Implementing family safeguarding in the context of domestic violence and abuse: A case study of a local authority in England

Addressing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) requires effective multiagency family safeguarding to protect vulnerable children and adult victims, whilst challenging perpetrator behaviour. This article examines how family safeguarding in the context of DVA was implemented across social care in a local authority (LA) in England. The LA was selected for inclusion based on its innovative approach to implementing family safeguarding in the context of DVA. Qualitative interview data were collected via video conferencing from twenty-two senior leaders, managers, and frontline professionals working across statutory and voluntary organizations in the LA. The mechanisms employed by the LA to integrate social care response to DVA were a community-based intervention to help avert escalation of risk, DVA training for professionals across statutory and voluntary services, and the employment of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors in key roles. Practitioners reported that these mechanisms strengthened multi-agency coherence and collaboration and facilitated culture change. Outcomes impacting on families directly included supporting adult victims of abuse alongside affected children and working with low-risk perpetrators where possible. Implications for social care practice are that multi-pronged approaches supported by DVA specialists can successfully link prevention and response mechanisms when responding to DVA.