Staff in a range of agencies will be working with people affected by domestic abuse. Make sure you read your own agency’s policy and protocol in relation to domestic abuse. Please let us know of any other new documents which relate to domestic abuse and will help improve understanding and practice.

Publications and relevant papers. Some documents require a PDF reader – you can download one for free from here.

Women’s Resource Centre publishes new report on demonstrating the impact of women’s voluntary and community organisations Conducted over a two year period, ‘Hidden Value…’ (Nov. 2011) highlights the far reaching benefits of the services provided by women’s organisations and the significant savings they create for the state, local economies and communities Click here for the report

Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11: latest home office statistics on domestic abuse. Click here

Standing Together Against Domestic Violence – ‘A Guide to Effective Domestic Violence Partnerships’  HOP_-_guidance-_final_July_2011

Trafford’s Violence Against Women Girls Strategyv2  December 2011

Imkaan report warns of rise in FGM cases, forced marriage and honour based violence:  Imkaan has written to the prime minister urging him to work with key ministers to forge a concerted plan to combat female genital mutiliation (FGM), ‘honour’ violence and forced marriage. The organisation’s report  ‘The Missing Link’,  launched 25 November 2011 to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, found that the number of births in London by women with female genital mutilation has increased to around 7,000 a year, of whom a significant number are likely to be girls at risk of FGM. The report also found that in 2010 the government’s Forced Marriage Unit dealt with 330 cases of women and girls at risk of forced marriage in London, while scores of women and girls are contacting specialist women’s services every week saying they are suffering from, or are threatened with, ‘honour-based’ violence, forced marriage and FGM. Click here for the report

Reducing Barriers to Support for Women who Experience Violence  - A Toolkit for Supporting Women with  Varying Levels of Mental Wellness and Substance Use. Click here for the toolkit

Article on domestic violence – a priority health issue. DV_A priority health issue

‘Standing on my own two feet’: disadvantaged teenagers, intimate partner violence and coercive control. This research report from the University of Bristol and the NSPCC looks at intimate partner violence in the relationships of disadvantaged young people. It focuses on the experiences of young people outside mainstream education, young mothers, young offenders, young people living in residential care and young people at risk of sexual exploitation. September 2011 Click here for the report

Exploring the viability of creating a specific offence for forced marriage for England and Wales.    Dr Aisha K. Gill  July 2011 Click here for the report

SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC & SEXUAL VIOLENCE: This report documents the views and experiences of women in London who have experienced some form of domestic or sexual violence. The material is drawn from a number of different focus groups.

Improving domestic abuse services: The Audit Commission has published a web resource for local commissioners and practitioners, ‘Improving local domestic abuse services’. This web resource describes the characteristics of a successful service and how to make practical changes with partners to improve services. Click here to access the resource

Rights of Women have produced a number of information sheets on legal issues affecting women. You can download them here, free of charge

Respect – Women can be violent or abusive towards their partners too. Although it is generally acknowledged that the majority of domestic violence is perpetrated by men against women, it happens the other way round too. The Respect Phoneline is available for women who have concerns about the way they behave towards their partners. They have also produced information booklets for women in heterosexual relationships and women in same sex relationships. For more information click here

To find out more information about the budget cuts for local domestic abuse services click here to be redirected to the government website.

Information regarding the Teenage Relationship Abuse Campaign run by the Home Office can be found by following this link. To view the Home Office toolkit for working with teenagers click here

Please find attached Manchester Forced Marriage Standard.  This is a useful tool for all commissioners or providers of forced marriage related provision, particularly those delivering training or devising protocols. This is a useful tool for all commissioners or providers of forced marriage related provision, particularly those delivering training or devising protocols.

The Forced Marriage Unit have helped us with the production of this document so that it represents the Forced Marriage Statutory Guidance http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/when-things-go-wrong/forced-marriage/fmconsultation1 We would like you to work with us by using this tool to ensure that any work relating to forced marriage across Manchester is both consistent and of best quality.   Please ensure that it is cascaded to those in your organisation who provide forced marriage training or are responsible for developing and renewing forced marriage protocols. Sarah Khalil   Acting Adult Safeguarding Manager

The strategic narrative on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) published in November 2010 announced that a review of MARACs would be undertaken in order to improve understanding of how MARACs are working and potential areas of development, including considering the case for putting MARACs on a statutory basis. To view the report Click here

Guardian Report: Director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer issues guidence to help distinguish genuine victims in danger of attack. To see the report click here.

Domestic Violence, Immigration and No Recourse to Public Funds: Rights Of Women Report on the law surrounding domestic violence and immigration issues.

Women and Antidepressants: In January 2011 Platform 51 published a report (1) which showed that three in five girls and women in England and Wales experience mental health problems of some kind.

Female Genital Mutilation Guidelines: The Government has launched new guidelines to support front-line professionals such as teachers, health professionals, police officers and social workers to prevent and tackle female genital mutilation (FGM). The guidlines explain the complex issues around female genital mutilation; identify the signs that girls and women may be at risk or who are dealing with the consequences of FGM and set out the actions that professionals should take, often in conjunction with other agencies, to protect girls and women and offer them the support they need.

PATHway: An independent Domestic Violence advisory service at St Mary’s Maternity Hospital, Manchester. An independent evaluation report has been carried out.  The summary document can be found here and the full evaluation report can be downloaded here.

Manchester Crime and Disorder, Domestic Abuse Management Group (DAMG) delivery plan 2010 -2011

Housing Options Protocol between Manchester City Council Homelessnessness Services, Manchester City Council Independent Domestic Violence Advice Service, Manchester Womens Aid and Independent Choices (Womens Domestic Abuse Helpline)

To view a presentation regarding Safeguarding Young Women and Girls from the impact of gangs and domestic abuse November 2010 click on the above link.

Women and children have consistently said that they would trust and disclose abuse to a health care professional, if they were encouraged and supported to do so. The guidance published in 2005, Department of Health: Domestic Abuse Handbook for Health Professional is useful for all staff working in any agency, not just the NHS.

NICE Quick reference guide: Pregnancy and Complex Social Factors September 2010 Providing information on a model for service provision for pregnant women with complex social factors.

Information for supporting women with immigration issues: Download Practitioner’s Guide – February 2009 (3 Mb)

Supporting Families Affected by Substance Use and Domestic Violence: Research Report written by Dr Sarah Galvani, University of Bedfordshire (2010)

Prof Hester’s report on Perpetrator programmes
Sex and Violence: Improving your care – young people’s version of the Task Force Report on health aspects of Ending Violence against women and children.

Improving Safety, Reducing Harm:Children, Young People and Domestic Abuse (2009) A toolkit which provides information about children and domestic violence, an overview of Every Child Matters, commissioning services, risk assessment and safety planning, guidance for schools, explanations of key standards and policies, sample forms and key fact sheets.

Safe to return? Pakistani women, domestic violence and access to refugee protection. A report of a trans-national research project conducted in the UK and Pakistan by South Manchester Law Centre in Partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.