6.2 Describe ways that multi-agency partnerships can support those experiencing domestic abuse

This guide will help you answer 6.2 Describe ways that multi-agency partnerships can support those experiencing domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can affect anyone. It may include physical violence, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, controlling behaviour or financial abuse. People experiencing abuse often face fear, isolation and a lack of access to resources. Support from different organisations working together can help address the wide range of needs.

Multi-agency partnerships bring together professionals from health, social care, the police, housing services, education, and voluntary organisations. Each partner contributes expertise to support the person and promote safety. This joint working approach means that victims do not have to seek help from many separate services on their own, which can be difficult and stressful.

Purpose of Multi-Agency Partnerships

The aim of a multi-agency partnership in domestic abuse is to provide coordinated support. This means that decisions about care, protection, and practical help are made with input from different services. The partnership can provide:

• Rapid responses to keep the victim safe
• Clear plans for ongoing support
• Access to specialist knowledge and resources
• Reduced risk of repeating abuse

Partnerships often work through formal arrangements such as MARACs (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) where high-risk cases are discussed, and agencies agree on actions.

Example Agencies Involved in Domestic Abuse Support

Many agencies can be part of a multi-agency partnership. Each brings a different type of help. Examples include:

• Police: Respond quickly to incidents, gather evidence, and use legal powers to protect the victim.
• Health services: Treat physical injuries, provide mental health support, and refer to specialist services.
• Social care services: Assess risk for children, arrange safe accommodation, and help with practical needs.
• Housing providers: Offer emergency housing or safe refuge spaces.
• Schools and education services: Support children affected by domestic abuse and help identify signs early.
• Voluntary organisations: Provide counselling, advocacy, legal advice, and peer support networks.
• Legal services: Explain options for protective orders and handle family law matters.

Coordinated Risk Assessment

Multi-agency working means that risk assessments are shared between services. This helps create a full picture of the danger the person faces. A police officer may have details of recent incidents, while a health worker may note injuries and concerns raised in appointments. Social workers may know about the impact on children. Combining this information helps in making safer, stronger plans.

Risk assessment may involve:

• Discussing the level of threat from the abuser
• Looking at past incidents and patterns
• Checking if children are at risk
• Considering if the abuser has other victims

Shared risk assessments help agencies act before the abuse worsens.

Safety Planning

Safety planning is key in domestic abuse support. Agencies can work together to put in place steps to reduce risk and prepare the victim for emergencies. This can include:

• Giving mobile phones with emergency contacts saved
• Arranging locks or alarms for a property
• Setting up safe transport to escape quickly
• Organising places of safety for the victim and children

Multi-agency safety planning can link health workers, housing providers, police, and social care so all practical needs are covered. For example, police can advise on personal safety measures, housing can provide secure accommodation, and health staff can offer emotional support during the move.

Legal Protection and Advocacy

Partnerships can make sure victims have access to legal measures such as non-molestation orders, occupation orders, or restraining orders. Advocacy workers from charities often help victims understand their legal rights and prepare paperwork. Police and legal officers can provide evidence and testimony to support these measures. Social care staff can support court applications where children’s safety is concerned.

Legal advocacy reduces the pressure on victims who may be overwhelmed or afraid to start legal action on their own. The combined effort of different agencies can help victims feel supported through the court process.

Support for Children and Young People

Children exposed to domestic abuse are at risk of emotional and behavioural problems, poor performance in school, and lasting trauma. Schools, social care, health visitors, and youth services can work together to support both the child and the non-abusing parent.

Support can include:

• Counselling for emotional recovery
• School-based programmes to help with learning and behaviour
• Safety awareness for children on how to respond during incidents
• Family support workers helping with routines and stability

Multi-agency work makes sure children get both education and emotional help. It also ensures that safeguarding procedures are followed.

Emotional and Mental Health Support

Domestic abuse often causes distress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Health services, counselling providers, and community support groups can offer emotional care. When coordinated, these services can provide more consistent support. For example:

• A GP may refer the victim to specialist counselling
• A mental health nurse may attend partnership meetings to update on progress
• A charity support worker may help the victim attend therapy by arranging transport

By combining health and social care resources, victims can receive continuous mental health support instead of only short bursts of help.

Practical and Financial Help

Abuse can leave victims without money, housing, or household goods. Partnership working can connect the victim to:

• Emergency grants or benefits
• Access to food banks
• Support with managing bills
• Help finding work or training
• Safe housing and relocation costs

Voluntary organisations and social care agencies often lead on meeting these needs, but they rely on information from other partners to make sure there is no delay. Police may alert housing teams quickly when a victim needs emergency accommodation, or health workers may pass on details for urgent financial help.

Information Sharing

One of the strongest features of multi-agency support is sharing information securely. Each agency may have part of the story, but together they can see the full picture. Information shared between police, health, and social care can reveal risks not obvious to one agency alone.

Safe information sharing follows data protection laws and uses consent agreements. It allows agencies to act quickly and consistently. For example, if a victim attends hospital with injuries and says they do not feel safe at home, health staff can contact domestic abuse workers immediately.

Consistency in Support

Victims often feel frustrated when they repeat their story to several agencies without seeing progress. Partnership working helps avoid duplication and gives consistent responses. Agencies agree on the same safety messages, advice, and care plans. This builds trust with the victim and encourages ongoing engagement.

Consistency may include:

• Same caseworker involvement across different services
• Shared appointment times to reduce travel stress
• Joint meetings so the victim speaks to different professionals at once

Long-Term Recovery

Recovery from domestic abuse can take months or years. Multi-agency partnerships can provide long-term plans. This may include housing stability, emotional recovery programmes, career support, and family rebuilding.

Examples are:

• Ongoing counselling through community services
• Regular checks from housing and police to confirm safety
• Skills training to improve independence and income
• Peer support groups to rebuild confidence

When agencies stay connected, they can monitor progress and intervene quickly if there are signs of new abuse.

Raising Awareness and Training

Partnerships can arrange awareness events and training for staff. This helps all workers understand the signs of abuse and the correct steps to take. For example, housing staff can learn how to spot abuse indicators during property visits, and school staff can know how to respond to disclosures from children.

Training promotes consistent and informed support across all agencies in the partnership.

Building Trust in Communities

Multi-agency work can improve public trust that victims will be heard and helped. Outreach through community centres, faith groups, and local organisations lets people know that abuse can be reported safely. Victims who have access to clear information on where to turn are more likely to seek help early.

Agencies working together can share community contacts and reach wider audiences than any one service could alone.

Final Thoughts

Domestic abuse affects many parts of a victim’s life. No single service can address every need. Multi-agency partnerships allow professionals to bring their different skills together to help victims stay safe, recover, and rebuild their lives. By linking police, health, social care, education, housing, and voluntary groups, support becomes quicker, broader, and less stressful for the victim.

Strong partnerships depend on open communication, respectful sharing of information, and a shared commitment to safety. When agencies trust each other and work towards the same goal, they can provide more effective and compassionate help. For those experiencing domestic abuse, this joined-up approach can mean the difference between staying in danger and finding a safe way forward.