Overview
Whilst much progress has been made in reducing the incidence of domestic violence in the UK, at least 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime and approximately two people are killed by their current or former partner each week in England and Wales. Stressing its commitment to tackling domestic violence, the Government has launched a new strategy, ‘Call to End Violence against Women and Girls: Action Plan’ (March 2011), underpinned by £28m of funding over four years.
Taking a radical new approach to domestic violence service delivery, the Government’s action plan places greater emphasis on multi-agency working at a local level, pledging to provide local areas with the tools needed to deliver innovative services that are right for their communities, whilst enabling greater professional discretion free from unnecessary national targets.
At the heart of the Government’s new strategy is prevention of domestic violence, through increasing public and practitioner awareness of DV, challenging the social attitudes and behaviours that foster and excuse it and promoting gender equality. Where violence does occur, services must intervene earlier to support victims and preclude the escalation of violence.
Alongside providing police with new powers, the Government has underlined the need for better training of professionals and front-line staff to ensure guidance, legislative powers and risk management processes are understood and properly applied in order to manage and reduce the risk faced by victims. Improving victims’ access to financial and housing assistance, providing tailored support for families with multiple needs and rehabilitating perpetrators are also highlighted as crucial to empowering victims and preventing repeat victimisation. Where services do fail victims, the Government is clear that all agencies and bodies connected must together examine exactly what went wrong to ensure lessons are learned.
The 4th Annual Domestic Violence Symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for practitioners to assess the progress made in the last year in tackling domestic violence and explore the four key themes of the Government’s new action plan: the prevention of violence including reducing repeat victimisation, the provision of support, the bringing together of groups to work in partnership and action to reduce risk by ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.
The symposium will:
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Explore the Government’s strategy for tackling domestic violence, including policy developments
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Consider how to prevent DV through better education and awareness
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Examine how to ensure the first response is right, through better training of front-line practitioners
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Consider how to support and empower victims, safeguarding those at high-risk of violence
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Assess how to improve prosecution and rehabilitation rates
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Share vital best practice
Programme
| 09:30 |
Registration and Morning Refreshments |
| 10:15 |
Chair’s Welcome and Introduction |
| 10:30 |
Panel Session One:
A New Approach to Tackling Domestic Violence: Strengthening Prevention
- Improving Awareness of DV and it’s Unacceptability Amongst the Public and Practitioners
- Educating Young People Against DV – Promoting Healthy Relationships, Gender Equality and Non-Violence in Schools
- Addressing Forced Marriage, HBV and FGM through Sensitive Community Engagement and Outreach Programmes
- Improving Understanding of Male and LGBT Victims of DV
- Supporting Families with Multiple Problems and Providing Better Child-Centred Front-Line Practice
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| 11:15 |
Morning Coffee Break |
| 11:30 |
Open Floor Discussion and Debate with Panel One |
| 12:30 |
Networking Lunch |
| 13:30 |
Panel Session Two:
Getting the First Response Right – Working in Partnership to Safeguard Victims
- Improving Workforce Training, Availability of Guidance and Tools for Challenging DV and Stalking
- Empowering Victims – Facilitating Financial Independence, Providing Housing Support and Assisting Victims with No Recourse to Public Funds
- Protecting High-Risk Victims through Partnership – Strengthening MARACs and IDVAs
- Increasing Prosecution Rates and Supporting Victims through the CJS – Extending SDVCs
- Breaking the Cycle of DV through Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Rehabilitating Perpetrators
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| 14:15 |
Afternoon Coffee Break |
| 14:30 |
Open Floor Discussion and Debate with Panel Two |
| 15:30 |
Chair’s Summary and Closing Comments |
| 15:40 |
Networking Reception |
| 16:30 |
Close |
Who Should Attend?
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Domestic Violence Co-ordinators
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Housing Associations and Officers
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Police Service
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Police Authorities and Fire Services
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Probation Officers
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Families Services Officers
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Sure Start
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Children’s Trusts and Children’s Centres
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Health Service Professionals
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Victim Support Representatives
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Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
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Community Safety Teams
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Neighbourhood Policing Teams
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Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinators
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Drug and Alcohol Action Teams
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Youth Offending Teams
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Community Support Officers
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Children and Youth Services
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Social Workers and Social Services Officers
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Local Education Welfare Authorities
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Men’s Health/Welfare Organisations
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Teachers and Head Teachers
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Criminal Justice Practitioners
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Judges and Magistrates
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Legal Professionals
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Local Authority Officers and Councillors
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Central Government Departments and Agencies
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Equality and Diversity Practitioners
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Third Sector Practitioners
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Faith Organisations
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Academics and Researchers
Event Details Website Register to Attend
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