1. Young people experiencing intimate partner abuse
Judith Vickress
March 2017
I was part of the team that worked on the YP programme introducing the role of the YPVA and YP risk assessment and referral pathway
Drivers for Change
Munro, 2011
Working Together, 2013
Family Justice Review, 2011
DHR – lessons learned
National Austerity
HMIC Review

2. Up date on where spotlights is at and quotes from podcasts etc
© SafeLives 2017

3. A place of greater safety: key findings
© SafeLives 2014

4. SafeLives’ Young People’s programme Research & Data - Young People’s Violence Advisors - YP DASH - Safety Plan - Understanding Young People who Harm - YP Care pathway with Guidance
© SafeLives 2017

5. High risk, intimate partner violence
4 in 5 young people were referred due to intimate partner violence
69% were high risk and 55% were referred to Marac
84% were experiencing a type of current abuse
The majority of young people were female (88%) and heterosexual (95%).
Intimate partner violence – 79%
Domestic abuse in family home – 11%
CSE- 4%
Young person who harms others – 3%
Honour based violence – 1%
Forced marriage – 1%
© SafeLives 2017

6. Visible to agencies
94% of young people were known to at least one agency.
The YPVA facilitated a multi-agency response.
The majority of the young people supported were referred by children’s social care or the police, despite a wide range of agencies being involved in the young people’s cases.
Prior to the referral, 93% of young people were known to at least one agency, including Camhs, education welfare and sexual health services. The small proportion of young people referred by these agencies suggests the need for awareness-raising of the YPVA role. The caseholders facilitated a multi-agency response. While young people were engaged with YPVAs or other specialist practitioners, more agencies were involved in their cases in order to provide support.
© SafeLives 2015

7. Data for Young People at Marac
National figures
(October 2015 – September 2016)
National
Victims aged
1411
Victims aged %
1.69%
No. harming others aged 17 or below
889
© SafeLives 2017

8. 1 in 4 had a child protection plan
Young parents
1 in 10 are pregnant
1 in 5 have children
1 in 4 had a child protection plan
The support provided to young parents included helping them to access parenting programmes and children’s centres.
The vast majority (82%) of young parents had some involvement with children’s social care.
© SafeLives 2017

9. What the Young People’s Violence Advisors offer (YPVA)
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10. Young Persons Risk Indicator Checklist
for the identification of high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and ‘honour’-based violence
Young People’s Version with practice guidance
Between 2012 and 2014 SafeLives worked with a number of partners (Barnardos, Ikwro, LEAP and the Marie Collins Foundation) to develop the Young Person’s Programme, funded by the Department for Education. During the programme we learned a lot about how young people experience and respond to domestic abuse, and how they best engage with professionals. We know that their experiences are different to adults and, therefore, require a different approach.
Between 2013 and 2014 we developed and piloted a Young Person’s Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), adapted from the SafeLives Dash Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for adults. Watch the video below to find out mo
© SafeLives 2017

11. Safety planning across domains
Home (relationships, physical safety, sleep, eating, etc.)
Social life (friendships, safety outside, support, independence, etc.)
Education (attendance, attainment, friendships, prospects, etc.)
When at risk (where to go, who to call, warning signs, escape plan, etc.)
Work / hobbies
(finances, fun, friendships, confidence, etc.)
Health
(physical, mental, sexual, confidence, coping strategies, etc.)
© SafeLives 2017

12. Specialist support Improved outcomes
10 weeks
10 contacts
78%
risk reduction
57% abuse stopped
Between 2012 and 2014 SafeLives worked with a number of partners (Barnardos, Ikwro, LEAP and the Marie Collins Foundation) to develop the Young Person’s Programme, funded by the Department for Education. During the programme we learned a lot about how young people experience and respond to domestic abuse, and how they best engage with professionals. We know that their experiences are different to adults and, therefore, require a different approach.
Between 2013 and 2014 we developed and piloted a Young Person’s Risk Identification Checklist (RIC), adapted from the SafeLives Dash Risk Identification Checklist (RIC) for adults. Watch the video below to find out mo
© SafeLives 2017

13. Carrie’s Story
© SafeLives 2014

14. Victim and witness
44% experiencing current abuse had also experienced abuse in the past
Almost half (48%) had been exposed to domestic abuse in the family home.
Additional risks at home %
Parental mental health
27%
Parental anti-social/ criminal behaviour
26%
Parental substance misuse
23%
Conflict over residency/ child contact
20%
The young people were also exposed to a wide range of additional risks.
One in five (21%) young people were exhibiting abusive behaviours towards others.
Most common victims of harm were the young people’s parents (36%).
Many young people are exposed to domestic abuse in the family home and some were exhibiting abusive behaviours towards others.
Although the majority of young people were referred to the caseholder primarily because of intimate partner violence, numerous other risks were identified during their engagement with the caseholder. Almost half of the young people supported had been exposed to domestic abuse in their family home and 17% were harming other people. This highlights the importance of completing a thorough risk assessment in order to properly understand each young person's experiences of domestic abuse and tailor support accordingly.
Although risk assessments were completed for the vast majority, for 15% of the young people supported no risk assessment was completed.
ACE research evidences YP affected adverse childhood experience will be 7x more likely to use violence in preceding 12 months
11 x more likely to use substances
© SafeLives 2015

15. Adverse Childhood Experiences - ACEs
“Compared to someone with no ACEs, someone with 4 or more is more likely to experience a range of negative outcomes in adulthood. For example, they are 16 times more likely to perpetrate violence and 20 times more likely to be incarcerated at some point in their lifetime.”
“By viewing the policies and strategies for DVA through an ACE lens we would be able to not just treat the symptoms, but hopefully break the generational cycle of harm and adversity”.  
© SafeLives 2014

16. Case Study – Jillian aged 17
Caseof a YP being treated as a difficult badly behaved child and so not getting the help they need
© SafeLives 2014

17. Young People Using Harmful Behaviours
Many will have experiences of witnessing or experiencing abuse and violence at home – consider ACE research
Using the term “Perpetrator” is not helpful and can prevent YP engaging
Nature of young people’s relationships are very different from older couples – they may have more than one relationship at a time and relationships may be very short lived – so important to consider support to perhaps multiple victims
Many young people feel shame about using violence
Consider Safeguarding concerns for both parties in a relationship, support both
© SafeLives 2014

18. CJ’s Advice to Professionals
© SafeLives 2014

19. SafeLives is listening
Website:
Facebook.com/safelives.uk T:
Get in touch:
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20. Questions?
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