Identifying and Responding to Clients and Staff Experiencing Family Violence Training for Managers

Transcription

1 NORTH WEST METROPOLITAN REGION PRIMARY CARE PARTNERSHIPS Identifying and Responding to Clients and Staff Experiencing Family Violence Training for Managers F A C I L I T A T O R S G U I D E

2 Acknowledgements The North West Metropolitan Region (NWMR) Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government The development of this training was led by Tania McKenna and Ilana Jaffe, Project Coordinators at Inner North West Primary Care Partnership. Refer to Cover design by Justine Henry. Inner North West PCP acknowledges the peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our work in the community takes place. We pay our respects to their culture and their Elders past, present and emerging. Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is for general information purposes only. The information was current at the time of publication, but the Inner North West PCP makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or availability of the information in this publication. Any reliance you place on the information contained within this publication is therefore at your own risk. In no event will Inner North West PCP or its staff members be held responsible or liable for any loss or damages including without limitation, indirect or significant loss or damages of any type whatsoever, suffered by any person as the result of reliance on information contained within this publication. October 2016 Page 1 of 28

3 Contents INTRODUCTION... 4 ABOUT THE WORKSHOP... 5 PREPARING FOR THE WORKSHOP... 6 DELIVERY GUIDE... 8 Introduction... 8 Setting the Scene Defining Family Violence Identifying Family Violence Responding to Client Disclosures Responding to Staff Disclosures Making it Work Closing REFERENCES Page 2 of 28

4 The North West Metropolitan Region (NWMR) Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) facilitated the consultation and development of this training package. The NWMR PCPs include: Inner North West PCP Health West PCP Hume Whittlesea PCP North East PCP The NWMR PCP partnered with the Royal Women s Hospital and the Western Regional Family Violence Integration Coordinator in the development of this training. Women s Health West also contributed to this training package. The NWMR PCPs comprise over 100 member agencies. Thirteen of these agencies came together in a working group to develop consistent responses to the diversity of women and children experiencing family violence across the region and also provided feedback to this training package. cohealth Royal District Nursing Service Merri Health Darebin Community Health Service Tweddle Child and Family Health Service Mercy Health North Richmond Community Health Centre Western Health North Western Mental Health healthability Anglicare Victoria Plenty Valley Community Health Banyule Community Health Service The Working Group was also attended by: The Northern Regional Family Violence Integration Coordinator The Western Regional Family Violence Integration Coordinator The Royal Women s Hospital North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network Senior Program and Service Advisor North Metro and West Metro Department of Health and Human Services Page 3 of 28

5 Introduction The purpose of this Guide is to support facilitators with the delivery of the Identifying and Responding to Family Violence training to managers of health and community services. This training package was designed for the Western Metropolitan Region and includes specific information on referrals and responses for this region. However the training principles are based on best practice in identifying and responding to family violence and may therefore be easily adapted for other Metropolitan regions in Victoria. Pease note: The content of this training package was developed following extensive consultations with NWMR PCP member agencies to determine their training needs and the best way to deliver this training. The Facilitator s Guide is not intended as a Train the Trainer document, but instead is provided to support the roll out of training by a professional family violence trainer with expertise and experience in working with women and children who have experienced family violence. If your agency is interested in delivering this training package internally, it is recommended that you engage a facilitator from either: Your Regional Family Violence Integration Coordinator 1 or Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria 2 It is recommended that you engage your regional family violence specialist service to present at the training session in order to provide information on accessing their services 3. Additionally, it is recommended that you engage your local Primary Care Partnership 4 to present at the training session and to support the change management process for implementing the family violence policies and procedures Page 4 of 28

6 About the Workshop This training has been developed for managers of health and community agencies, to provide them with the skills and knowledge required to: Support their staff to identify and respond to women and children experiencing family violence Provide appropriate support and responses to staff who are experiencing family violence. Core components of the training include: Definition, indicators and appropriate responses for women and children experiencing family violence Key policy principles from the Client Policy Template Key policy principles from the Staff Policy Template Opportunity for participants from different organisations to discuss implementation of the policy templates within the context of their organisation. Learning outcomes of the training include: Managers have a clear understanding of the gendered nature of family violence and the dynamics of power and control that perpetuate family violence Managers are aware of family violence indicators, the difficulties that staff might experience in asking clients about family violence and strategies to support staff to do this Managers have a strong knowledge of the family violence sector and appropriate referral pathways Managers are able to support staff in safety planning for clients experiencing family violence Managers understand how to support staff personally experiencing family violence Managers are familiar with the client and workplace policy documents and implementation processes. This training has been developed to fit into a four-hour training block with scope for flexibility according to participants key areas of interest and level of knowledge. Additional information has been included to inform and support discussions that may arise from the training content. Gendered nature of family violence When facilitating this workshop it is important to reassure participants that this training is not intended to prepare them to become family violence workers and it is not about adding to their workload. It is about learning to be sensitive to signs of family violence and to respond appropriately. It is important to be aware that the content of this workshop may cause both male and female participants to become uncomfortable or indignant. The content may seem unfair and one-sided, however, statistics tell us clearly that family violence is a gendered crime. To deny or equalise this is to do a great disservice to the women and children who suffer (and die) at the hands of abusive men each year. Women, of course, can be violent, but the reality is that men do not tend to live in fear, nor are they subjected to the range of abuse suffered by women at the hands of partners and ex-partners. If a man presents or discloses these fears, the same care would be afforded to him. Page 5 of 28

7 Additional resources The Guide should be read as an adjunct to the following resources: Identifying Family Violence and Responding to Family Violence Management Training - PowerPoint slides Identifying Family Violence and Responding to Family Violence Management Training Training Outline Identifying Family Violence and Responding to Family Violence Management Training Participant Handbook Identifying Family Violence and Responding to Women and Children Client Policy Template Identifying Family Violence Workplace Policy Template Evaluation forms. Preparing for the Workshop Facilitators should have an understanding of family violence and have read or listened to: Morgan, A & Chadwick, H 2009, Key issues in domestic violence, Australian Institute of Criminology, Summary Paper No. 7, Canberra, available at < E/%7B56E09295-AF A083-B7CCD925B540%7Drip07_001.pdf>. Better Health Channel 2011, Domestic violence why men abuse women, Author, Melbourne, available at <www. betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/domestic_violence_why_men_abuse_women>. Flood, M 2012, He hits, she hits: Assessing debates regarding men s and women s experience of domestic violence, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Seminar video, Mackay, Qld, available at < VicHealth 2011, Preventing violence against women in Australia research summary, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Carlton, Vic, available at < Freedom-from-violence/Violence-against-women-in-Australia-research-summary.aspx>. VicHealth 2007, Preventing violence before it occurs: A framework and background paper to guide the primary prevention of violence against women in Victoria, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Carlton, Vic, available at < Victorian Department of Human Services 2012, Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework and Practice Guides 1-3, available at < Victorian Department of Justice 2012, Victorian Family Violence Database Volume 5: Eleven Year Trend Analysis ( ), Key Findings, available at < Facilitators should contextualise the workshop by: delivering information and coordinating activities to meet adult learning styles and group preferences providing relevant examples for the type of service organisation or background of participants compiling and distributing information about safety and referral pathways for the locations in which each workshop is delivered. Page 6 of 28

8 Guest speakers It is strongly recommended that a representative of the local family violence service and/or sexual assault service be invited to brief participants about the services and support their organisations can provide. Provide the guest speaker with the following information: the information you require them to provide participants for example, services offered, contact details time allocation for the presentation location of the workshop number of participants at the workshop background of participants, for example, role and organisation room set up availability of training resources, for example, whiteboard, data projector. Resources laptop and speakers power board extension cord data projector PowerPoint presentation butchers paper and markers white board and markers copies of local family violence and sexual assault service information, for example, brochures, information cards Resource Pack for each participant with a copy of: Participant Handbook Evaluation form. Page 7 of 28

9 Delivery Guide Introduction (15 mins) Materials ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Before we begin the training I d like to acknowledge on behalf of participants, the peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our work in the community takes place. I pay our respects to their culture and their Elders past, present and emerging. On behalf of participants I would also like to acknowledge: - The strength and resilience of the many women whose lives have been impacted by family violence - The many women who have gone before us to share their stories and bring the issue of violence against women into the public spotlight and a social policy concern. Without their advocacy, today s training would not be possible. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Key Points: - Given the prevalence of family violence, there is a vital role for services operating within the mainstream health system to provide safe and responsive services that support early identification of the impacts of violence and facilitate client engagement with appropriate specialist services at the earliest opportunity. - However, the Royal Commission into Family Violence (2016) found that key personnel in universal systems, such as health services and schools, are not adequately equipped to recognise that family violence may be occurring and often do not know what to do when it is identified (p.6) Link - Over the last year the Identifying and Responding to Family Violence project has worked in collaboration with 13 member agencies in the region to improve identification of and response to women and children presenting at their services with issues of violence and abuse. The project aims to provide a more streamlined and coordinated service system response to family violence by: Building the capacity of mainstream health organisations to effectively identify and respond to family violence Ensuring the experiences of women inform the design and evaluation of policies, referral pathways and other project activities Slide 2 The objectives of the project are: Page 8 of 28

10 Introduction (15 mins) Promoting a standardised comprehensive approach to family violence identification and response in mainstream health organisations through the development of policy and procedure templates Supporting agencies to embed policies and procedures to ensure all staff are able to identify clients who are experiencing family violence, appropriately respond to disclosures, and facilitate access to specialist family violence support services Supporting organisations to develop and implement a whole of organisation approach to family violence through tailored support and training Improving access and referral pathways between mainstream health organisations and the integrated family violence sector across the North and West Divisions Building an evidence base for best practice approaches to identifying and responding to family violence, to inform future family violence projects and activities by other PCPs and interested stakeholders. - The project has strengthened collaboration between the members of the Working Group and the Regional Family Violence Integration Coordinators from the North and Western region. A number of expert advisers have also informed this project. The project outputs so far include: o A client policy template containing best practice principles for identifying family violence and responding to women and children o A staff policy template containing best practice principles for responding to staff disclosures of family violence. More information about the project is available on the INW PCP website Materials HOUSEKEEPING - Toilets - Breaks - Exits - Dietary requirements/catering - Mobile phones on silent please leave the room if you need to text or use your phone so that we don t disturb the training space - Trainer introductions - Participant introductions name of agency and expectations for the training session. Page 9 of 28

11 Introduction (15 mins) TRAINING OVERVIEW - Training outline - Group Agreements. Materials Slides 3-4 Key Points: - One in three Australian women experience violence from a partner or ex-partner. This means that none of us here today are immune to the impacts of violence. - We will listen to some survivors stories during this session which can be confronting and a trigger for trauma. While the training space is not an appropriate environment for raising personal experiences of family violence we do ask that you look after yourself by taking a break any time you need to and you are also welcome to debrief with the trainer during a break or after the training. - There is clearly a lot of experience in the room and we do want you to draw on your experience in the field. Please be mindful when providing examples about your clients or staff that you de-identify them. It is important to ensure that we hold a professional space and maintain our clients and staff s rights to confidentiality - even within a training space. - We may at times have to cut a conversation short so that we ensure we get through all of the training content please don t be offended if we do this. We will also need to come back from breaks promptly so we can cover all of today s materials. - We ask you to keep an open mind and explore the learning space. Think creatively about how our discussion today can inform your practice. Page 10 of 28

12 Setting the Scene (20 mins) FAMILY VIOLENCE QUIZ Material Slides 5-6 The purpose of the quiz is to act as an ice-breaker providing participants with the opportunity to talk to each other and enter into a group discussion. In addition, the quiz provides the opportunity to introduce key topics including the gendered nature of family violence, use of appropriate language when discussing family violence, risk factors and implications for practice. Handout multiple-choice questionnaires to participants (page 17 of the Participant s Handbook) Participants have 5 minutes to complete can discuss with the person sitting next to them Discuss answers as a group. 1. Who was announced the Australian of the Year in 2015? a) Adam Goodes b) Rosie Batty c) David Morrison Answer = b) By talking about her personal experiences of family violence and challenging the social myths perpetuated by mainstream media, Rosie Batty has changed the conversation around family violence and focused government attention on the issue, leading to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. 2. In 2015 how many women in Australia were killed by a family member? a) 56 b) 43 c) 68 Answer = c) Source: Destroy the Joint (2016) Counting Dead Women Initiative It s often quoted that one woman a week is killed by a partner, former partner or male family member but in reality it was approximately one woman killed every five days in What percentage of people seeking support from specialist homeless services are escaping family violence? a) One in three b) One in five c) One in ten Answer = a) Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2014) Specialist Homelessness Services Of all people seeking support from homelessness services due to family violence, 66 % were adult females, and 26% were children under the age of 14. Page 11 of 28

13 Setting the Scene (20 mins) Material Family violence perpetuates gender inequality by forcing women and children into homelessness they are also often forced to leave their places of employment, schools, and communities when going to safe refuge accommodation. 4. Which of the following statements is true? a) A woman is most at risk of experiencing violence when walking alone late at night b) Men are most likely to experience violence that is perpetrated by a male stranger c) Men are most at risk of experiencing violence when fighting with their partner within the home Answer = b) Source: Mouzos and Makkai (2004) Women s Experiences of Male Violence Findings from the Australian Component of the International Violence Against Women Survey (IVAWS). Women and men experience violence differently. A woman is more likely to experience violence perpetrated by a male within the home, while men are more likely to experience violence from another male while outside of the home. 5. A woman is most at risk of being killed by her partner: a) When she fights back b) When her partner has a mental health condition c) When she attempts to leave the relationship Answer = c) Source: NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team (2014) Annual Report Leaving a relationship is the number one risk factor for a family violence homicide a woman is most at risk in the first 3 months after separation. Leaving can include when the police attend and serve a notice on the perpetrator, when the perpetrator is excluded from the house by an IVO, or when a woman moves to new accommodation. The process of leaving (the partner losing control) begins the moment that a woman discloses that violence is occurring. Implications for practice: - Leaving can significantly increase the risk to women and children and many women choose to remain in their relationships out of fear for their safety - An additional concern may be that once separated, the perpetrator will have unsupervised access to the children leaving women with no means of protecting their children from violence. Additional issues that impact on a woman s decision to leave are listed in the Client Policy Template (pg. 8-9). Page 12 of 28

14 Setting the Scene (20 mins) Material Women should still be supported if they decide to remain in the relationship, and very careful safety planning by a specialist family violence service is often required when she chooses to leave. People with mental health conditions are more likely to experience violence than perpetrators. Instances of violence committed during a mental health psychotic episode are rare in a family violence context. There is no evidence that fighting back or not fighting back makes any difference to the extent of the violence. Many women report that the violence escalates no matter what their response is. 6. What proportion of Australians believe that violence against women can be justified? a) 31% b) 4% c) 20% Answer = b) Source: VicHealth (2013) National Community Attitudes Survey The National Community Attitudes Survey 2013 demonstrated some encouraging results regarding a reduction in violence supportive attitudes! However, there are still some areas of concern. For example - there has been an increase in the number of Australians agreeing that rape results from men not being able to control their need for sex. This understanding is violence supportive as it removes responsibility /accountability from the perpetrator, instead reducing actions to an uncontrollable biological urge. Within this scenario, violence prevention becomes the responsibility of the women experiencing violence by taking protective action, rather than the perpetrator excising a choice to not commit sexual violence. The use of language around family violence in the media and the community impact upon how women and men perceive their own responsibility, and are also ingrained into many justice institutions i.e. in rape prosecutions. In practice it is critical that we are aware of our own language to ensure that we are not promoting violence supportive understandings, and that we are also prepared to challenge others that promote these common misconceptions. 7. What are the rates of hospitalisation for family violence assaults for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in comparison to non- Aboriginal women? a) 10 times b) 26 times c) 35 times Answer = c) Source: Our Watch (2014) Reporting on Family Violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience family violence at Page 13 of 28

15 Setting the Scene (20 mins) Material much higher rates. Contributing factors include the impact of past government policies that have resulted in Aboriginal families becoming fractured, oppressed and discriminated against. The resulting mistrust means that many Aboriginal women will not contact police for assistance or engage with government bodies, or mainstream services. 8. What proportion of Australian women who had ever experienced family violence, experienced family violence for the first time when they were pregnant? a) 17% b) 5% c) 12% Answer = a) Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008) Personal Safety Survey In 2005, among Australian women who had ever experienced violence by a previous partner, 36% reported that this occurred when they were pregnant and 17% experienced violence for the first time when they were pregnant (ABS 2006). 9. How many recommendations were contained within the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence Report? a) 227 b) 105 c) 144 Answer = a) The Labor Government has committed to implementing all 227 of the recommendations of the Royal Commission. Note regarding use of gendered language: Family violence data establishes gender as the key driver of family violence (refer to statistics handout The LookOut- in participant training packs for further statistics) with women most likely to experience family violence and men most likely to be the perpetrators. This training will be using gendered language pertaining to intimate partner violence based on this most common scenario however, it should be recognised that family violence can occur in many different contexts, including where women are perpetrators, in same sex relationships, between children and parents, and between other family members. Family violence is not acceptable no matter who the perpetrator is. STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINE Page 14 of 28

16 Setting the Scene (20 mins) Discussion: What was common about these stories? What forms of violence did you notice? What stood out for you about these stories? Key themes: - The relationships seemed to start well, however controlling behaviours were evident. - All women shared a sense of shame, isolation, and the feeling that the situation could only be resolved by them alone as the abuse escalated. - Judith s story highlights the importance of health professionals asking about family violence at the hospital they asked me the same questions and I told them the same answers but if anyone had asked is this family violence? I would have told the truth. Asking questions provides the client with the opportunity to disclose without having to take the initiative. - Note the different types of violence for example the non-physical violence experienced by Jodi as a hearing impaired woman which limited her freedom and ability to live independently. - Refer to the POWER AND CONTROL WHEEL (page 19) which demonstrates family violence as a continuous process using many tactics to establish and perpetuate power and control. - Can be a useful tool to assist a woman experiencing family violence to understand the non-physical dynamic of power and control she is experiencing. - When we refer to tactics this is not necessarily a deliberate, scheming plan by the perpetrator, but a reflection of male privilege that is, the right to be in a position of power within society and within the home. Rather than being a conscious exercise, it is an assumed natural order reinforced by structures within society and violence supportive attitudes within our community. Material Play CRAF Introduction DVD (6 mins 30 secs) urne.edu.au/craf/dvd.htm?7 Defining Family Violence (10 mins) Materials Page 15 of 28

17 FAMILY VIOLENCE DEFINITION Slide Covers many types of violence not just physical violence - Has a broad interpretation of family which includes carers of women with disabilities if they are in a family like relationship and also includes the broader kinship structures within Aboriginal communities - Some of the types of violence described are criminal offences but not all types of violence. However, a women experiencing family violence can obtain a family violence Intervention Order (IVO) provided the behaviours fit within this definition regardless of whether the behaviours are criminal offences - The police can only charge the perpetrator with criminal offences if the violence falls into the categories of physical abuse, sexual abuse, threats to harm or kill, damage to property, pet abuse or stalking - A breach of an IVO is also a criminal offence. Discussion: What is the difference between relationship conflict and family violence? Key word in the definition is fear which occurs within a relationship context when one person has more control and power within the relationship than the other. Definition includes the impact of FAMILY VIOLENCE on children. In 2008 the definition of family violence was broadened to recognise the impact of children being exposed to the effects of violence even if they did not witness the violence. Refer slide 9 Exposure to family violence Page 16 of 28

18 Identifying Family Violence (30 mins) GREAT EXPECTATIONS Materials Slide Key points: Importance of being aware of the boundaries and limitations of the health worker role. Family violence specialist services conduct comprehensive risk assessment and case management of women experiencing violence. A referral to a family violence specialist service for risk assessment should always be encouraged when family violence is disclosed. INTRODUCE CLIENT POLICY TEMPLATE OVERVIEW FAMILY VIOLENCE INDICATORS AND HIGH RISK GROUPS - Refer Slide 12 Slide Note that indicators are not always present also indicators do not necessarily mean that the person is experiencing family violence. However indicators provide a prompt for the worker to explore how things are going at home and whether she is experiencing fear of a family member. See page 11 of Client Template for further indicators SCREENING VS RESPONDING TO INDICATORS Discussion: What are the pros and cons regarding screening for family violence vs responding to the indicators of family violence? Refer Side 12: Screening: - Provides all service users with the opportunity to disclose - Less likely to offend service users when asked in the context of a standard question - Supports an early intervention approach (in comparison to responding to family violence indicators such as injuries) - Requires processes to ensure appropriate response and follow up when family violence is indicated potential to be tokenistic if family violence responses are not supported through training and resourcing - Question is often asked in an impersonal way which is unlikely to support disclosure - May prevent staff from taking notice of other family violence indicators and asking appropriate questions. Client Policy Template pg. 11 Page 17 of 28

19 Identifying Family Violence (30 mins) Materials Responding to FAMILY VIOLENCE indicators or high risk cohorts (Not screening) - Questioning about family violence is more personalised and responsive to the identified indicators present - Allows the worker to lead into the issue gently i.e. How are things at home, is your partner being supportive of your pregnancy? - Provides better opportunity for education i.e. discussion around controlling behaviours and psychological abuse, using examples - Requires all workers to be trained in recognising the indicators, asking sensitively about family violence as well as responding to disclosures. FEAR FACTOR Slide Ask participants to put themselves in the mind-set of a front line worker at their service. Write on a sticky note what fears they might have regarding asking about family violence. Trainer to group the sticky notes into themes on the white board and address each theme in turn. Note to Managers that this is a useful activity to conduct with staff when implementing a policy to identify clients experiencing family violence. Themes will generally fall into concerns regarding: - Not knowing what to do and how to respond - Time limitations which prevent staff from properly addressing additional issues such as family violence - The client becoming emotionally distressed or traumatised - Fear of offending the client leading to disengagement - Increasing the risk to the client - Increasing the risk to self - Having to make a notification to child protection. Client Policy Template pg. 12 Discussion: How can we address these concerns? Key Points: Responding to staff concerns about identifying family violence: - Family violence is a serious issue with serious consequences including death so it is important to ask the question even if some clients are offended. Page 18 of 28

20 Identifying Family Violence (30 mins) Materials - Asking about family violence can be done in a way that removes the stigma that women feel about disclosure. - If a woman chooses not to disclose, at least she will know disclosing at a later date is an option. - Emphasise that once family violence is identified, it is not the responsibility of the staff member to keep that person safe but to instead provide them with enough information or pathways to information that can help them to make their own decisions regarding safety. - Staff concerns can be allayed by having appropriate processes and systems including: - A quiet private space available for client interviews - Opportunities to speak to the client without the partner/family member present - Resources and information readily available as well as clear referral pathways - Flexibility regarding the length of time allowed for client appointments - Staff safety protocols during home visits and at outreach locations - Protocols regarding reporting to child protection - Debriefing and supporting staff following a FAMILY VIOLENCE disclosure - Staff trained to recognise and respond to family violence. Note: This activity (giving staff the opportunity to express and address their concerns) should ideally be incorporated into the implementation process of a family violence policy for recognising and responding to clients experiencing family violence. Asking about Family Violence: Slide 17 Ask Participants for examples of how they might ask a client about family violence. Discussion: Slide 15 what works well in the examples provided? Key Points: Staff will feel more comfortable asking about family violence if they have practiced different ways of asking the question. Page 19 of 28

21 Responding to Client Disclosures (50 mins) RESPONDING TO DISCLOSURES Discussion: What is helpful or unhelpful about these responses? Key Points: When responding to disclosures we want our clients to feel: Note: - Believed and validated - Not judged - That her fears are taken seriously - That responsibility for the violence is placed with the perpetrator - That she is the one making decisions about her situations - That we understand the barriers and limitations to safety - That we are there to support regardless of her decision - That support options are available. When we are talking about responding to disclosures, these principles apply equally to management responding to a staff member disclosing family violence. MAKING A SAFETY PLAN Material Slide 18 Client Policy Template pg. 13 Sample Responses: Client Policy Template pg. 22 Slide Key Points: Contacting police (000) is the obvious option for assistance when violence is escalating however this may put a woman at greater risk, and sometimes women don t want police to be involved for a variety of reasons. This should be discussed as part of the safety planning. safe steps (24-hour crisis response) will not be able to do a telephone intake for support until the woman is in a safe place (without the perpetrator) so this is where a safety plan is important to ensuring that a woman can get to a safe place to access support. If a woman contacts safe steps with the perpetrator present, Safe Steps will call police to assist where the woman has provided permission or if they believe the woman may be seriously harmed without immediate intervention. Refer Slide 21 A safety plan is an action plan for your client to implement when violence is escalating and she needs to get to a safe place quickly. It is specific to her particular situation taking into account her supports, resources, and capacity to remove herself from a dangerous situation. Thinking about this in advance can help save lives. A simple escape plan can be devised using the following categories: Client Policy Template pg. 15 and WHO: needs to be involved in the safety plan (mum, kids, a support person, pets). Page 20 of 28

22 Responding to Client Disclosures (50 mins) Material WHAT: does she need to take (important documents, ID, cash, phone, keys, contact telephone numbers). WHERE: is a safe place to go (friends, neighbours, family, police station, hospital, 24-hour petrol station). HOW: Will she get there and what can she do to assist her to get there (spare car keys available, spare phone, cash for a taxi). WHEN: Will she put an action plan into place (warning signs of escalation). Safety tips these are general tips that should be provided to all women disclosing violence. Introduce presenter from your local specialist family violence service to talk about their role in your local area. Following presentation refer to Slide 22 Referral Pathways Introduce presenter from Women s Health West Slide Respect - Qualified experienced counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support, information and referral - National service referral will be to local services. safe steps Family Violence Response Centre (formerly Women s Domestic Violence Crisis Service) - State-wide 24/7 family violence crisis response including risk assessment, safety planning, access to safe accommodation and case management referral. It is not a front door service, but once a risk assessment and intake is completed by telephone, they will coordinate a service response including transport in urgent situations. Client Policy Template pg. 17 Family Violence Outreach Services - Women s Health West in the Western region - Specialist family violence case-management including risk assessment, safety planning, referral to safe accommodation, legal support. InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence - Specialist service for CALD women providing family violence support, cultural support, and immigration advice - Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Service - Specialist legal service for Aboriginal women experiencing family violence for family violence related areas of law such as intervention orders, child protection involvement, family law, and victim s assistance - Community Legal Services - Can usually represent a women experiencing family violence in an intervention order hearing (family violence applicant worker). Page 21 of 28

23 Responding to Client Disclosures (50 mins) Material Women s Legal Service Over the phone legal advice limited face to face advice or representation Making a Referral: - A warm referral to another service is always the preferred option this means that the referral is made by the staff member while the client is present by contacting the other service and making an appointment for the client - Provided the client gives permission the referral process should include providing notes/information to the other service provider so that the client does not have to keep re-telling her story. SECONDARY CONSULTATIONS Internal Consultations: - Which programs/staff have the skills to support staff responding to a family violence disclosure. External Consultations: - External consultations recognise the limitations of the health worker role and the expertise of specialist family violence services in risk assessment - If a client discloses family violence and provides consent to share the information with a specialist FAMILY VIOLENCE service, then ideally that contact can be made with the client while in attendance. DOCUMENTATION Refer to page 18 and 21 in the client policy template. Slide 23 Client Policy Template pg. 18 Slide 24 Client Policy Template pg. 18 and 21 CARE FOR SELF Refer to page 19 in the client policy template. Slide 25 Client Policy Template pg. 18 Page 22 of 28

24 MORNING TEA (15 mins) SLIDE 26 Responding to Staff Disclosures (35 mins) INTRODUCING THE STAFF POLICY TEMPLATE Material Slide Family violence is a serious health issue and people experiencing family violence are among our community, in workplaces, schools, community groups and present in mainstream services. Women who are working in health and community professions may feel particularly stigmatised by revealing their own current experience of family violence due to concerns that their employer will view them as making poor choices, and won t understand the particular barriers to safety that they are experiencing. By developing a staff policy around family violence, agencies are demonstrating their commitment to ensuring a gender equitable working environment in which family violence is not excused, accepted or tolerated. A staff policy provides a strong indicator that the employer recognises that all women can be impacted by family violence, despite social myths that perpetuate family violence as a low socio economic issue. It sends a clear message that women are not to blame for the violence they are experiencing and will be treated with respect and compassion. We also know that maintaining employment is a strong protective factor for women experiencing family violence. By supporting women to maintain their employment during a period of family violence escalation, we can contribute to reducing the impacts of family violence on the lives of women and children. The staff policy template focuses on responding to staff experiencing family violence. It is recommended that agencies develop a separate policy on responding to staff perpetrating family violence. The recommendations provided within this section of the training are in accordance with the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence Page 23 of 28

25 Responding to Staff Disclosures (35 mins) POLICY DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS Material Slide Refer Slide Trainer to prompt discussion for each of the considerations below Who will be the person delegated responsibility for staff disclosures? It is critical that the designated person has been trained in responding to family violence disclosures. The designated person could be a member of Human Resources, Senior Management, a Team Leader, the CEO or a trained family violence support worker. Often agencies will create family violence support/contact officer roles. Who can apply for family violence leave? - full time, part-time, casual staff, others - staff experiencing family violence only and not perpetrators (this might not always be clear) - staff supporting family members experiencing family violence. How much leave will be provided? - Leave should be in addition to personal leave staff should not be asked to use up their personal leave first - Victorian public sector enterprise agreements contain a family violence clause with access of up to 20 days paid family violence leave. As such, it is recommended that organisations include a provision for up to 20 days paid family violence leave (in addition to other leave entitlements) in their leave policies and/or enterprise agreements. It is also recommended that this leave be made available on a needs basis, and therefore granted as a single day, consecutive days or as a fraction of a day, and without requiring pre-approval. 5 Reasons for family violence leave could include one off events such as: - Medical or legal assistance - Court appearances - Counselling - Relocation - Safety arrangements - Accessing support services - Follow up support for children s wellbeing. Or period of leave might be provided for the employee to attend to a range of personal safety issues (one week, two weeks etc.). 5 Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, (2015), Victoria To Lead The Way On Family Violence Leave, accessed at and ACTU, Model Clause, Family and Domestic Violence, see Page 24 of 28

26 Responding to Staff Disclosures (35 mins) Material What will be the application and approval process? Preferred option is that documentation is not required or that this is a discretionary requirement. If documentation is required it could include documentation from any of the following: - a statement from the staff member - a statement from a family member or friend - a statutory declaration - Victoria Police - a doctor - court documents - maternal child health nurse - family violence counsellor - lawyer - caseworker/support worker. How will confidentiality be maintained for staff experiencing family violence? Family violence issues should always be discussed in a safe and confidential place, and the policy should consider what information needs to be recorded. For instance, leave records will be required, but details about the family violence incidents should not be recorded on the personnel file without the staff member s permission. It is also suggested that your HR system have the option to record family violence leave separately and only viewed by approved staff. Therefore, if the staff member does not wish for their direct supervisor to be made aware of their situation, then the direct supervisor will only see that the staff member has accessed personal leave. SUPPORTING WORK PERFORMANCE Slide 32 Staff experiencing family violence may exhibit performance issues directly related to the family violence such as: - absenteeism - work interruptions - trouble concentrating - physical or mental health issues. Just as we recognise indicators in clients that might prompt us to ask questions about family violence so might staff be providing similar indicators that are impacting on work performance. Staff should be protected against adverse action or discrimination on the basis of their disclosure of family violence. No employee should be penalised or disciplined solely for experiencing family violence where this has been disclosed. Page 25 of 28

27 Responding to Staff Disclosures (35 mins) DEVELOPING A WORKPLACE SAFETY PLAN Material Slide 33 A workplace safety plan should be offered to every staff member that discloses family violence to ensure the safety of the staff member disclosing, the safety of other staff members and the safety of clients of the service. The plan aims to: - Minimise opportunities for the perpetrator contacting or harassing the staff member during work hours - Ensure that she can enter and leave the building safely - Be aware of any legal orders regarding the workplace (such as an IVO) and ensure they are complied with, or police notified if orders are breached - Provide support to the staff member by varying duties or work arrangements in response to any identified needs for a limited period of time. Refer page 14 and Appendix 1 of the Staff Policy Template for components of a workplace safety plan. Making it Work (45 mins) ACTIVITY Material Slide 34 Divide participants into groups with their workplace colleagues. Ask each group to choose one of the categories below: 1. Staff identifying and responding to clients experiencing family violence. 2. Management responding to a staff member s family violence disclosure. Participants to brainstorm: - What are the challenges in developing and implementing this policy? - What strategies can address these challenges? Report back to the larger group for discussion. Page 26 of 28

28 Closing (15 mins) CLOSING REMARKS Material Slide Further sources of information Evaluations online Survey Monkey Reflections around the room what changes will you make at your workplace following today s training? Page 27 of 28

29 (Victoria, ) REFERENCES Joint, D. t. (2016). Counting Dead Women initiative. Retrieved April 2, 2016, from Mouzos, J., & Makkai, T. (2004). Findings from the Australian Component of the International Violence Against Women Survey. Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Criminology. Statistics, A. B. (2012). Personal Safety Survey. Retrieved April 1, 2016, from Team, N. D. (2015). Annual Report. Sydney: Domestic Violence Death Review Team. VicHealth. (2013). Australian's attitudes towards violence against women. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from Victoria, S. o. ( ). Royal Commission into Family Violence: Summary and recommendations. Melbourne, Victoria: Parl Paper No 132. Watch, O. (2014). Reporting on Family Violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from nce+in+aboriginal+and+torres+strait+islander+communities%e2%80%99&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.mi crosoft:en-au:ie-address&ie=&oe=&gws_rd=ssl# Welfare, A. I. (2014). Specialist Homelessness Services. Retrieved April 1, 2016, from Page 28 of 28