Explore perpetrators’ behaviour and attitudes relating to their domestic abuse and sexual violence
Overview
This standard is about exploring the behaviour and attitudes of individual perpetrators of domestic abuse or sexual violence towards encouraging them to change their behaviour. It includes your ability to provide support and encouragement for change where it is judged that there is a genuine opportunity for the perpetrator to amend their behaviour.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1. communicate with perpetrators in ways appropriate to their needs and abilities
2. work with perpetrators to explore their behaviour and attitudes which influence their abuse of others, including:
• encourage perpetrators to identify abuse and its consequences
• the potential and actual impact of their behaviour upon themselves, victims and others significant to them
• awareness of the effects of power and control over their victim
• denial, minimisation or justification for their abusive behaviour
• their attitude to their abusive behaviour
• aspects of their behaviour which concerns them and others
3. offer information and advice to perpetrators which promotes the advantages of positive change in line with organisational policies and procedures
4. explore with perpetrators how they can address the abusive aspects of their behaviour in ways which encourage ownership
5. explore with perpetrators the implications of changing their behaviour, including:
• aspects of their behaviour which concerns them and others
• perpetrators’ own priorities in relation to their behaviour
• their motivation to change
• implications if no changes occur
6. work with perpetrators to make informed choices about options for change in line with organisational policies and procedures
7. explain to perpetrators the support available to them in line with organisational policies and procedures
8. communicate relevant information to authorised parties in line with organisational policies and procedures
9. maintain 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 3. range of agencies and services you may work with your organisation’s role, objectives, remit and services for addressing domestic abuse or sexual violence
4. the limits of your authority, responsibility and professional competence
5. what constitutes domestic abuse or sexual violence, and its prevalence in your local community
6. signs of abuse and the methods used by abusers to gain power and control
7. the impact of abuse upon all those affected, including individuals and dependents
8. how children and dependants may be used by abusers as part of their abuse
9. how cultural, social and gender related aspects impact upon domestic abuse and sexual violence
10. how intersectionality impacts on how an individual experiences services 11. the role of other agencies and organisation’s who provide support, services and interventions to address domestic abuse or sexual violence in your area
12. multi-agency arrangements for providing support and interventions for individuals
13. sources of information regarding perpetrators you are working with and how to access these
14. methods of verifying and corroborating information
15. how to distinguish between directly observed evidence, evidence from reliable sources and hearsay
16. the importance of identifying issues that the perpetrator may have which contribute to their abusive behaviour and how to address them
17. common obstacles to change for perpetrators and methods of overcoming these
18. the importance of helping perpetrators understand the effects of their behaviour on others and themselves
19. the importance of perpetrators having ownership of, and responsibility for, decisions they make
20. different ways of supporting perpetrators to change their behaviour and how effective these are
21. the types of interventions available and their relative advantages and disadvantages
22. circumstances where perpetrators are considered to be of high risk
23. high risk circumstances which require referral to another agency and how to progress such a referral
24. range of communication styles and techniques available and when to use and alter them
25. how different cultures use and interpret body language in different ways
26. common barriers to communication and ways to overcome them
27. the importance of being aware of your own values and beliefs
28. how to challenge discriminatory or potentially damaging attitudes and behaviour and the importance of doing so
29. the limits of confidentiality applying when dealing with perpetrators
30. circumstances where it is necessary to inform others about perpetrators including when you have concerns for the safety of others due to 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.