Quality standard
Quality statement 4: Referral to specialist services for people perpetrating domestic violence or abuse
Quality statement 4: Referral to specialist services for people perpetrating domestic violence or abuse
Quality statement
People who disclose that they are perpetrating domestic violence or abuse are offered referral to specialist services.
Rationale
People who disclose that they are perpetrating domestic violence or abuse should be able to access evidence‑based specialist services. Health and social care practitioners should identify available local services and know how to access these. Providing support for perpetrators can reduce the incidence of domestic violence and abuse.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
a) Evidence of local referral pathways to ensure that people who disclose that they are perpetrating domestic violence or abuse are referred to specialist services.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that specialist services are available to support people who disclose that they are perpetrating domestic violence or abuse.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
Proportion of people who disclose that they are perpetrating domestic violence or abuse who are referred to specialist services.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who are referred to specialist services.
Denominator – the number of people who disclose that they are perpetrating domestic violence or abuse.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Reduction in repeated domestic violence and abuse.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (primary, community, including third sector, secondary and tertiary care providers of health and social care services, including criminal justice agencies) work with commissioners to design local referral pathways for domestic violence and abuse and ensure that health and social care practitioners offer referrals to these specialist services to people perpetrating domestic violence or abuse.
Health and social care practitioners are aware of local referral pathways and offer people perpetrating domestic violence or abuse referrals to specialist services.
Commissioners ensure that referral pathways and a full range of specialist services are in place for people perpetrating domestic violence or abuse.
People who are violent towards or abuse people close to them are offered referral to specialist services that can help them to change their views and understand more about violence. These specialist services can make it easier for them to get the help and support that they need to change their behaviour.
Source guidance
Domestic violence and abuse: multi-agency working. NICE guideline PH50, recommendations 4, 5, 6, 10 and 14
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
People who perpetrate domestic violence or abuse
People aged 16 or over who are violent towards or try to control, coerce, threaten or abuse family members or people who are, or have been, intimate partners. This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. It also includes 'honour'‑based violence and forced marriage. [NICE's guideline on domestic violence and abuse]
Specialist services for people perpetrating domestic violence or abuse
Specialist services for people who perpetrate domestic violence or abuse might include initiatives and interventions to deal with their behaviour and any related issues. Interventions should be tailored, evidence based, meet national standards and be based on the local needs assessment. Interventions should primarily aim to increase the safety of the person's partner and children (if they have any). Health and social care practitioners should report on the person's attitudinal change, their understanding of violence and accountability, their ability and willingness to seek help, and the safety of their partner (or ex‑partner) and children. These interventions, when commissioned, should include robust evaluation. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on domestic violence and abuse, recommendation 14]
Equality and diversity considerations
Services should be tailored to address the specific needs of people perpetrating domestic violence and abuse.
Services should provide support in different languages and be accessible to people with additional needs such as physical, sensory or learning disabilities. When interpreters are needed for discussions, these should be professional interpreters who are impartial and have a duty to maintain confidentiality. Family members or friends should not act as interpreters for enquiries or discussions.