Bespoke Domestic Abuse Training Courses

Pennine Domestic Violence Group offer a range of bespoke Domestic Abuse Training packages to any group, organisation or service. We will work closely with you to design, develop and deliver workshops tailored to your individual needs.

All training is delivered by expert trainers who combine specialist knowledge and front line experience with current legislation and research. By keeping up to date with existing and emerging local and national Domestic Abuse agenda’s we are able to ensure all our training promotes a cutting edge approach to responding to people affected by domestic abuse.

How we have developed the training

All PDVG training has been developed in consultation with people accessing PDVG support services. In consultation and with full permission these people have:

  • Shared their experiences so we can use them as real case studies.
  • Talked about their hopes and fears to help us understand how domestic abuse has countless common threads yet remains utterly individual to that person.
  • Expressed their gratitude to the people and services who have made a difference to their lives so we can demonstrate and promote what works.
  • Made suggestions about how services can improve so we can consider what does not work and how to change this.
  • Talked about their children and how desperately they want to protect them so we can identify ways to help them not only keep their children safe but give them the chance to thrive.
  • Talked about their dreams for themselves and their children’s futures so we can identify what roles we as professional play in ensuring people affected by abuse have choices and the best opportunity to aspire.

All the people’s identities will be confidential and stories anonymized.

Aims and Outcomes and description of each course

  • PDVG 2hr Domestic Abuse Awareness SessionThis course is suitable for people who do not work directly with public in any kind of supportive capacity. It is ideal for e.g. maintenance staff or trades people who do interact with the public, often working in homes or communities, and could encounter situations where there is domestic abuse or they feel there is potential for someone being at risk of domestic abuse.The 2 hr session is based on the premise that giving people a basic understanding of domestic abuse, a clear outline of what actions are appropriate to their role and tools for sign posting, helps create confidence to actively respond. People fear doing the wrong thing and therefore often do nothing. This session emphasises that participants are not expected to be the professionals but simply know what actions to take and who to talk to in order to safeguard vulnerable adults and children.
    1. Recognise – what is domestic abuse.
    2. React – how to react to the disclosure of domestic abuse, or if you think someone is experiencing domestic abuse.
    3. Respond – To Victim – how to appropriately offer/get support for the victim.
    As a professional – know your boundaries, safeguarding procedures and person to report your concerns to.
  • Domestic Abuse PDVG Level 1Aims
    1. Discuss the definition of domestic abuse.
    2. Recognise the signs of abuse.
    3. Learn about the impact of domestic abuse.
    4. Consider the options available to people affected by domestic abuse.
    5. Understand your and your organisations responsibilities, policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
    OutcomesOn completing PDVG Level 1 the participant will understand what domestic abuse is including its prevalence, they should be able to recognise common effects and signs of abuse, they will know what services are available to victims of abuse and they will have an awareness of best practice.This course is designed to last 4 hours. It is suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about domestic abuse and wishes to enhance their professional knowledge. PDVG Level 1 is useful for those who are learning about Domestic Abuse and plan to attend PDVG Level 2 or PDVG Level 3.
  • Domestic Abuse PDVG Level 2Aims
    1. Explore the definition of domestic abuse and identify different types of abusive behaviours.
    2. Discuss the impact of domestic abuse, how it impacts on children and influences parenting capacity.
    3. Consider barriers people experiencing domestic abuse may encounter to seeking support.
    4. Identify how to respond appropriately to the disclosure of domestic abuse.
    5. Analyse situations in order to assess thresholds of risk and recognise signs of escalation of risk. Including use of MARAC DASH risk assessment.
    6. Identify options/support available to people experiencing domestic abuse.
    OutcomesOn completing PDVG Level 2 the participant will be able to:
    1. Describe the wide range of behaviours that constitute abuse and recognise the less visible types of abuse.
    2. Explain how domestic abuse affects adults and children on an emotional, physical, social and developmental level.
    3. Understand the reasons why different groups of people may not seek support ie sexuality, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, age, disability.
    4. Feel confident and able to be sensitive and compassionate yet proactive when dealing with the disclosure of domestic abuse.
    5. Confidently risk assess domestic abuse situations and recognise the signs of escalation and protective factors.
    6. Know what services and support options are available for people experiencing domestic abuse and know how to access them.
    PDVG Level 2 is designed for professionals, front line workers who directly encounter the public as part of their role. It is useful for those who work in any kind of supportive capacity. It would benefit ie managers, volunteer coordinators, faith leaders, who can develop their own learning or disseminate their learning to their staff team, colleagues, group etc.This course is at its best done over a full day. The time and space to explore, discuss and share thoughts and experiences are key to maximising learning and create a meaningful understanding of domestic abuse at this level. This course can be tailored to 4 hours but the scope for learning outcomes is inevitably compromised.
  • Domestic Abuse PDVG Level 3Aims
    1. Explore how domestic abuse is defined and how victims of domestic abuse define their own experiences.
    2. Examine the impact of domestic abuse including the ‘secondary effects’ which impact on the functionality of the victim.
    3. Consider the barriers victims of abuse experience to seeking support and explore the barriers we may create as professionals.
    4. Examine the behaviours of perpetrators.
    5. Analyse situations in order to assess thresholds of risk and recognise signs of escalation of risk. Including use of MARAC DASH risk assessment
    Outcomes
    1. Provide an empowering environment where individuals experiencing abuse are encouraged to identify and define their own experiences and needs.
    2. Be able to facilitate a holistic approach to support accounting for both short and long term needs.
    3. Work proactively to ensure that a non-discriminatory service is equally accessible to all people experiencing or affected by domestic abuse, with a focus on identifying ways to engage minority and hard to reach groups.
    4. Be able to recognise how perpetrators of domestic abuse establish and maintain power and control.
    5. Provide a service which is risk led and responds confidently and consistently to individual’s needs and risks.
    PDVG Level 3 is designed for professionals, front line workers who encounter people experiencing or affected by domestic abuse also for managers, group leaders etc. Anyone wanting to specialise in the field of domestic abuse would also find this course beneficial.This course is only suited to a full day in order to facilitate a more in depth exploration of domestic abuse. The course challenges participants own views and approaches, it asks who imposes limitations and barriers, where do they come from and how we can (if we can) overcome them.This course has an emphasis on identifying, managing and reducing risk. This is done by considering two perspectives: service provision and the empowerment of victims.This course acknowledges and celebrates the successful work currently carried out in Kirklees and promotes the importance of partnership working.

Impact of domestic abuse on children

We have not singled out how domestic abuse can impact on children on any of the aims and outcomes. All the courses will discuss and consider children and families within each course but if you would like a section dedicated to impact of domestic on children we can add this.

Safeguarding/Child Protection

All the courses will highlight good safeguarding practises and discuss child protection legislations and responsibilities. We consult with you first to establish your policies and procedures so we can refer to these throughout. The courses do not however fulfil any legal or recommended Safeguarding/Child Protection requirements for your organisation so we recommend you consult with your local Safeguarding Board for advice, guidance and training.

Legal Advice

Throughout all the courses trainers may refer to legal options for someone experiencing abuse. These will be examples and suggestions in order to demonstrate the full range of support available. This course does not offer legal advice as we are not qualified to do so. We recommend that if you want to expand your or your teams’ legal knowledge most solicitors are happy to provide information sessions.