This research endeavour was born out of the need for a systematic evaluation of the efficacy of the multiagency Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment tool, which necessitates that all incidents of ‘domestic abuse’ (any incident within the family domain) reported to West Midlands Police, where a child or unborn child resides within that home, are scrutinised by Police and Social Care (and partners from Health, Education and the voluntary sector where possible) using a joint protocol. The primary purpose of the protocol is to promote safeguarding and provide a timely and appropriate response to children at risk following domestic abuse. The protocol incorporates the Banardos’ Multiagency Domestic Violence Risk Identification Threshold Scales (MDVRITS), which aids decision making about appropriate interventions based on predicted risk to children using a four level scale

Debelle, Geoff

Dixon, Louise

Edwards, Clare

Jones, Rachel

Robinson, Laura

English

Debelle, Geoffrey

University of Birmingham Research Portal

  Evaluating multiagency interventions for childrenliving with intimate partner violence in BirminghamDixon, Louise; Jones, Rachel; Debelle, Geoffrey; Edwards, Clare ; Robinson, LauraDocument VersionEarly version, also known as pre-printCitation for published version (Harvard):Dixon, L, Jones, R, Debelle, G, Edwards, C & Robinson, L 2012, Evaluating multiagency interventions forchildren living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham. vol. 6, BASPCAN, BASPCAN News.Link to publication on Research at Birmingham portalGeneral rightsUnless a licence is specified above, all rights (including copyright and moral rights) in this document are retained by the authors and/or thecopyright holders. The express permission of the copyright holder must be obtained for any use of this material other than for purposespermitted by law.•	Users may freely distribute the URL that is used to identify this publication.•	Users may download and/or print one copy of the publication from the University of Birmingham research portal for the purpose of privatestudy or non-commercial research.•	User may use extracts from the document in line with the concept of ‘fair dealing’ under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (?)•	Users may not further distribute the material nor use it for the purposes of commercial gain.Where a licence is displayed above, please note the terms and conditions of the licence govern your use of this document.When citing, please reference the published version.Take down policyWhile the University of Birmingham exercises care and attention in making items available there are rare occasions when an item has beenuploaded in error or has been deemed to be commercially or otherwise sensitive.If you believe that this is the case for this document, please contact UBIRA@lists.bham.ac.uk providing details and we will remove access tothe work immediately and investigate.Download date: 01. Feb. 2019Full reference for this pre-print report: Dixon, L., Jones, R., Debelle, G., Edwards, C. & Robinson, L. (2012, February). Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham. BASPCAN  News, 6   Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham  By:  Louise Dixon, Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham Supt. Rachel Jones, West Midlands Police Geoff Debelle, Consultant Paediatrician, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Trust Clare Edwards, Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children in Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust Laura Robinson, Trainee Forensic Psychologist, University of Birmingham    In September 2010, our research team was awarded a BASPCAN research grant to fund an evaluation of multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence. Given the significant degree of overlap between partner violence and child maltreatment (e.g., Edleson, 1999) and the many potential negative outcomes for children experiencing one or both forms of familial maltreatment (e.g., Lichter et al., 2004; Litrownik et al., 2003; Herrenkohl et al., 2008), we were thrilled to be provided with an opportunity to contribute to knowledge and progression in this important domain.  This research endeavour was born out of the need for a systematic evaluation of the efficacy of the multiagency Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment tool, which necessitates that all incidents of ‘domestic abuse’ (any incident within the family domain) reported to West Midlands Police, where a child or unborn child resides within that home, are scrutinised by Police and Social Care (and partners from Health, Education and the voluntary sector where possible) using a joint protocol. The primary purpose of the protocol is to promote safeguarding and provide a timely and appropriate response to children at risk following domestic abuse. The protocol incorporates the Banardos’ Multiagency Domestic Violence Risk Identification Threshold Scales (MDVRITS), which aids decision making about appropriate interventions based on predicted risk to children using a four level scale.   This protocol has been in operation since January 2010 in the West Midlands area. Whilst a favourable evaluation of the process has been undertaken, the Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment has not been subjected to an outcome evaluation, which is essential if practitioners and the public are to have confidence in the reliability and validity of this procedure. The objective of this project is therefore to examine how effective, reliable and valid it is in identifying the risk and needs of children who reside in a family where an incident of intimate partner violence has been reported to West Midlands Police. You will note that this project is refined to understanding the links between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, rather than the wider problem of domestic abuse. This was to ensure consistency across cases in a resource limited study and because of the frequent overlap of these forms of maltreatment in the family unit.   In brief, the project will systematically collate base line data from police, health and educational welfare records from families who have been subject to the Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment Tool and who reside in the Birmingham South area. Cases occurring during a calendar month that demonstrated typical rates of domestic abuse shown for that year will be scrutinised and followed for 12 months. Data collection is limited to this West Midland area for this pilot investigation. Identified cases will be sorted into the four MDVRITS scales, and a random stratified sample of cases assigned to each scale will be identified. In addition, interviews and focus groups will be held with multiagency professionals attending joint screening meetings to examine issues on the reliability of the protocol.   Just over one year into this project data collection is commencing. A large part of the project to date has been gaining appropriate approvals from various organisations and ethics committees. Our take home message thus far for researchers undertaking similar multiagency endeavours is to recognise that such approvals are a necessary and time consuming process and form a large part of the project. One other point of emerging interest is the need to understand how professionals measure and decide upon whether the outcome of a case is successful or not, as potential outcomes are numerous.  From a methodological viewpoint, the early stages of research have highlighted the importance for professionals on the front line to recognise the need to store data consistently and in an accessible manner if the efficacies of such protocols are to be realised. .  In addition, finding a suitable and confidential method of tracking cases across the various agencies is vital if multi-agency research of this nature is to be conducted efficiently.   We are currently pleased with the progress of the project and the emerging lessons learned and we are looking forward to presenting preliminary findings at the forthcoming BASPCAN conference in Belfast 2012.   References  Edleson, J.L. (1999). The overlap between child maltreatment and woman battering. Violence Against Women, 5, 134-154.  Herrenkohl, T.I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E.A., Herrenkohl, R.C., & Moylan, C.A. (2008). Intersection of child abuse and children’s exposure to domestic violence. Trauma Violence and Abuse, 9, 84-99.   Lichter, E. L., & McCloskey, L. A. (2004). The effects of childhood exposure to marital violence on adolescent gender-role beliefs and dating violence. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28, 344-357.  Litrownik, A. J., Newton, R., Hunter, W. M., English, D., & Everson, M. D. (2003). Exposure to family violence in young at-risk children: Alongitudinal look at the effects of victimization and witnessed physical and psychological aggression. Journal of Family Violence, 18, 59-73.  

Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham

  University of BirminghamEvaluating multiagency interventions for childrenliving with intimate partner violence in BirminghamDixon, Louise; Jones, Rachel; Debelle, Geoffrey; Edwards, Clare ; Robinson, LauraDocument VersionEarly version, also known as pre-printCitation for published version (Harvard):Dixon, L, Jones, R, Debelle, G, Edwards, C & Robinson, L 2012, Evaluating multiagency interventions forchildren living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham. vol. 6, BASPCAN, BASPCAN News.Link to publication on Research at Birmingham portalGeneral rightsUnless a licence is specified above, all rights (including copyright and moral rights) in this document are retained by the authors and/or thecopyright holders. The express permission of the copyright holder must be obtained for any use of this material other than for purposespermitted by law.•	Users may freely distribute the URL that is used to identify this publication.•	Users may download and/or print one copy of the publication from the University of Birmingham research portal for the purpose of privatestudy or non-commercial research.•	User may use extracts from the document in line with the concept of ‘fair dealing’ under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (?)•	Users may not further distribute the material nor use it for the purposes of commercial gain.Where a licence is displayed above, please note the terms and conditions of the licence govern your use of this document.When citing, please reference the published version.Take down policyWhile the University of Birmingham exercises care and attention in making items available there are rare occasions when an item has beenuploaded in error or has been deemed to be commercially or otherwise sensitive.If you believe that this is the case for this document, please contact UBIRA@lists.bham.ac.uk providing details and we will remove access tothe work immediately and investigate.Download date: 01. Mar. 2020Full reference for this pre-print report: Dixon, L., Jones, R., Debelle, G., Edwards, C. & Robinson, L. (2012, February). Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham. BASPCAN  News, 6   Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham  By:  Louise Dixon, Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham Supt. Rachel Jones, West Midlands Police Geoff Debelle, Consultant Paediatrician, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Trust Clare Edwards, Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children in Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust Laura Robinson, Trainee Forensic Psychologist, University of Birmingham    In September 2010, our research team was awarded a BASPCAN research grant to fund an evaluation of multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence. Given the significant degree of overlap between partner violence and child maltreatment (e.g., Edleson, 1999) and the many potential negative outcomes for children experiencing one or both forms of familial maltreatment (e.g., Lichter et al., 2004; Litrownik et al., 2003; Herrenkohl et al., 2008), we were thrilled to be provided with an opportunity to contribute to knowledge and progression in this important domain.  This research endeavour was born out of the need for a systematic evaluation of the efficacy of the multiagency Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment tool, which necessitates that all incidents of ‘domestic abuse’ (any incident within the family domain) reported to West Midlands Police, where a child or unborn child resides within that home, are scrutinised by Police and Social Care (and partners from Health, Education and the voluntary sector where possible) using a joint protocol. The primary purpose of the protocol is to promote safeguarding and provide a timely and appropriate response to children at risk following domestic abuse. The protocol incorporates the Banardos’ Multiagency Domestic Violence Risk Identification Threshold Scales (MDVRITS), which aids decision making about appropriate interventions based on predicted risk to children using a four level scale.   This protocol has been in operation since January 2010 in the West Midlands area. Whilst a favourable evaluation of the process has been undertaken, the Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment has not been subjected to an outcome evaluation, which is essential if practitioners and the public are to have confidence in the reliability and validity of this procedure. The objective of this project is therefore to examine how effective, reliable and valid it is in identifying the risk and needs of children who reside in a family where an incident of intimate partner violence has been reported to West Midlands Police. You will note that this project is refined to understanding the links between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, rather than the wider problem of domestic abuse. This was to ensure consistency across cases in a resource limited study and because of the frequent overlap of these forms of maltreatment in the family unit.   In brief, the project will systematically collate base line data from police, health and educational welfare records from families who have been subject to the Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment Tool and who reside in the Birmingham South area. Cases occurring during a calendar month that demonstrated typical rates of domestic abuse shown for that year will be scrutinised and followed for 12 months. Data collection is limited to this West Midland area for this pilot investigation. Identified cases will be sorted into the four MDVRITS scales, and a random stratified sample of cases assigned to each scale will be identified. In addition, interviews and focus groups will be held with multiagency professionals attending joint screening meetings to examine issues on the reliability of the protocol.   Just over one year into this project data collection is commencing. A large part of the project to date has been gaining appropriate approvals from various organisations and ethics committees. Our take home message thus far for researchers undertaking similar multiagency endeavours is to recognise that such approvals are a necessary and time consuming process and form a large part of the project. One other point of emerging interest is the need to understand how professionals measure and decide upon whether the outcome of a case is successful or not, as potential outcomes are numerous.  From a methodological viewpoint, the early stages of research have highlighted the importance for professionals on the front line to recognise the need to store data consistently and in an accessible manner if the efficacies of such protocols are to be realised. .  In addition, finding a suitable and confidential method of tracking cases across the various agencies is vital if multi-agency research of this nature is to be conducted efficiently.   We are currently pleased with the progress of the project and the emerging lessons learned and we are looking forward to presenting preliminary findings at the forthcoming BASPCAN conference in Belfast 2012.   References  Edleson, J.L. (1999). The overlap between child maltreatment and woman battering. Violence Against Women, 5, 134-154.  Herrenkohl, T.I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E.A., Herrenkohl, R.C., & Moylan, C.A. (2008). Intersection of child abuse and children’s exposure to domestic violence. Trauma Violence and Abuse, 9, 84-99.   Lichter, E. L., & McCloskey, L. A. (2004). The effects of childhood exposure to marital violence on adolescent gender-role beliefs and dating violence. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 28, 344-357.  Litrownik, A. J., Newton, R., Hunter, W. M., English, D., & Everson, M. D. (2003). Exposure to family violence in young at-risk children: Alongitudinal look at the effects of victimization and witnessed physical and psychological aggression. Journal of Family Violence, 18, 59-73.  

University of Birmingham Research Archive, E-prints Repository

Full reference for this pre-print report: Dixon, L., Jones, R., Debelle, G., Edwards, C. 
& Robinson, L. (2012, February). Evaluating multiagency interventions for children 
living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham. BASPCAN  News, 6 
 
 
Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner 
violence in Birmingham 
 
By: 
 
Louise Dixon, Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham 
Supt. Rachel Jones, West Midlands Police 
Geoff Debelle, Consultant Paediatrician, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Trust 
Clare Edwards, Lead Nurse for Safeguarding Children in Birmingham 
Community Healthcare NHS Trust 
Laura Robinson, Trainee Forensic Psychologist, University of Birmingham 
 
 
 In September 2010, our research team was awarded a BASPCAN research 
grant to fund an evaluation of multiagency interventions for children living with 
intimate partner violence. Given the significant degree of overlap between partner 
violence and child maltreatment (e.g., Edleson, 1999) and the many potential negative 
outcomes for children experiencing one or both forms of familial maltreatment (e.g., 
Lichter et al., 2004; Litrownik et al., 2003; Herrenkohl et al., 2008), we were thrilled 
to be provided with an opportunity to contribute to knowledge and progression in this 
important domain.  
This research endeavour was born out of the need for a systematic evaluation 
of the efficacy of the multiagency Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment tool, which 
necessitates that all incidents of ‘domestic abuse’ (any incident within the family 
domain) reported to West Midlands Police, where a child or unborn child resides 
within that home, are scrutinised by Police and Social Care (and partners from Health, 
Education and the voluntary sector where possible) using a joint protocol. The 
primary purpose of the protocol is to promote safeguarding and provide a timely and 
appropriate response to children at risk following domestic abuse. The protocol 
incorporates the Banardos’ Multiagency Domestic Violence Risk Identification 
Threshold Scales (MDVRITS), which aids decision making about appropriate 
interventions based on predicted risk to children using a four level scale.   
This protocol has been in operation since January 2010 in the West Midlands 
area. Whilst a favourable evaluation of the process has been undertaken, the Domestic 
Abuse Risk Assessment has not been subjected to an outcome evaluation, which is 
essential if practitioners and the public are to have confidence in the reliability and 
validity of this procedure. The objective of this project is therefore to examine how 
effective, reliable and valid it is in identifying the risk and needs of children who 
reside in a family where an incident of intimate partner violence has been reported to 
West Midlands Police. You will note that this project is refined to understanding the 
links between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, rather than the wider 
problem of domestic abuse. This was to ensure consistency across cases in a resource 
limited study and because of the frequent overlap of these forms of maltreatment in 
the family unit.  
 In brief, the project will systematically collate base line data from police, health 
and educational welfare records from families who have been subject to the Domestic 
Abuse Risk Assessment Tool and who reside in the Birmingham South area. Cases 
occurring during a calendar month that demonstrated typical rates of domestic abuse 
shown for that year will be scrutinised and followed for 12 months. Data collection is 
limited to this West Midland area for this pilot investigation. Identified cases will be 
sorted into the four MDVRITS scales, and a random stratified sample of cases 
assigned to each scale will be identified. In addition, interviews and focus groups will 
be held with multiagency professionals attending joint screening meetings to examine 
issues on the reliability of the protocol.  
 Just over one year into this project data collection is commencing. A large part 
of the project to date has been gaining appropriate approvals from various 
organisations and ethics committees. Our take home message thus far for researchers 
undertaking similar multiagency endeavours is to recognise that such approvals are a 
necessary and time consuming process and form a large part of the project. One other 
point of emerging interest is the need to understand how professionals measure and 
decide upon whether the outcome of a case is successful or not, as potential outcomes 
are numerous.  From a methodological viewpoint, the early stages of research have 
highlighted the importance for professionals on the front line to recognise the need to 
store data consistently and in an accessible manner if the efficacies of such protocols 
are to be realised. .  In addition, finding a suitable and confidential method of tracking 
cases across the various agencies is vital if multi-agency research of this nature is to 
be conducted efficiently.  
 We are currently pleased with the progress of the project and the emerging 
lessons learned and we are looking forward to presenting preliminary findings at the 
forthcoming BASPCAN conference in Belfast 2012. 
 
 
References 
 
Edleson, J.L. (1999). The overlap between child maltreatment and woman battering. 
Violence Against Women, 5, 134-154. 
 
Herrenkohl, T.I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E.A., Herrenkohl, R.C., & Moylan, C.A. (2008). 
Intersection of child abuse and children’s exposure to domestic violence. Trauma 
Violence and Abuse, 9, 84-99.  
 
Lichter, E. L., & McCloskey, L. A. (2004). The effects of childhood exposure to 
marital violence on adolescent gender-role beliefs and dating violence. Psychology of 
Women Quarterly, 28, 344-357. 
 
Litrownik, A. J., Newton, R., Hunter, W. M., English, D., & Everson, M. D. (2003). 
Exposure to family violence in young at-risk children: Alongitudinal look at the 
effects of victimization and witnessed physical and psychological aggression. Journal 
of Family Violence, 18, 59-73. 
 


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Evaluating multiagency interventions for children living with intimate partner violence in Birmingham

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