Domestic Abuse Training for Neighbourhood and Community Teams

This beginner-level course aims to increase the early identification of victims/survivors of domestic abuse.

The training gives housing officers who visit customers’ homes the skills, knowledge and tools to identify coercive control, recognise domestic abuse through a housing lens and safely ask, assess and take action when they are concerned a customer may be a victim/survivor of domestic abuse.

Module 1 (half day) will give delegates an in-depth awareness of what coercive control is and how the patterns of abuse impact the survivor/victim. Module 2 (half day) enables housing teams to pick up on key indicators of domestic abuse such as repair requests, ASB and rent arrears. Module 3 (half day) gives delegates the skills to safely ask if a customer is safe at home and validate them, whether they disclose or not. The course will ensure delegates can recognise the red flags of risk and safely share information to help keep the victim/survivor safe. 

All delegates will also receive a ‘Conversation Kit’: a bespoke tool to support teams to act on professional curiosity to safely ask customers about domestic abuse.
 

The course covers:

• Definition and prevalence of domestic abuse

• Dynamics of coercive control

• Impacts of abuse and the risks around leaving

• How to pick up on indirect clues a customer is a victim/survivor

• Understanding the differences between ASB and domestic abuse

• Recognising the barriers survivor/victims face in disclosing to professionals  

• How to safely ask if customers are safe in their relationships (Using the Conversation Kit)

• Responding, recording, and sharing concerns (whether the customer discloses domestic abuse or not)

• Determine if the red flags of risk are present

• Understanding the role of specialist domestic abuse services

Delegate feedback for this training:
"The 3-half day course has been one of the best training courses I have attended. Very knowledgeable and informative trainer. The interactive elements of the course were enjoyable and the course was engaging"

Module One: Domestic abuse awareness: A Foundation in coercive control

By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:

• Recognise survivor/victims who do not fit the stereotypes of domestic abuse

• State who is at the highest risk when in an abusive relationship and why this issue is a housing issue

• Describe the dynamics of domestic abuse and identify coercive and controlling behaviours

• Explain the impact a perpetrator’s tactics have on survivor/victims

Module Two: Identifying Domestic Abuse in Housing  

By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:

• Apply a domestic abuse lens to identify domestic abuse in a housing setting

• Identify the multiple factors that create barriers to support

• Consider how a believing and validating culture can enable engagement

Module Three: Acting on Professional Curiosity and offering a Safe Response

By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:

• Feel confident to safely start conversations about domestic abuse

• Give a helpful response when survivors disclose domestic abuse and signpost to expert support

• Determine if the red flags of risk are present and safely pass concerns on

Housing practitioners who interact with customers face to face, make home visits and have an opportunity to safely ask about domestic abuse e.g.-

• Housing officers/neighbourhood team
• Housing Management/Tenancy Sustainment Officers
• Anti-Social Behaviour/Community Safety Teams
• Tenancy Support teams

Please note:

This course is not suitable for contractors/repairs teams who may need domestic abuse awareness, but not the skills in safely asking, assessing and making referrals

This training’s aim is to increase early identification, so not pitched at housing officers who are regularly supporting victims of domestic abuse/hold a specialist caseload

Please get in touch if you want to check which teams are suitable for this training

Beginner/Refresher 

Live online training delivered via Zoom using Mentimeter

This course contains 3 Modules and is 10 hours long (split over 3 sessions)

This includes comfort breaks, space for questions and time for the delegates to evaluate and reflect after the delivery

• DAHA Delegate Pack (Includes activity workbook, key messages from training, links to films shown in the course, domestic abuse directory and toolkits)

• ‘Conversation kit’ for safely asking customers about domestic abuse

• CPD Certificate

• A copy of the slides 

Public Sector/Statutory (Local Authorities and Housing Associations): £2800

DAHA Member Discount: £2520

All fees are for up to 20 delegates (minimum 6 delegates to run a course).

DAHA prefer to cap attendance at 20 to ensure all delegates feel able to fully engage. However, we can accommodate a maximum of 5 additional delegates upon request. Each additional delegate will incur a fee of £140

DAHA training courses are exempt from VAT

Cancellations post-agreement
Please refer to the terms and conditions before you book

Are you a DAHA member?

DAHA membership discount on Group Bookings = 10% Accredited/Accreditation Members and 5% Affiliated Members

This course supports DAHA Members to meet the Staff Development & Support Priority Area

Standard 2: Relevant staff receive domestic abuse training that enables early identification of domestic abuse

Read more about becoming a DAHA member HERE