Domestic Abuse Group Policy Statement

Recovery Focus (which Richmond Fellowship is part of) believes that all forms of domestic abuse are wrong and must stop.

We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:

• ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse.
• protect those vulnerable to domestic abuse from actual or potential harm.
• recognise equality amongst people and within relationships.
• enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to appropriately and
• consistently using a person-centred approach.

We recognise, in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, that:

• all forms of domestic abuse cause damage to the survivor and express an imbalance of power in the relationship.
• all survivors (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• domestic abuse can occur in all communities.
• domestic abuse may be a single incident, but is usually a systematic, repeated pattern which escalates in severity and frequency.
• recognise that individuals can be victims of multiple and different abusive behaviours and that personal and situational characteristics are interacting and overlapping, potentially creating additional barriers to access and support
• domestic abuse, if witnessed or overheard by a child, is a form of abuse by the perpetrator of the abusive behaviour.
• working in partnership with children, adults and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of any child or adult suffering abuse.

Recovery Focus understands the risks and consequences of domestic abuse and we will fully support people, both those who use our services and our staff and volunteers, taking appropriate action to support those affected.

Recovery Focus will endeavour to respond to domestic abuse by:

Raising awareness:

• ensuring all staff across the Group are aware of domestic abuse, can identify it and the impact this has on all aspects of people’s wellbeing through robust risk assessments.
• provide role relevant training for staff and managers on domestic abuse and its impact/consequences.
• using our internal expertise, through our National Lead for Domestic Abuse, to engage in the national agenda to influence system changes and ensure that Recovery Focus is proactively engaged in any national initiative.

Best practice and service delivery for people we support:

• ensure that domestic abuse is included in all operational communities of practice and ensure that good practice is shared across the organisation.
• ensure that victims and survivors of domestic abuse are safeguarded through effective service delivery and/or multiagency working.
• ensure our operational policies and procedures have clearly outlined processes for assessing support and signposting for people we provide a service for in relation to domestic abuse.
• ensure we keep up to date with case law and relevant changes though attendance at DA Boards, Safelives, and Respect.

Set clear policies and guidance:

• ensuring that domestic abuse is appropriately referenced in all of our organisational strategies, policies and procedures, particularly in relation to the assessment, support, reporting and signposting to support services for anyone affected by domestic abuse.
• ensuring that our staff code of conduct and professional boundaries policies have clear behavioural requirements for practitioners in our DA services.
• ensure our people policies clearly outline steps staff need to take in the event that allegations of domestic abuse are reported by staff in relation to themselves, colleagues or people who use our services.