Key Themes from analysis of referrals in Herefordshire
The following observations are drawn directly from analysis of the referrals that have been generated to date:
Domestic Abuse is clearly a health issue. Victim survivors are presenting with chronic conditions, addictions and a significant mental health impact as a consequence of their experience of abuse.
The work undertaken by the Herefordshire IRIS Advocate Educator suggests that clients referred by GPs to date are clients who would not have self-referred to WMWA or gone to the Police. Most had not heard of Women’s Aid, and/or did not interpret their lived experience as domestic abuse.
The view of the IRIS Clinical Lead for Herefordshire is that
“IRIS training equips clinicians to have the confidence to ask their patients about Domestic Abuse; to gain knowledge of the common conditions that exist within victim survivors (gynae, pregnancy, IBS, chronic pain, poor mental health); to understand more about DA in all its guises and understand how to make initial brief assessment of risk / safety. GPs have always had a key role in safeguarding their patients and the IRIS training has really connected clinicians with West Mercia Women’s Aid through (the Advocate Educator’s) ability to work quickly and closely with women providing specialist support to safety.”
There have been seven referrals for men; this is unusual in comparison to WMWA Helpline data, but illustrates a need that is being illuminated by IRIS. WMWA engages, provides initial advice and supports them with a referral to the Men’s Domestic Abuse Service in Herefordshire delivered by Cranstoun.
Generally, apart from GP and mental health services there are no other services involved with the victim survivor that discloses.
Perpetrator profiles include two members of the armed forces, two musicians, self -employed professionals and company directors. Coercion and control and financial dependency are the common forms of abuse. All of the perpetrators bar one are working, and most have successful careers or own their own business.
Victim survivor profiles are mostly women over 40, with high levels of financial dependency linked to property and businesses where the abuser is using family courts and legal processes to continue the abuse which leaves the woman homeless and facing financial ruin and having to represent themselves in court.
There are a number of cases where the woman is having to live in an annexe or a co-owned property on their land or within a business, and is subjected to surveillance or harassment as part of this living arrangement.
The victim survivor undertaking caring responsibilities is also a feature in a number of cases – parents or adult children with disabilities.
Locked-in wealth frequently prevents women from being able to access social housing. They are therefore trapped by property ownership arrangements – trying to divorce and facing delays caused by the perpetrator withholding paperwork or financial statements, denying that the process is happening or sabotaging sale of property.
Mental health, PTSD or health affects both perpetrators and victim survivors, including attempted suicide in two cases. Some clients affected by poor mental health have had suicide ideation and often in response to particular incidents with the perpetrator.
Most referrals would not have come from WMWA’s Helpline or through the Police. These are capable and relatively well-educated older women who have been trying to deal with these issues themselves but accessing the bare minimum of legal advice where they cannot obtain Legal Aid but have little disposable income. They are unaware of the risks of escalation, with little understanding of domestic abuse behaviours. They have no concept of safety planning and – given that post separation abuse is a key issue for so many – the need for safety planning for separation is extremely important.