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WakefieldCouncil Children and Young People Service Online Procedures

Special Domestic Abuse Practitioner (SDAP) Operating Protocol

Contents

  1. Wakefield District Domestic Abuse Service Criteria
  2. Role of SDAP within WDDAS
  3. Civil Court Matters
  4. MARAC/High Risk
  5. Specialist Domestic Violence Court

1. Wakefield District Domestic Abuse Service Criteria

DASH risk assessed, together with the professional judgement of the Risk Assessment Officer, Duty Officer or SDAP, as being at high-risk or severely affect.

2. Role of SDAP within WDDAS

  • Make contact with Client (safe contact number/means) within 24 hours for self-referral or 48 hours for agency referral of being received by this Service;
  • Record all attempts on Sharepoint to make contact (times/dates);
  • Arrange to personally meet where applicable/appropriate, particularly where assessed as being at high-risk;
  • Undertake DASH Risk Assessment with client;
  • Address safety planning;
  • Address immediate issues;
  • Refer to other agencies where applicable e.g. Alcohol Team;
  • Review safety planning at relevant stages with client and at closure;
  • Update referrer and all services involved of progress/changes during support;
  • Inform client and referrer of closure.

3. Civil Court Matters

  • Make aware of civil legal options e.g. court orders – Child Arrangement Order, Occupation Order, NMO;
  • Provide details of local solicitors;
  • Arrange and accompany to appointments with solicitors, where assessed as being required;
  • Accompany to courts where assessed as being appropriate;
  • Track court cases at civil courts and keep client informed; and
  • Liaise with key agencies and share information as required.

4. MARAC/High Risk

  • All high risk cases will be referred to MARAC Panel;
  • Receive notifications of all MARAC referrals, including DASH Risk Assessment, from the MARAC Co-Ordinator;
  • Contact client using safe contact number and discuss the referral within one working day of being received by this Service;
  • Record all attempts to make contact (times/dates) on client notes and contact sheet;
  • Gain the views, wishes and feelings and obtain any updated information;
  • Submit MARAC log to Co-ordinator within the MARAC timeframe, and submit further logs if there is a change of circumstance;
  • Represent client at conference in relation to their views, wishes and feelings;
  • Share information at conference if professional judgement suggests that there is further or escalating risk or vulnerabilities to the client;
  • Where agreed at MARAC, contact the client and provide feedback within two working days of MARAC (alternative agency may be identified to provide this feedback);
  • Send action log update to MARAC Co-ordinator and record in client file; and
  • Undertake additional actions allocated to the SDAP role and provide update/s to MARAC Co-Ordinator.

5. Specialist Domestic Violence Court

  • Receive and print court list;
  • Receive and print research/preparation from police;
  • Attend Leeds Magistrates' Court (Mondays and Fridays weekly);
  • Explain potential court outcomes to client;
  • Provide appropriate support to both WDDAS and non-WDDAS clients present at court (including DA victims from the Leeds area if they attend at court);
  • Explain potential court outcomes to client;
  • If the complainant's name is not shown in bail vary applications or applications to vary/discharge R/O, ascertain through police SGU who the complainant is, research on SharePoint and database as above;
  • If the complainant is not an open client but the Prosecutor requires further information and is able to provide phone numbers, contact the client to ascertain information required and relay this to the Prosecutor;
  • Liaise with Legal Advisor, Usher, Safeguarding Unit Officer, CPS, Probation service, listings, as required Post court;
  • Make court aware if a client is in attendance;
  • Convey views of client to CPS e.g. Restraining Order/special measures requested/CD to P made;
  • Provide update to WDDAS clients within same day or next working day;
  • Scan and email outcomes to WDDAS and Police SGU the same day or next working day, but any change in bail status should be notified the same day; and
  • Liaise with key agencies of court outcomes with consent of client (e.g. Social Workers, EHH colleagues).

Rotas are in place in relation to SDAP attendance at SDVC, but co-ordination in relation to providing cover is required to cater for changes of plan/cover for annual leave/courses etc.