Below is a guide to some of the content which can be tailored to your organisation and location. Additional material can be discussed on request.

Session 1 – Domestic Abuse Awareness and Survivor Focus

-          Different forms of domestic abuse including technological and financial abuse and how these may manifest themselves in the workplace.

-          A history of DA.

-          Statistics, impact and why we should care.

-          Lived experience insights.

-          Signs that someone may be experiencing abuse.

-          Signposting and information about local and national DA support services.

Session 2 – Focus on those who are or may be using harmful behaviour.

-          The statutory responsibility of employers and how this applies to you.

-          Exploration of domestic abuse perpetrator interventions and the underlying principles.

-          An exploration of our own concerns about speaking to someone who may be using abuse.

-          The barriers which prevent people acknowledging their behaviour.

-          How you can talk to someone about their behaviour whilst encouraging them to engage with support and take responsibility.

-          Scenario discussions and practice.

-          Discussion around future support and actions for your business.

[i] Domestic abuse: findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

[ii] Cost of domestic violence up-date (lancs.ac.uk)

Training for HR and Management

If you are in HR and / or management, we know you will be met with a multitude of challenges. Whilst DAWS does not advocate for HR and Management to be experts in domestic abuse, we do recognise the crucial role they can play on an individual and societal level with the right knowledge and support mechanisms in place.

With 2.3 million adults in the UK affected by domestic abuse in 2021[i] it is highly likely your workplace will have people both experiencing or using abusive behaviour. Aswell as the impact to the individual, their families and their friends there is also a cost to your business. 

“An estimated £1.9billion a year is lost in economic output in England and Wales every year due to reduced productivity, admin difficulties from unplanned time off, lost wages and sick pay as a result of domestic abuse”[ii]

This figure does not include the costs of tackling perpetration which is an under researched area.

The workplace can play an integral part in supporting and increasing the safety of those experiencing abuse. It can also be a significant lever for change with those who may be using abusive behaviour.

But what do you say and do? Our expert team has compiled comprehensive content to support HR and workplace leaders.