Why train, upskill & enhance your knowledge around domestic abuse, coercive control & stalking?
"We learn from our mistakes" – a much used phrase but when it comes to people’s lives we need to learn faster.
As stated on The Alice Ruggles Trust website:
“Everyone needs to recognise that stalking is a seriously distressing and potentially life-threatening crime. Stalking behaviour needs to result in immediate action both to protect the victim and to deal effectively with the perpetrator”.
It is also important to recognise that Alice experienced domestic abuse, coercive control and stalking prior to her murder which are all red flags.
As stated on The Alice Ruggles Trust website:
“Everyone needs to recognise that stalking is a seriously distressing and potentially life-threatening crime. Stalking behaviour needs to result in immediate action both to protect the victim and to deal effectively with the perpetrator”.
It is also important to recognise that Alice experienced domestic abuse, coercive control and stalking prior to her murder which are all red flags.
Having supported 100s of domestic abuse/stalking victims at Family Court Alison has firsthand knowledge of the lack of awareness the magistrates/Judges have regarding domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, narcissism and manipulation of professionals.
Understanding the Criminal Offence of Stalking
S-DAST is providing classes covering the legislation, impact, criminality & requirements for risk assessment on stalking for police, agencies, CJS, CPS, social services, schools/universities, domestic abuse agencies and anyone requiring this knowledge. S-DAST will be holding workshops particularly in Essex but also nationally. This can be bespoke half or full-day training around the crime of stalking.
DASH Training
DASH Training - the DASH will identify risk & save lives. Alison is an experienced DASH trainer alongside being a front line case worker. This has enabled Alison to turn the DASH risk assessment into a trauma-informed 2-way dialogue so that victims get something back from the process and are better supported.
Alison's DASH training therefore is more victim-focused than most DASH training and will ensure that the process benefits victims in multiple ways. S-DAST can provide half-day and full day DASH training.
It's not just taking information but creating a two-way discussion. This DASH training can help empower, support, signpost and safety plan for victims whilst simultaneously identifying risk.
Alison's DASH training therefore is more victim-focused than most DASH training and will ensure that the process benefits victims in multiple ways. S-DAST can provide half-day and full day DASH training.
It's not just taking information but creating a two-way discussion. This DASH training can help empower, support, signpost and safety plan for victims whilst simultaneously identifying risk.
Advocacy
Advocacy – if you work with domestic abuse and or stalking victims and you want to enhance your advocacy skills I provide practical classes on Advocacy. These classes will ensure you are better equipped at MARAC, writing housing support letters, making child safeguarding referrals, support letters for family Court.
S-DAST has specialist contacts who can aid training on cyber stalking, LGBTQ+, working with young people and also offer counselling.
SDAST offers the following cost-effective bespoke training to:
- CPS
- Domestic Abuse charities
- GP practices
- Judiciary
- Police – from call handlers to all ranks
- Practitioners such as hairdressers, nail technicians and those in the beauty industry
- Schools
- Social Services
- Universities
- Workplaces
- And more…
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Group from DA Skills class.
Multi-agency Stalking Masterclass - attendees: police, housing, school safeguarding and child safeguarding agencies.
Stalking Case Worker Refresher Training
Alison has trained around 20 ISACs (Independent Stalking Advocacy Case Worker) within England and Wales and ran the Stalking Unit, DASH unit and Advocacy units of this course which is similar to the IDVA qualification. S-DAST can provide stalking and advocacy refresher classes to trained/qualified ISACs.
One trainee said she “got more from my training within the ISAC course than on the CAADA IDVA training”.
One trainee said she “got more from my training within the ISAC course than on the CAADA IDVA training”.
SCHOOLS
Alison has been fortunate to receive excellent feedback from Year 11s at schools when educating youngsters around DA and stalking as part of the PSHE curriculum. S-DAST have teamed up with children’s workers to ensure that PSHE and other training offered at schools is age-appropriate and tailored for schools.
WORKPLACES
S-DAST will offer domestic abuse/stalking awareness training to companies key staff and employees.
Many stalking victims work and stalking has a huge impact on the ability to concentrate, function in a normal capacity and often victims will lose their jobs. It is the duty of the workplace to ensure that they ask the right questions to victims of domestic abuse or stalking and therefore support their employees.
There are free workplace policies available. What Alison aims to do is bring these policies to life as they can be like having a recipe without the ingredients. She will offer awareness training to your safeguarding leads and then consultancy around what individual companies can do. She can also be a port of call to an employee for risk assessment and signposting.
Alison has worked with many stalking victims who are employees working for large companies eg law firms, banks, insurance companies, charities, members or parliament, GP surgeries, NHS staff and have both advised the workplace and risk assessed the individual. I can say that in 2 cases there was an excellent response from the victim’s workplace and that a very high percentage of workplaces had no idea how to safeguard the victim or support them.
Employers have a responsibility to provide all staff with a safe and effective work environment. For some employees the workplace is a safe haven and the only place that offers routes to safety.Being a good employer includes supporting staff through new or difficult periods in their lives. Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on individuals and their families. In 2008–09 domestic abuse accounted for 68% of female homicides and 15% of male homicides (Walby et al 2010).
There are four main areas of health and safety law relevant to violence/domestic abuse at work:
An effective workplace policy on domestic abuse can ensure that employers are complying with these laws.
www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/culture/well-being/domestic-abuse-guide
www.unison.org.uk/motions/2017/energy/workplace-domestic-abuse-policies/
Many stalking victims work and stalking has a huge impact on the ability to concentrate, function in a normal capacity and often victims will lose their jobs. It is the duty of the workplace to ensure that they ask the right questions to victims of domestic abuse or stalking and therefore support their employees.
There are free workplace policies available. What Alison aims to do is bring these policies to life as they can be like having a recipe without the ingredients. She will offer awareness training to your safeguarding leads and then consultancy around what individual companies can do. She can also be a port of call to an employee for risk assessment and signposting.
Alison has worked with many stalking victims who are employees working for large companies eg law firms, banks, insurance companies, charities, members or parliament, GP surgeries, NHS staff and have both advised the workplace and risk assessed the individual. I can say that in 2 cases there was an excellent response from the victim’s workplace and that a very high percentage of workplaces had no idea how to safeguard the victim or support them.
Employers have a responsibility to provide all staff with a safe and effective work environment. For some employees the workplace is a safe haven and the only place that offers routes to safety.Being a good employer includes supporting staff through new or difficult periods in their lives. Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on individuals and their families. In 2008–09 domestic abuse accounted for 68% of female homicides and 15% of male homicides (Walby et al 2010).
There are four main areas of health and safety law relevant to violence/domestic abuse at work:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
- Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996.
An effective workplace policy on domestic abuse can ensure that employers are complying with these laws.
www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/culture/well-being/domestic-abuse-guide
www.unison.org.uk/motions/2017/energy/workplace-domestic-abuse-policies/
Please feel free to contact Alison directly to discuss your training requirements on alison@changingpathways.org
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