Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents perpetrated (in the majority of cases) by a partner or ex-partner. It may also be perpetrated by a close family member or carer. Domestic abuse covers a wide variety of behaviour, including controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour. It may include physical and sexual violence, psychological abuse, emotional harm, neglect, discriminatory abuse, and financial harm - or a combination of all of these. The resources in this section relate to the overlap between domestic abuse and Adult Support and Protection in Scotland.
This Self-Assessment Tool and Evaluation Framework takes a reflective look at key areas of policy and practice in Scotland from a domestic abuse-informed perspective. The tools can be used to engage key staff in a reflective process, viewing their own system through a domestic abuse-informed lens.
Domestic abuse in families often intersects with the substance abuse and/or mental health issues of one or more family members. The intersection of these issues is complex and diverse and spans case management, service delivery, and safety issues.
This guide offers a framework for:
Improving the assessment of how these issues intersect
This guide is a resource to assist family and friends in being an ally to survivors of domestic abuse. A positive first experience talking about the abuse can make the difference between safety and increased isolation and entrapment for a loved one.
Domestic violence perpetrator manipulation of systems is a critical problem that undermines responses to family violence and deeply impacts adult and child survivors in many ways. Perpetrators manipulate systems to bolster their own power and abuse and to control adult and child survivors further.
This report outlines the types of systems perpetrators may manipulate, how they may do this, and ways in which this behaviour can be addressed.
These resources are for men who are worried about their behavior toward their loved ones. The Choose to Change Toolkit describes a four-step process to assist men in developing strong, safe support networks to help them interrupt their violence and increase safety for other family members. It includes a professionals booklet, information for partners, and information for network contacts.
This downloadable six-page leaflet is in Easy Read format and sets out what domestic abuse is. It is for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or who is worried about someone else. The leaflet also sets out many different ways in which people can get help around domestic abuse.
This pack contains core resources, for instance on professional curiosity, that inform all ASP work. It also contains domestic abuse specific resources. Within the pack, there are links to numerous videos, including to those of people with lived experience of domestic abuse.
This webinar looks at two specific areas. For the first two sections, Anne Hayne considers the overlaps and gaps in Adult Support and Protection and domestic abuse provision. In the final section, Frances Toland shares Renfrewshire's trauma-informed approach to ASP. There is also an accompanying briefing about the Renfrewshire approach.
The Scottish Government recognises forced marriage to be a form of gender-based violence and, where children are victims of forced marriage, child abuse. It may be associated with other forms of domestic abuse and “honour based” abuse. Forced marriage can impact both men and women, however most cases typically involve younger women and girls between the ages
of 15 and under and 30. This guidance outlines the duties of statutory, public and third sector bodies involved in responding to forced marriage.
This document supports all professionals working with women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse, and/or perpetrators. It aims to strengthen awareness and understanding about trauma-informed and domestic abuse-informed practice. Each section provides guidance for how professionals supporting women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse and/or perpetrators can do so in a trauma-informed way that recognises the nature, prevalence and impact of domestic abuse.
