Assess the risk posed by perpetrators of domestic abuse or sexual violence
Overview
This standard is about assessing the risk of reoffending posed by perpetrators of domestic abuse or sexual violence.
As part of this standard you will be required to involve perpetrators, wherever possible, in risk assessments and in agreeing to consequent factors to be addressed.
Throughout this standard, where the term ‘abuse' is used it is taken to include instances also involving physical violence.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1. obtain relevant information about perpetrators involved in risk assessments including:
• their circumstances
• their behavior
• factual data where possible
• clinical data where possible
2. describe your role and responsibilities to perpetrators in line with your organisation’s requirements
3. explain the information being sought to perpetrators, including the reasons for seeking it
4. obtain perpetrators’ consent to seek information about them as required in line with organisational policies and procedures
5. work with perpetrators to explore and determine:
• if they acknowledge that abuse has occurred
• their perception of their situation and behavior
• their perception of the impact of abuse on individuals
• their reasoning for abuse perpetrated
6. obtain verification and corroborate information when required in line with your organisation’s policies and procedures
7. communicate with perpetrators in ways that meet their needs
8. use appropriate assessment tools relevant to your organisation to identify and assess factors for perpetrators, including:
• education
• employment situation
• physical and mental health
• their attitudes, beliefs and motivation
9. assess available evidence to determine the risk of perpetrators continuing their abuse of others in line with organisational policies and procedures
10. identify risk factors affecting perpetrators in line with organisational risk assessment tools and guidance
11. determine risk factors likely to have influence on perpetrators’ abuse of others, including:
• triggers of abuse
• influences which may reduce or prevent abuse of others
• issues which may prevent perpetrators from addressing their behaviour
12. work with perpetrators to complete risk assessments and:
• explain your organisation’s risk assessment policies and procedures
• give rationale for risk assessment outcomes
• explain the impact of risks
• explain protective influences identified
• explain potential triggers for their abusive behaviour
• explain actions that might address potential triggers
13. work with perpetrators to identify and agree
• arears of potential risk to be targeted
• influences to be strengthened
• appropriate actions to strengthen influences
14. involve individuals in risk assessments of perpetrators in line with organisational policies and procedures
15. identify any interventions that may be pursued against perpetrators and which protect individuals in line with organisational policies and procedures
16. make justified risk assessments based on evidence, information obtained and associated findings
17. arrange additional assessments for perpetrators when required to further assess their risk of causing harm and abuse
18. identify if perpetrators are suitable to attend a treatment programme and obtain the necessary consent in line with available criteria and guidance
19. arrange for perpetrators to attend treatment programmes which reduce their risk of further harm and abuse
20. monitor and review perpetrators’ assessed
21. alert others when you identify concerns about the risk of harm by perpetrators to themselves or others
22. explain to perpetrators the contents of reports and who can access them in line with organisational policies and procedures
23. provide reports and information to relevant others as appropriate in line with organisational policies and procedures
24. maintain up to date records in line with organisational policies and procedures
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 including
3. your organisation’s roles, objectives, remit and services for addressing domestic abuse or sexual violence
4. range of agencies and services you may work with
5. the limits of your authority, responsibility and professional competence
6. what constitutes domestic abuse or sexual violence, and its prevalence in your local community
7. signs of abuse and the methods used by abusers to gain power and control
8. different trauma responses and their impact
9. how dependents may be used by abusers as part of their abuse
10. types and sources of information and support sought by those affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence
11. how cultural, social and gender related aspects impact upon domestic abuse or sexual violence
12. how intersectionality impacts on how an individual experiences services
13. the role of external support agencies towards providing support to individuals in your area
14. multi-agency arrangements for providing support and interventions for individuals in your area
15. relevant risk assessment processes and how to undertake these
16. the limits of risk assessment processes and their dependence on information available
17. information required to make a risk assessment of perpetrators in addressing their risk of reoffending
18. the importance of identifying whether the perpetrator has other problems which contribute to their abusive behaviour
19. the importance of addressing perpetrators’ problems as part of the process of challenging their behaviour
20. different trauma responses and their impact
21. sources of information regarding perpetrators you are working with and how to access these
22. methods of verifying and corroborating information received
23. how to distinguish between directly observed evidence, evidence from reliable sources and hearsay
24. key risk factors for serious offending, including
• number of previous convictions
• the nature of the current abuse
• patterns of abusive behaviour
• drug and alcohol abuse
25. circumstances requiring additional assessments and how to arrange these
26. circumstances where perpetrators are considered to be of high risk
27. circumstances which require referral to other agencies and how to progress this
28. range of communication styles and techniques available and when and how to alter them
29. how different cultures use and interpret body language in different ways
30. common barriers to communication and ways to overcome them
31. the importance of being aware of your values and beliefs and the impact your values and beliefs may have when working with perpetrators and individuals
32. how to challenge discriminatory or potentially damaging attitudes and behaviour and the importance of doing so
33. organisational policies and procedures for sharing information
34. circumstances where it is necessary to inform others about perpetrators including when you have concerns for the safety of others due to the perpetrator’s behaviour
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Domestic Abuse
Any incident or 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 way of working to ensure that the support offered to someone experiencing domestic abuse is offered based on their needs and that builds on their strengths and resources available to them. It recognises the knowledge they have of the person who is using abuse. With the rights the non-abusive person can build their independence, recover from the trauma they have experienced and gain their life back and source change that lasts
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 Abuse
Undesired sexual behaviour by one person to another. This is often carried out by force or be 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 or exhibitionism, to unwanted touching above or under clothes.
Sexual Violence
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.
Strength based approach
Is an approach to working with individuals that recognises their strength to overcome their experiences
Trauma Informed
an approach to health and care interventions which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure can impact on a person. Practitioners in a way so as to not inadvertently retraumatise impacted individuals; and with an emphasis on client safety, choice, collaboration and empowerment.