Domestic violence

People often associate domestic violence with physical abuse but it can occur in many different shapes and forms, including emotional and fnancial. While men are the usual perpetrators, women are also abusers – sisters, aunts, even mothers. Social care workers are based either in refuges or in outreach work and provide whatever help is needed, from emergency accommodation to safety plans for women still living with an abusive family member. 

In refuges, a service user would be allocated a personal support worker, who would be responsible for her during the entirety of her stay. The support worker will carry out needs and risks assessments and will arrange help for any other issues, such as alcohol or drug dependencies or mental health problems. It is normal for service users to need emotional support, as many suffer from guilt, self-blame and low selfesteem. Women also often come to the refuge with children so we have to make sure their needs are met. 

Outreach work is similar but involves working with women who are still in abusive relationships and whose risk factors need to be carefully assessed. Outreach workers will arrange meetings in a safe, neutral location (eg in our own rooms or cafés) where the woman is relaxed enough to talk. We help plan in numerous ways: thinking of ways in which women can keep themselves and their families safe, going to see solicitors with them and sorting out practicalities like housing. Although it varies, at our refuge our set hours are 9.00 am – 5.00 pm although in reality we hardly ever clock off at 5.00 pm! Domestic violence happens all the time so we have an out-of-hours team that deals with crises that happen in the night and at weekends. 

Skills required

• A basic understanding of domestic violence dynamics.
• Counselling skills – so you can listen to and empathise with service users.
• A non-directive approach – you need to empower your service users to make their own decisions.
• Patience – you must be able to work at your service user’s pace without getting frustrated. The women you see might do things that appear contradictory and it can be difficult if they decide to go back to an abusive partner.
• Good communication skills, both written and oral, to deal with the wide variety of agencies we work with.

Starting out

There is an initial induction period of around two or three weeks during which you will learn about the work and the systems set up to help you. At a refuge you will probably be allocated specific women to support and you will receive appropriate help from a more senior member of staff. In outreach work you might be thrown in the deep-end more but you will still receive help and supervision. It is important to keep asking questions – it is something we expect from our new team members. 

In brief

• Best bits
  Seeing a woman who has come to you with no self-esteem turn her life around.
• Worst bits 
  Seeing the effects of domestic violence on children.
• Don’t bother if...
  ... you want a predictable job!