Earlier this month we celebrated 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with a variety of events. The 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November and runs until 10 December encompassing White Ribbon Day and Human Rights Day.
The Bradford Council Domestic Abuse team put on an event for social workers as a response to conversations with managers who said their staff were struggling to work with families domestic abuse where was a feature. The team created a toolkit, which was presented on the day of the event, giving examples of how to work with perpetrators, victims and children.
The event was opened by Joanne Hyde – director of corporate services and Marium Haque – director of children’s services.
We worked in collaboration with our partners in children’s services to put this toolkit together.
Domestic abuse has a significant impact on children and young people of all ages (up to 18 years old). Section 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (‘the 2021 Act’) recognises children as victims of domestic abuse for the purposes of the Act if the child sees, hears, or experiences the effects of the abuse, and is related to, or falls under “parental responsibility” of, the victim and/or perpetrator of the domestic abuse. A child might therefore be considered a victim of domestic abuse under the 2021 Act where one parent is abusing another parent, or where a parent is abusing, or being abused by, a partner or relative.
Resources
Signs that a child has witnessed domestic abuse – NSPCC – 2022
Resource for Foster carers, kinship carers caring for children who have experienced domestic abuse
Parenting Matters:- Parenting a child affected by domestic violence
FYI – Families and Young Persons Information
Center for the Developing Child – Harvard University
Circles of Security – Parents resource
ACES – Ready to Relate resources