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Developing an Improved Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy

Date & Time


Tuesday 12th November 2024 09:30 AM - 15:45 PM

Venue


Online

CPD Certified

Availability


4 Spaces Left


Overview

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the UK is now included within the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR), identifying VAWG offences as a national threat, in line with offences such as terrorism and serious organised crime. The national urgency around tackling and reducing the prevalence of VAWG is felt now more than ever, as statistics estimate that 1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 and 798,000 women falling victim to sexual assault offences in the year ending March 2022.

In addition to this, the government’s acceptance of the Angliolni Inquiry’s recommendations reinforces the urgent need for organisations to have a more robust VAWG strategy in place.

Featuring solutions focused workshops and opportunities for interactive discussion throughout, this one-day workshop offers attendees working with victims and perpetrators a vital opportunity to critically reflect on their VAWG prevention practices.

Attendees will analyse new domestic abuse offences, evaluate rape and sexual offences investigative practices, learn how to effectively respond to diverse victims needs and discover innovative approaches to pursuing preparators, leaving the day with actionable insights to takeaway and implement into their tackling VAWG strategy.

Learning Outcomes

  • Receive guidance on the nuances of coercive and controlling behaviour, ensuring your organisation is proficient in identifying warning signs in victims and perpetrators alike

  • Learn how to identify perpetrators and take a proactive approach in tackling VAWG

  • Gain insights into effectively enforcing a victim-centred approach, with a view to ensure victims voices are heard throughout the criminal justice process

  • Learn the impacts and signs of economic abuse and how to tackle this form of violence

  • Engage in deep dive discussions and case studies to share insights and experiences with peers working with victims and perpetrators


Lead Expert: Carrie Bower

Domestic Abuse Lead Age UK National Charity


Carrie is a registered social worker and has over 20 years’ experience working with older adults in a local authority, the NHS and the voluntary sector.

Carrie’s role as Safeguarding Manager at Age UK includes providing operational support, safeguarding advice and delivering training across the charity.

Carrie has a specialist interest in domestic abuse and leads on Age UK’s domestic abuse policy for staff, volunteers and Age UK beneficiaries.

Expert Speakers

Cariad O’Brien

Economic Abuse lead

Refuge

 
 

Agenda

9:15 am

Logging on and Accessing the Online Platform


9:30 am

Welcome and Introduction

 

This introductory session will involve:

  • Introducing yourselves via the chat function

  • Housekeeping

  • Overview of the day and learning objectives

  • Brief overview of the training tools and breakout rooms

 

Carrie Bower
Domestic Abuse Lead, Age UK National Charity


10:00 am

How Perpetrators are Thriving Through the Lifecourse 

 
  • Explore how society is systematically enabling perpetrators

  • Look at the routines and rituals of perpetrators

  • Understand how to look at the wider picture, not just the incident

  • Identify the subtle signs of abuse

  • Learn how to reduce the risk of individuals committing further offences

This session will include time for questions

 

Carrie Bower
Domestic Abuse Lead, Age UK National Charity


11:00 am

Morning Break


11:15 am

Workshop: De-Mystifying Coercive and Controlling Behaviour

 

Engage in this interactive session to enhance your understanding of the nuances of coercive control and the different indicators and warning signs it encompasses.

  • What are the key components of coercive control?

  • Understanding the process of entrapment

  • What questions increase the chances of disclosure?

  • How to record coercive control

This session will include time for questions

 

Samantha Billingham

Director of Stronger Beginnings, Survivor turned Advocate, Coercive Control and Domestic Abuse Awareness Champion, More Than a Bruise Campaign Organiser - Confirmed


12:00 pm

Workshop: Understanding and Responding to Diverse Victim Experience and Needs

 

Focusing on a victim-centred approach, this workshop will provide a nuanced deep dive into how to improve the victim experience and why effectively responding to different and complex needs demands greater priority.

Learning outcomes include:

  • What do survivors define as success?

  • Survivors with protected characteristics – what do you need to know?

  • Challenging preconceived ideas

This session will include time for questions

 

Carrie Bower
Domestic Abuse Lead, Age UK National Charity


1:00 pm

Lunch Break


2:00 pm

Identifying and Preventing Economic Abuse

 
  • Understand changes to domestic abuse legislation, including the addition of economic abuse

  • Outline the main types of economic violence: economic control, economic exploitation and economic sabotage

  • Understand how digital technologies can further facilitate these forms of violence and how to combat this

  • Explore the hidden impacts of economic violence on victims

  • Identify the signs of economic abuse

  • Learn how to engage with and support victims of economic abuse

  • Outline what evidence you should collect to build a robust prosecution case against a perpetrator of economic abuse

This session will include time for questions

 

Cariad O’Brien,

Economic Abuse lead, Refuge - Confirmed


3:00 pm

Workshop: Enhancing Collaboration Between the Police and Prison Service

 

Explore North Yorkshire Police’s journey to effectively protecting victims from further abuse, intimidation and coercive behaviour from perpetrators in prison by blocking communication channels.

Learning outcomes include:

  • How information sharing between police and prisons was improved

  • Insights into target hardening measures that can increase victim safety and prevent further abuse

  • Share North Yorkshire polices future plans for continuing to support victims of domestic abuse from their perpetrators in prison

Samantha Hames

North Yorkshire Police - Confirmed


3:30 pm

Reflective and Interactive Group Q&A Session

 

Breakout Groups Session

In this session you will have the opportunity to ask any questions as a group, revisiting key sessions from the training and gaining key insights into how you can put what you’ve learned into practice to ensure you leave the day with an improved VAWG strategy.

 

Carrie Bower
Domestic Abuse Lead, Age UK National Charity


4 pm

Summary and Training Close

 

*programme subject to change

 

Carrie Bower
Domestic Abuse Lead, Age UK National Charity

 

Pricing

NHS & Voluntary Sector
£245 + VAT

Private Sector
£345 + VAT

Private Sector
445 + VAT

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November 12

Preventing Falls in Older People

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November 26

Effectively Handling Complaints in Housing