Bespoke training for your service

DASH: Risk indication checklist training

Delegates on this training will develop the essential skills to:

• Explore the definition of DA in light of the DA Act 2021
• Understand different categories of DA including controlling and coercive behaviour and how these types of abuse manifest
• Understand the concept of ‘risk’ and ‘risk assessment’ and what this means for a DA response
• Identify when and how to complete a SafeLives Dash Ric and what to do with this once completed
• Be confident in asking each question and managing disclosures
• Practice completing initial safety planning and how to support the client to access specialist services

At SafeLives we believe in a risk-led approach to ending domestic abuse. This course will give learners the tools to identify a victim’s level of risk using the Dash risk checklist and the actions to take once completed.

Enquire about booking this training

Working with families experiencing domestic abuse

This course explores:

• Identifying domestic abuse, coercive control and the characteristics of a perpetrator 
• The different typologies of violence in families and the impact in can have on children, from birth to adolescence, giving learners a greater understanding of the range of domestic abuse in a family setting and the implications on all family members 
• How experiencing and perpetrating abuse can impact on parenting, giving learners the tools to address domestic abuse in a way that doesn’t place blame 
• The risk factors for abuse, how to assess risk and how to address families living with abuse. Learners will leave feeling confident in completing a Dash risk checklist, how to work with agencies to develop multi-agency plans. 

The course considers learning from serious case reviews as well as how to work with other agencies in order to ensure the best outcomes for adult and child victims, giving learners theoretical understanding, points for reflection and practical skills and tools.  

Enquire about booking this training

Engaging with those who harm

Our engaging with those who harm course is designed to teach learners how to: 

• Describe and identify the limitations of the traditional ‘separate and isolate’ approach to supporting families impacted by domestic abuse 
• Understand the typologies of domestic abuse perpetrators in relation to the risk-led model 
• Understand the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people 
• Identify how to uphold safeguarding principles within multi-agency partnerships while maintaining engagement with perpetrators 
• Practice denial-focus work with perpetrators in order to overcome ‘precontemplation’ 
• Understand the foundations of cognitive behavioural approaches when engaging with those who harm 
• Practice motivational interviewing skills when working with perpetrators. 

In addition to this bespoke package for your service, we run open courses for individuals interesting in developing their skills when engaging with those who harm.  

You can register your interest in an open course or

Enquire about booking this training

Young people and relationship abuse – 1 day course

The aim of this course is to: 

• Explore the dynamics of domestic abuse for young people experiencing harm in their relationships
• Understand adolescence as a developmental stage and how it impacts on young people’s experience and behaviour
• Increase confidence in needs/risk assessing and safety planning for young people
• Provide you with the confidence and skills to ask young people about their relationships
• Summarise key principles when supporting young people in abusive relationships – guidance for practice

This course is positioned as introductory level domestic abuse training for professionals who may encounter young people in their work. This could include social care professionals, youth workers, teachers with pastoral care duties and school nurses, amongst others. 

This bespoke course is different then the Young people and relationship abuse accredited training. You can register your interest in our accredited training open course or

Enquire about booking this training

Working with complex needs

This course will give you the skills to:

• Define controlling behaviour, coercive control and what is meant by ‘complex needs’
• Identify and discuss difficulties of working with complex needs
• Explore what abuse may be perpetrated against victims with complex needs, within the context of controlling and coercive behaviour
• Use the Dash risk checklist with victims who have complex needs and identify key questions for victims with these needs
• Practice safety planning options and identify approaches for working effectively with victims with complex needs
• Identify civil and criminal options for victims.

Victims with complex needs require flexibility and specialist support that meets their individual needs. This course is designed to give you the knowledge needed to adequately support these people.

Enquire about booking this training

Engaging with people affected by sexual violence

This course is designed to:

• Increase their understanding of the dynamics of sexual violence and identify a range of techniques for engaging with people affected by sexual violence 
• Discuss the different ways in which people experience sexual violence, and practice responding effectively 
• Improve the response they provide to victims of sexual violence with the aim of encouraging and empowering disclosures 
• Improve risk and needs assessment of people affected by sexual violence, and understand multi-agency safety planning 
• Identify the barriers faced by victims of sexual violence from diverse backgrounds and how to overcome these 

If you’re a domestic abuse professional looking to develop their expertise in this field, we also run a four-day accredited course.  

You can register your interest in an accredited course or

Enquire about booking this training

Understanding young people that harm

Understanding young people who harm in intimate and close relationships is designed for individuals who work with young people using abusive behaviours, including youth workers, youth offending teams, social workers or education welfare officers.  

If you work in these areas and have come across abusive behaviour, this training aims to improve your understanding of how and why this behaviour is being perpetrated and to give you the tools to act in a considered and effective manner.  

This course was developed in partnership with Leap.  

Enquire about booking this training