Advice, Support, Safety & Information Services Together (ASSIST): The Benefits of Providing Assistance to Victims of Domestic Abuse in Glasgow Final Evaluation Report October, 2006 Dr Amanda L Robinson Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT (02920) 875401 [email protected] Table of Contents Acknowledgments.............................................................................................6 Executive Summary ..........................................................................................7 Key Findings ...............................................................................................................................7 Recommendations.......................................................................................................................8 1. Introduction..................................................................................................9 The Scottish Criminal Justice Policy Context ......................................................................................9 The Response to Domestic Abuse in Glasgow .................................................................................10 Criminal Justice and Statutory Agencies......................................................................................11 Domestic Abuse Court ...........................................................................................................11 Strathclyde Police..................................................................................................................13 ASSIST.................................................................................................................................14 Victim Information and Advice ...............................................................................................15 Social Work Services .............................................................................................................15 Glasgow Community and Safety Services................................................................................16 Community and Voluntary Sector Agencies .................................................................................16 Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership ........................................................................16 Women’s Aid.........................................................................................................................17 Women’s Support Project ......................................................................................................17 Victim Support Scotland.........................................................................................................18 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................18 2. Methodology ...............................................................................................19 Overview ......................................................................................................................................19 Aims of the Evaluation...............................................................................................................19 Timescale .................................................................................................................................19 Process Evaluation ........................................................................................................................20 Data from Key Informants .........................................................................................................20 Sample.................................................................................................................................20 Existing Data ............................................................................................................................21 Weekly Bulletins....................................................................................................................21 Documents and Protocols ......................................................................................................21 Outcome Evaluation ......................................................................................................................21 Victim Data ...............................................................................................................................21 Risk Assessments ..................................................................................................................21 Exit Interviews with Victims ...................................................................................................21 Agency Data .............................................................................................................................22 3. Services Offered by ASSIST ........................................................................23 Overview of ASSIST ......................................................................................................................23 Aims.........................................................................................................................................23 Remit .......................................................................................................................................23 2 Referral Route ..........................................................................................................................24 ASSIST Staff.............................................................................................................................25 Coordinator ..........................................................................................................................25 Advocacy Workers.................................................................................................................25 Children and Young People’s Advocacy Worker .......................................................................26 Administration ......................................................................................................................26 Service Delivery Process ................................................................................................................26 Stage 1: The immediate aftermath of the incident.......................................................................26 Risk Assessment ...................................................................................................................27 Providing Information............................................................................................................28 Referring to Other Agencies ...................................................................................................28 Stage 2: Support through the court process................................................................................29 Stage 3: After the court process ends.........................................................................................30 Multi-Agency Action Planning (MAAPs) ...........................................................................................30 The MAAP Process ....................................................................................................................31 Agency representation at the MAAPs ..........................................................................................32 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................32 4. ASSIST: Workload and Working Practices..................................................33 Referrals to ASSIST.......................................................................................................................33 Workload Trends.......................................................................................................................33 ASSIST and the Police ...................................................................................................................34 Domestic Abuse Unit .................................................................................................................35 Perspectives on ASSIST.............................................................................................................36 Overview of the DAC.....................................................................................................................37 ASSIST and COPFS........................................................................................................................39 PF Liaison Meetings...................................................................................................................39 Perspectives on ASSIST.............................................................................................................40 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................40 5. ASSIST and Victims’ Safety.........................................................................42 Risk Assessment ...........................................................................................................................43 Relationships between Risk Factors ............................................................................................45