National Training Initiative
CHANGE is currently funded by the Scottish Executive to deliver
a National Training Initiative to promote effective practice
in working with male domestic violence offenders. The work
commenced in April 1999, and is funded under Section 9 of the
Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
Aims
CHANGE offers consultancy and training to Criminal Justice
Service staff and partner agencies in working with men convicted
of violence towards their wives or female partners, and in
developing appropriate services for women partners. The goal of
the training is to help equip local authority staff to tackle
the violent behaviour of male domestic violence offenders
working either in structured group-work programmes or on
individual basis on probation.
Objectives
To fulfil the aim of promoting effective practice, CHANGE offers
consultancy and training in the following format:
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Initial consultancy meetings with
Criminal Justice Managers and relevant partner agencies
(e.g. local domestic violence fora, Women’s Aid, etc.), to
look at local needs and to plan training provision and
monitoring methods. These meetings are being held at local
level either for individual local authorities or in
collaborative partnerships with neighbouring authorities.
-
The provision of an agreed number of
one-day awareness-raising workshops for relevant staff
for up to 25 participants at a time. The CHANGE workshops
focus on challenging myths about abusers and aim to increase
understanding about how to be aware of men’s abusive
attitudes and behaviour. Where possible, local Women’s Aid
groups are being asked to offer prior awareness days
focussing on how women experience domestic violence and
agencies’ responses. Both these workshops encompass
participants from as wide a range of agencies as possible.
-
One day courses in assessment for
staff undertaking Social Enquiry Reports (SERs) with
domestic violence offenders, including training in the use
of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA).
-
Intensive five-day courses on skills
acquisition including the delivery of a men’s programme and
the provision of services to women partners
-
Two day courses for women’s services
staff which they undertake in addition to the above training
covering advocacy, safety planning and risk management.
-
One day ‘refresher’ courses for
staff who have completed the men’s programme training in the
past and are now ready to put the work into practice.
