prevalence in your local community
6. signs of abuse and violence and the methods used by abusers to gain power and control
7. the impact of abuse and violence upon all of those affected by it,
8. types of information and support sought by those affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence
9. sources of information and support available to those affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence
10. relevant national and local initiatives and their impact for developing services towards addressing domestic and sexual violence
11. the importance of exploring and identifying trends and developments affecting the demand for services
12. methods for exploring and identifying trends and developments for the demand of services towards addressing domestic and sexual violence in your community
13. methods of obtaining feedback from relevant agencies and stakeholders, and the relative advantages and disadvantages of different methods
14. issues that might be relevant to establishing the requirements for service provision in your community
15. the correlation of indicators of domestic abuse and sexual violence with other streams of addressing violent crimes
16. how to evaluate, prioritise and present opportunities for services addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence
17. the importance of making a financial assessment of the resources associated with progressing opportunities identified and how to do this 18. services provided within your community which address domestic abuse and sexual violence
19. the roles and responsibilities of external agencies and stakeholders involved in addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence in your community
20. methods of involving external agencies and stakeholders
21. the importance of long and medium-term planning to the success of an organisation
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Domestic Abuse
A pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass but is not limited to, a combination of psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse.
This definition also includes so-called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage. Children also experience domestic abuse when witnessing domestic abuse.
Intersectionality
The interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage
Needs led approach
A form of advocacy that places the survivor at the centre of interventions and support work. This means listening to their story, concerns and struggles and identifying strengths. It results in the collaborative production of support packages that are specific to survivors’ individual needs. A needs-led approach is an empowering endeavour that pays attention to survivors’ intersectional circumstances, avoiding the traps of institutional bias or ineffective responses.
Strength based approach
Recognising that individuals have strengths. These strengths are recognised and built on as part of aiding recovery.
People at risk
An individual who is defined as in need of special care, support, or protection because of age, disability, risk of abuse or neglect
Sexual Violence (see also definitions below that may be used covering sexual abuse or sexual assault)
Similar in nature to sexual abuse, but this term is more often used to describe brief or single incidences, such as if sexually assaulted by a stranger.
Sexual Abuse
Undesired sexual behaviour by one person to another. This is often carried out by force or by taking advantage of the other person. This term is generally used when the sexual behaviour is regular or over a prolonged period of time.
Sexual Assault
Any unwanted sexual behaviour that a person has not consented to. This can range from rape to voyeurism the exhibitionism, to unwanted touching above or under clothes.
Trauma Informed Practice
an approach to health and care interventions which is grounded in the
understanding that trauma exposure can impact on a person. Practitioners will work in ways so as to not inadvertently retraumatize impacted individual; and with an emphasis on client safety, choice, collaboration and empowerment.