Domestic abuse training for health professionals.

The NICE guidelines on domestic abuse (February 2014) recommend that professionals in health and social care receive training on domestic abuse.

DOMESTIC ABUSE IS A HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ISSUE

Many patients experience abuse. Approximately 27 percent of women, 15 percent of men and 24 percent of children will experience an abusive relationship at some point in their lives. The effects can be devastating. Approximately two women are killed every week in England and Wales. Their abusive situation is often invisible to the medical practitioners as it operates under the dynamics of coercive control and could be under the guise of a carer or attentive partner.

Survivors of abuse tend to experience more operative surgery, more visits to doctors, more hospital stays, more visits to pharmacies and more mental health consultations over their lifetime than non-victims. The impact over time of multiple episodes of abuse seems to be cumulative. Given the long-term impact of violence on a patients health, they are more likely to be long-term users of health services, thereby increasing health care costs. It is estimated that the cost to the health service is £1.7 billion per year and the cost to mental health services are £176 million per year. The cost, in both human and economic terms, is so significant that even marginally effective interventions are cost effective.

Healthcare services have a responsibility recognise domestic abuse, provide a safe environment for disclosure and give options for support. Services are increasingly called upon to keep patients safe by working in partnership with other agencies. Involvement in domestic homicide reviews has also become more common.

Level 2 training is recommended for health care professionals such as nurses, doctors, adult social care staff, children's centre staff, mental health professionals, midwives, health visitors, paediatricians, dentists, hygienists, AHPs, dietitians, health and social care professionals in education (including school nurses), prison staff, alcohol and drug workers and youth workers

Level 2 training course

This is a three hour training session. The objectives relate to the NICE quality standards on domestic abuse.

Objectives

1) Staff will understand how to ask people about domestic abuse. 2) They will understand how to tailor support to meet individual needs, 3) They will understand specialist support and referral pathways. 4) They will have an understanding of evidenced based treatments for people who have experienced domestic abuse and have a mental health condition.

Course content

• If possible a bespoke element will be added with information relating to your service and relevant local information.
• Understanding the dynamics of domestic abuse and its relevance to health and mental health.
• Diversity and complex needs
• How to identify patients experiencing domestic abuse.
• How to ask patients about their experience.
• How to respond to patients experiencing domestic abuse and understanding how they may respond to you.
• Perpetrators of domestic abuse. How they may present and how you can respond.
• Risk assessment and safety planning.
• Multi-agency working and referral pathways.
• How to record domestic abuse in patient records.

Electronic handouts can be provided and attendance certificates can be sent to your organisation.

Level 1 training is available on request. This training is suitable for care assistants, receptionists, interpreters and non-specialist voluntary and community sector workers.

www.sarahblake.co.uk