A woman giving a speech to a group of people in a professional setting.

Domestic abuse awareness and responding well to disclosures in the workplace training

This course supports employers to spot the signs of domestic abuse among colleagues and to respond in the most supportive and effective way.

Key course features

Delegates can expect to increase their awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and to feel confident in talking about domestic abuse and signposting colleagues to specialist support. This training covers:

  • Definitions and types of abuse
  • Prevalence and dynamics
  • The impact of domestic abuse
  • Identifying domestic abuse
  • The role of workplace support
  • Talking about domestic abuse and responding well
  • Safety planning
  • Care pathways
  • Impacts of trauma and the importance of self-care

Course overview

The course aims to help ensure that employers are well placed to spot the signs of domestic abuse in colleagues: anxiety, decreased motivation, seeming distracted, being late, being on the phone to a partner or family member very often.

We know that employers want to do everything possible to keep staff healthy, happy, and productive. Sadly, we also know that one in four women and one in seven men have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16. International research commissioned by Vodafone in 2019 found that one in five (21%) survey respondents from the UK felt they had been less productive at work as a result of experiencing domestic abuse.

We also know that Covid-19 has increased the incidences of domestic abuse because safe spaces and escape routes may have no longer been available to victims and survivors. Virtually every employer will have staff who are affected by domestic abuse, and yet so few employers have adequate policies or training in place. We’ve supported organisations of all different sizes and from different sectors to improve their response to domestic abuse, including NatWest banking group, Ogilvy, URBN, NHS Blood and Transplant, Aviva, Vodafone Foundation and Comic Relief.

Public and private sector organisations must recognise that domestic abuse will impact their workforce and take positive action to support those who may be suffering in silence. The workplace is often the last place a victim will say they felt like themselves or say that it was a place they felt safe.

Employers are in a unique position to offer vital resources and support to victims. Businesses from every sector need to take responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of their staff. This requires training, resources, and leadership.

It was immensely informative and excellently interactive! The case studies and videos were also excellent and helped bring the material covered alive.

Previous learner

Available Training

DA Awareness & Responding Well to Disclosures - Workplace Open Course

Dates: 26th November + 3rd December

Time: Both sessions 09:30 – 13:00

Time commitment

This training is held online via Zoom and runs over two days. The duration of each online session is 3.5 hours.

Eligibility

This training is an open course designed for people within workplaces such as HR staff, line or business managers, Mental Health First Aiders, or representatives from employee network groups.

Price

£150 per learner

Subsidies

If you work for a registered charity with up to £2 million turnover or an organisation with up to 50 employees, you are entitled to a subsidised rate of £90 per person. The discount will be applied once you have registered, email trainingcommissions@safelives.org.uk and include your charity number.

How to apply

Register for the next cohort of training 

Register your interest in future courses

Accessibility

We welcome learners of all backgrounds and abilities. We encourage you to share with us any details on accessibility and diversity needs so we can ensure the right support is in place. You can also contact us if you have any queries via training@safelives.org.uk.

Related training

We also offer a session ‘Honour’-based Abuse Awareness in the Workplace which aims to equip businesses with in-depth knowledge and enhanced skills to identify and respond appropriately to ‘honour’-based abuse and forced marriage.

Find further information on this training here

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Two women talking, one woman has a laptop in front of her.

Training for employers

Employers are well placed to spot the signs in colleagues: anxiety, decreased motivation, seeming distracted, being late, being on the phone to a partner or family member very often – and yet so often no one knows what to say or do. This must change.

Corporate partnerships

Join us on our mission to end domestic abuse through a corporate partnership. We work closely with each corporate partner to build long-term relationships.

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