1	CHANGE (Men learning to end their violence to women) Limited A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No 183080 Scottish Charity Number SC018322 Director: Monica Wilson www.changeweb.org.uk monica@changeweb.org.uk Tel: 01324 485595
2	CHANGE (Men learning to end their Violence to Women) Limited Founded in 1989 with three aims: Pilot a criminal justice based men’s programme and services for women Use a multi-agency approach Develop training and educational materials
3	Working with Perpetrators of Domestic Abuse What should inform our practice?
4	Ecological/feminist perspective Historical context Cultural context Community context Individual context (Dobash et al, 2000; Edelson & Tolman, 1992; Gondolf, 2002)
5	The Nature of Domestic Abuse A pattern of behaviour, not isolated acts Asymmetrical in shape: predominantly men Normative in many respects Very often the perpetrator goes home to the victim Therefore very different to other forms of offending - requires a different approach
6	What is Effective Practice? Research indicates crucial elements: the broader system (how well the police, courts, probation, women’s services and other community services all work together) programme quality (cognitive/behavioural + gender analysis: not anger management or couples’ counselling) commitment of facilitators (need to be convinced of the efficacy of their work and communicate it) Dobash et al 2000, Edelson & Tolman, 1992, Gondolf, 2002: Shepard & Pence 1999
7	Three Goals for Intervention Protection of women and children Offender accountability Changing social climate
8	Model of Good Practice
9	Focus of Women’s Service Increase safety & emotional well-being of women and children Promote realistic expectations of work with men Provide appropriate, safe and accessible services
10	Focus of Men’s Programme Focus on violence and abuse Challenge attitudes and beliefs Develop skills for non-violence Monitor and review progress
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13	Key Research Findings: CHANGE & DVPP Partners accounts: programmes most successful in reducing violence & abuse 75% non-programme men violent 12+ months after: 33% programme men 37% non-programme men frequently violent: 7% programme men Programme men significantly reduced coercion and control Programmes a positive way forward Dobash, Dobash, Cavanagh & Lewis, Home Office Research & Statistics Directorate, Research Findings No. 46 October 1996
14	The Process of Change Change is possible Change is desirable Reasons to change (e.g. costs and benefits) Change from object to subject (awareness) Move from external constraints to internal controls Shift in language and thinking Achieved through talking, listening, reflecting and modelling Men identify specific elements of change in both behaviour and attitudes Dobash et al 1996
15	The Revolving Door Model of Change Prochaska & Di Clementi
16	Standards developed by Practitioners Our national body, Respect, has developed a code of practice based on research findings and practitioners’ experience: The “Statement of Principles and Minimum Standards of Practice for Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes and Associated Services”
17	Respect The National Association for Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes and Associated Services DVPP & CHANGE are founder members of Respect and the CHANGE Director has been Chair for the last two years
18	Respect Grew out of the National Practitioners’ Network Founded in 2000, formally launched in 2001 Current membership of 260+ Respect has been consulted about programme accreditation in England and Wales. Respect’s Director sits on the Prison and Probation Reference Group for England and Wales Plans to open a Scottish office in 2004
19	Respect Currently being funded by the Lankelly Foundation to undertake a feasibility study into becoming the accrediting body for non criminal justice based projects. Study being undertaken by Professor Jill Radford from Teesside University.
20	Respect: Statement of Principles Principles and philosophy informing intervention practice Guidelines and minimum organisational standards Guidelines and minimum standards of practice for men’s programmes, including competency based criteria for selecting facilitators Guidelines and minimum standards of practice for women’s services
21	Conclusion A group-work programme for men is ideally a component of an overall approach to domestic abuse which involves: A minimum of two years’ intervention work with the offender. 1 A group-work element of a minimum of six months duration. 2 A service to partners comprising confidential personal contact from a women’s services worker for as long as the woman needs it. 3 Working within a multi-agency approach to domestic abuse as recommended in the Scottish Executive’s “National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse”, 4 and as concluded as crucial to effectiveness by recent research. 5 1. Gondolf, 2002, p 150 2. Respect “Statement of Principles and Minimum Standards of Practice” para 3.4 3. Respect, ibid, para 4.2 4. Scottish Executive, 2000 5. Gondolf, 2002, p 23