Children and Young People Experiencing Domestic Abuse

127 Pages·2008·1.49 MB·English

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE
A SURVEY OF SUPPORT SERVICES IN WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE
BY ANN DONALDSON
ILLUSTRATIONS © ALBITAYLOR
ALBITAYLOR.COM
Further Copies of this report are available from:
West Dunbartonshire Violence Against Women Partnership
Room 6, Council Offices
Rosebery Place
Clydebank
G81 1TG
Tel:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
Email: [email protected]
Copyright: WDVAWP 2008
For my children Emily, Jack and Louis
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Research Project Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Defining Domestic Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Aims of the mapping exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Research methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Analytical Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
An overview of the literature on domestic abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Domestic Abuse and its impact on children - overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Summary of the Scottish Policy and Practice Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
The West Dunbartonshire (WD) Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Women, Children and Young People’s Experience of Domestic Abuse in
West Dunbartonshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
What support young people believe would help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Resources currently available in West Dunbartonshire to support children
and young people exposed to domestic abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
What workers say about supporting children and young people exposed to
domestic abuse in WD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Appendix 1 CYPQuestionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Appendix 2 WDVAWPOrganisational Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
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LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
TABLES PAGE
TABLE 1 POPULATION OF CHILDRENANDYOUNG PEOPLE IN WD 2002 23
TABLE 2 POPULATION OF CHILDRENANDYOUNG PEOPLE IN WD1996 – 2005 24
TABLE 3 NUMBER OF DOMESTICABUSE INCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN REPORTED
TO POLICE IN CLYDEBANK 1.9.07 – 7.2.08 26
TABLE 4 PEOPLE IDENTIFIED BYYOUNG PEOPLEASTHOSETHEYWOULD BE MOST
LIKELYTO DISCLOSETO. 43
TABLE 5 STAGE 1AGENCIES 92
TABLE 6 STAGE 2AGENCIES 93
TABLE 7 STAGE 3AGENCIES 94
FIGURES PAGE
FIGURE 1 PRE-NATAL, INFANTS &TODDLERS, PRE-SCHOOLERS, SCHOOLAGEDAND
ADOLESCENTS SERVICE MAP 8
FIGURE 2 JUDITH HERMAN’S 3 STAGETRAUMARECOVERYMODEL 9
FIGURE 3 POPULATION OF CHILDRENANDYOUNG PEOPLE IN WD 2002 23
FIGURE 4 WHATSUPPORTWOULD HELPYOU FEELBETTER –YOUNG PEOPLE’S VIEW 41
FIGURE 5 TOTALNUMBER OFYOUNG PEOPLEAND WHOTHEYWOULD FEEL 42
COMFORTABLE DISCLOSINGABUSETO
FIGURE 6 SURVIVALSTRATEGIES IN CHILDRENANDYOUNG PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH 80
VIOLENCE
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RESEARCH PROJECT TEAM
Shona Bruce Reduce Abuse Project
Ann Donaldson West Dunbartonshire Violence Against Women Partnership
Jane Shaw GIRFEC Clydebank Pathfinder Pilot Project
Carol Young West Dunbartonshire Violence Against Women Partnership
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Research Project Team would like to thank all the women, children and young people who
took part in this project for sharing their experiences with us. Thanks also to all workers and
agencies who contributed to the research.
This project was made possible through the support and funding of the West Dunbartonshire
Community Planning Partnership.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
In 2005 the Scottish Executive adopted a wider national agenda for tackling other forms of
male violence against women as well as domestic abuse. In 2006 WDDAP’s Strategic
Implementation Group agreed to change the Partnership’s name to the West Dunbartonshire
Violence against Women Partnership (WDVAWP) in response to national developments and
WDVAWP launched its new Strategy and Action Plan in November 2006. This Strategy for
West Dunbartonshire retains a firm commitment to supporting women, children and young
people experiencing domestic abuse (WDVAWP2006).
The West Dunbartonshire Reduce Abuse (RA) Project is part of WDVAWPand is managed by
an Education Sub-group formed by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Domestic Abuse Intra-
agency Group. RA is a project based in Clydebank High School which was established in
2004 by WDDAPas a primary prevention intervention.
DEFINING DOMESTIC ABUSE
The definition of domestic abuse used throughout this report is as follows:
‘Domestic abuse (as gender-based abuse), can be perpetrated by partners or ex-
partners and can include physical abuse (assault and physical attack involving a range
of behaviour), sexual abuse (acts which degrade and humiliate women and are
perpetrated against their will, including rape) and mental and emotional abuse (such
as threats, verbal abuse, racial abuse, withholding money and other types of
controlling behaviour such as isolation from family or friends) (Scottish Executive
2000).
AIMS OF THE MAPPING EXERCISE
The aims of this research exercise were as follows,
• To summarise current literature on the impact of domestic abuse on children and
young people.
• To review the current policy and practice context for supporting children and young
people affected by domestic abuse in Scotland and West Dunbartonshire.
• To provide an overview of current service provision in West Dunbartonshire.
• To gather the views of women, children, young people and service providers of
current service provision.
• To identify any gaps in services related to the support needs of children and young
people experiencing or surviving the impact of domestic abuse.
• To make recommendations for future provision of services to these groups.
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RESEARCH METHODS
DESIGN AND PROCEDURE
A survey design was utilised which would provide a research and policy context for the
exercise, and help maximise participation by women, children and young people experiencing
domestic abuse and service providers.
GAINING PARTICIPATION
• Women survivors who used local support services and members of a local women’s
group were invited to participate in interview and to help identify young people who
could speak about their experiences. Local service directories and network
information were used to identify and invite agency workers to participate in
interviews.
• Young people in a local secondary school were invited to complete an anonymous
questionnaire about their views of the support needs of young people experiencing
domestic abuse.
• Agencies represented on the West Dunbartonshire Violence Against Women
Partnership Link Worker Network were sent a questionnaire asking for information
about their service provision to children and young people experiencing domestic
abuse.
• Atelephone survey of all agencies was also carried out. All agencies who provided
service information are listed in the Directory of Services published separately.
AN ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
WDVAW Partnership agencies acknowledge the need to maximise opportunities for women,
children and young people to participate in the design of community-based responses to
domestic abuse. Survivors’ perspectives therefore form a significant part of the analytical
framework in this study.
The views, experiences and perspectives in this report were analysed using a ‘grounded
theory’approach where themes, theories and conclusions emerge from the data itself. This
conforms to Cunningham and Bakers’ eight recommended principles for good practice in
research exercises with young domestic abuse survivors.
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