Advice and Resources for Practitioners
If someone discloses domestic abuse to you, you should speak to the individual concerned alone and in a confidential space where they have the opportunity to disclose the abuse and discuss the support they would like without fear of the perpetrator or other people hearing about the abuse.
Wherever possible you should try to complete a Domestic Abuse, Stalking & Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment with them to help determine the risks to the individual and to guide any safety planning. Depending on the level of risk posed to the individual concerned you may need to make a referral to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).
You can access the relevant risk assessments and MARAC referral forms for Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton here.
You may need to find out more about services available to support victims of domestic and sexual abuse, you can find more information about local and national services on our Get Help page.
The 3 R's method involves Routine Enquiry, Risk and Refer:
- Routine Enquiry means routinely asking service users about domestic abuse. This must be done in a safe way/safe place, where you cannot be overheard and in a way that shows the person they will not be judged or blamed
- Risk means identifying and assessing current risk through completion of a DASH risk assessment and carrying out safety planning
- Refer or signpost to support
Support Services Directory
Training
If you would like to access domestic abuse training, please visit Safeguarding Bedfordshire
For a look at new training courses please download the flyer here
Safeguarding
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child, please contact the appropriate local authority on the below details:
- Central Bedfordshire Access and Referral Hub on 0300 300 8585 or AccessReferral@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
- Bedford Borough should visit Concerned about a child? · Bedford Borough Council or call 01234 718700
- Luton Borough Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01582 547653 or mash@luton.gov.uk
- Out of office hours, all three local authorities can be reported to on 0300 300 8123
If you have safeguarding concerns about an adult, please contact the appropriate local authority on the below details:
- Central Bedfordshire Adult Safeguarding 0300 300 8303 or adult.protection@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
- Bedford Borough Adult Safeguarding 01234 276222 or adult.protection@bedford.gov.uk
- Luton Borough Adult Safeguarding 01582 547730 or adultsafeguarding@luton.gov.uk
- Out of office hours, all three local authorities can be reported to on 0300 300 8123
BDAP Support Topics
Our website has a range of pages with information specific to types of domestic abuse, supporting those with protected characteristics and on advice on topics such as Safety Planning, Mental Health, Housing, the Criminal Justice System and Domestic Abuse and the Workplace. Links to all of these support topics can be found on this page.
Public Health Information for Employers and Workplaces
Public Health have compiled resources for workplaces, including links to the Employer's Initiative on Domestic Abuse, the Healthy Workplace Standards and other tips.
Domestic Abuse Pledge for Workplaces
The Public Health Workplace Health Team have partnered with the Domestic Abuse Team at Central Bedfordshire Council to create a FREE Domestic Abuse pledge for workplaces to sign up to. The pledge is available for use at the button on the right.
Making a Safety Plan
A personal safety plan is a way of helping you to protect yourself and your children. It helps you plan in advance for the possibility of future violence and abuse. It also helps you to think about how you can increase your safety either within the relationship, or if you decide to leave.
Although this link is to the Women's Aid website, the information is relevant to anyone who is thinking about how to increase their safety.
Non-Fatal Strangulation Toolkit
Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) is a method used within domestic abuse to control and intimidate others. It became a standalone criminal offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. BDAP have developed a toolkit which is available here.
Toolkit for work with male victims of domestic violence
Respect has published a toolkit for professionals working with men experiencing domestic violence. The purpose of this toolkit is primarily to support and inform work with male victims of domestic violence.
SafeLives
An advice sheet for non-specialists to help you identify victims, ask the right questions and to point you towards other organisations who can help.
SafeLives Spotlights
SafeLives Spotlights series focuses on groups of people who may be 'hidden' from services, or face additional barriers to accessing support. Each Spotlight brings together SafeLives data and insight from survivors, practitioners, academics and other experts.
East of England MECC Link
This link is to the East of England Making Every Contact Count (MECC) tool, which aims to help raise awareness and signpost people to better health and wellbeing.