About
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 statutory guidance states that public agencies should invest in awareness raising, specialist training and systems change within their services to ensure that victims receive effective and safe responses and that information about their services reaches the range of different communities and protected groups in their areas.
Somerset Council on behalf of the Safer Somerset Partnership organises a range of training courses – from basic awareness to more specialist courses, with the aim for the effective prevention and response to domestic abuse to be a priority for all agencies. All organisations can have a basic awareness of domestic abuse, which can help provide a shared community understanding of the complexity surrounding the problem.
For more information, practitioners can view the Somerset Domestic Abuse Strategic Learning Framework.
For more information on Domestic Abuse Training please email publichealthtraining@somerset.gov.uk.
Level One (Foundation)
Domestic Abuse Foundation training for professionals. It is compulsory to complete this course before attending level two courses.
This training is free for professionals working for an organisation who operate in Somerset. For organisations outside Somerset, a fee applies.
Level Two Courses (to be completed after the foundation e-learning above)
These can be completed after the level one course. Proof of certificate will be required. Level 2 course fees for Somerset Council employees are free. Non-Somerset local authority employees can attend at a charge of £25 per person.
Courses
- Homicide Timeline Webinar
- Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB)
- Stalking
- DASH/MARAC/Domestic Homicide Reviews Masterclass
- Hidden Harm
- Dealing with Counter Allegations
All courses are delivered by domestic abuse specialist trainers.
How to book
If you are someone working within Somerset Council, please go to The Learning Centre to register for the courses you wish to attend. Professionals working outside of Somerset Council will need to register using the Somerset Domestic Abuse Booking Form, which can be found at the bottom of the Level Two course details.
Homicide Timeline Webinar
Date: To be confirmed
The aim of the course is to raise awareness of :
- The Homicide Timeline
- How it was developed
- The different stages of the timeline
- The links between CCB, Stalking and homicide and how to apply the model in practice
Controlling and Coercive Behaviour (CCB) Course
Date: To be confirmed
The overarching aim of these workshops is:
- To raise awareness of coercive or controlling behaviour (CCB) and how you can better identify and support people who may be experiencing it in their relationship.
- To explore CCB behaviours, the impact on victims and children, the stages of CCB, typologies of abuse and how to support victims of CCB.
- To look at the links between CCB and stalking and homicide.
DASH/MARAC/Domestic Homicide Reviews Masterclass
Date: Tuesday 26 September
This is an interactive virtual training that will:
- Raise awareness of risk assessment, the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and learn from DHR’s and how to use this knowledge in practice.
- Give a better understanding of Domestic Abuse and the processes supporting practice.
- Give an understanding of risk assessment in the context of domestic abuse and also the role of MARAC.
- Give you an increased confidence to use professional judgement when risk assessing. Understand the Domestic Homicide Review Process and include learning from recent Somerset DHR’s into practice.
Hidden Harm Course
Date: To be confirmed
This course will explore how the deeper layers of hidden harms in domestic abuse relationships, can impact on people living with domestic abuse because of:
- Victim blaming language is present
- A victim has a perception of the services not being for them
- Diversity, social norms and demographics
Dealing with Counter Allegations Training
Domestic Abuse is complex – it is about power and control. One of the biggest challenges practitioners are presented with is counter allegations of abuse against each other.
This can create barriers when working with each party and a belief that ‘they are as bad as each other’ or ‘it is a toxic relationship’ – which can increase risk and impact the support and intervention offered.
The training focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of human behaviours and will equip attendees with tools and insight to confidently assess clients they work with accurately when there are counter allegations. It will use a variety of models and theories to explain the complexities of human behaviour in a power dynamic. It is an interactive day where participants will have the opportunity to develop their skills and apply the theory to practice.
Aims:
- Explore the power imbalances, intentions, and physiological impacts
- Understand what underpins the aim of false counter allegation as well as working with counter allegation.
- Enable practitioners to identify and respond, in practice.
Learning Outcomes:
- Be able to identify counter allegations
- Effectively risk assess to inform decision-making
- An awareness of multiagency responses to domestic abuse – how and when to make referrals
Dealing with Counter Allegations (East)
Date: Wed 20 September at Odcombe Village Hall
Venue: Odcombe Village Hall, Old Road, Odcombe, Yeovil BA22
Dealing with Counter Allegations (West)
Date: Thurs 21 September at Charter Hall, Bridgwater Town Hall
Venue: Charter Hall, Bridgwater Town Hall, High Street, Bridgwater TA6 3AS (Public chargeable carparks nearby)
Dealing with Counter Allegations (Virtual via Teams)
Date: Friday 6 October – 9am to 4.30pm, virtual via Teams
Teas and coffees will be provided at all courses, but if you have specific dietary requirements for example non-dairy milk or herbal tea, please bring your own drink supplies. You will also need to provide your own lunch.
DARE (Domestic Abuse Routine Enquiry) – Free course for professionals working within Somerset.
Somerset Council have commissioned Hampton Trust to deliver this specialist training on identifying and engaging perpetrators by supporting them to access specialist services.
Hampton Trust offers training to local councils, police, charities and a range of front-line services, enabling them to incorporate the DARE Toolkit as a ‘first response’ model. The trust wants to build professional confidence in everyone talking ‘domestic abuse’ with all clients accessing services, whether it be for housing, substance misuse, mental health, or any other type of support, not specifically domestic abuse related.
The DARE Toolkit does not require professionals to deliver in-depth specialist work with domestic abuse perpetrators, rather it provides the tools to identify, explore and engage perpetrators so they can be referred on to specialist local services, designed to support behaviour change. DARE encourages a wider community response in which all agencies share the responsibility of shining a spotlight on abusive behaviour. This increases the opportunity to offer people the right intervention at the right time.
Core modules include:
- Week 1 – How to identify domestic abuse perpetrators
- Week 2 – How to explore risks & context associated with domestic abuse perpetrators
- Week 3 – How to engage domestic abuse perpetrators and nudge them into specialist services
*Dates available for training are:
- Tuesday 3, 10, 17 October 2023 – 9am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 4, 11, 18 October 2023 – 9am to 12.30pm
- Thursday 2, 9, 16 November 2023 – 9am to 12.30pm
*This is a CPD accredited course, and you will be required to commit to three compulsory workshops over a three-week period.
How to book
Before attending this course, please ensure you have completed the Level One foundation training. Please click on the link for more details and how to book on this course:
Other eLearning
There are several e-learning opportunities for you and your colleagues. These include those listed below.
The charity Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) has two helpful e-learnings:
- Understanding Domestic Violence and Abuse
- Complicated Matters: Domestic and Sexual Violence, Problematic Substance Use and Mental Ill-health
Find online at http://www.elearning.avaproject.org.uk/
AVA has online webinars and courses available for professionals who work with people affected by domestic abuse.
Take a look online at https://avaproject.org.uk/events/