A new programme to tackle domestic abuse
Northumbria Probation Trust has launched a new programme to help stop
domestic abuse. The programme, called Solo, targets men who have been
convicted of an offence of domestic abuse, and works to reduce the
likelihood of repeat offending and further attacks.
Solo is a 12
session course which is delivered as part of a community order,
suspended sentence order or licence conditions on release from prison.
Specially trained probation staff work with offenders on a one to one
basis to deliver the course.
Northumbria Probation Trust ran a
pilot for Solo during summer 2011, working with 18 offenders. Evaluation
data demonstrated the programme was successful in changing offenders
attitudes and behaviour.
Solo is delivered within a multi agency
risk management framework. Offenders undertaking the course are flagged
on police systems and information on any police call outs or arrests is
shared with the probation offender manager.
During the pilot
period, there were no police call outs for domestic violence or other
disturbances involving the course participants, and only 1 incident
after the course finished.
Another critical factor of Solo is the
support of a women’s safety worker, which is offered to the partner or
ex partner of the participating offenders. This service is provided by
Barnardo’s on behalf of Northumbria Probation Trust.
The
women’s safety workers are able to explain to women the work which their
partner or ex partner is undertaking and how they are progressing. It
also means that the women have someone to talk about any concerns they
may have. If there is any further abusive behaviour, this is fed back to
the probation staff and the police can also be notified if appropriate.
Anne
Francis, interventions manager, Northumbria Probation Trust, explains:
“Solo is a valuable tool in challenging abusive behaviour within
relationships. It has been developed based on our knowledge of what
works in domestic violence groupwork programmes, but provides an
alternative format delivered on a one to one basis. This means we are
now able to work with more domestic abuse perpetrators, including those
who are not suitable for or able to attend groupwork programmes.
“One
of the most important aspects of Solo is that you can tailor the
material to the individual offenders circumstances. It enables
structured domestic violence work to be incorporated into the sentence
plan. The results of the pilot showedA new programme to tackle domestic
abuse
Northumbria Probation Trust has launched a new programme to
help stop domestic abuse. The programme, called Solo, targets men who
have been convicted of an offence of domestic abuse, and works to reduce
the likelihood of repeat offending and further attacks.
Solo is a
12 session course which is delivered as part of a community order,
suspended sentence order or licence conditions on release from prison.
Specially trained probation staff work with offenders on a one to one
basis to deliver the course.
Northumbria Probation Trust ran a
pilot for Solo during summer 2011, working with 18 offenders. Evaluation
data demonstrated the programme was successful in changing offenders
attitudes and behaviour.
Solo is delivered within a multi agency
risk management framework. Offenders undertaking the course are flagged
on police systems and information on any police call outs or arrests is
shared with the probation offender manager.
During the pilot
period, there were no police call outs for domestic violence or other
disturbances involving the course participants, and only 1 incident
after the course finished.
Another critical factor of Solo is the
support of a women’s safety worker, which is offered to the partner or
ex partner of the participating offenders. This service is provided by
Barnardo’s on behalf of Northumbria Probation Trust.
The
women’s safety workers are able to explain to women the work which their
partner or ex partner is undertaking and how they are progressing. It
also means that the women have someone to talk about any concerns they
may have. If there is any further abusive behaviour, this is fed back to
the probation staff and the police can also be notified if appropriate.
Anne
Francis, interventions manager, Northumbria Probation Trust, explains:
“Solo is a valuable tool in challenging abusive behaviour within
relationships. It has been developed based on our knowledge of what
works in domestic violence groupwork programmes, but provides an
alternative format delivered on a one to one basis. This means we are
now able to work with more domestic abuse perpetrators, including those
who are not suitable for or able to attend groupwork programmes.
“One
of the most important aspects of Solo is that you can tailor the
material to the individual offenders circumstances. It enables
structured domestic violence work to be incorporated into the sentence
plan. The results of the pilot showed Solo to be an effective tool in
tackling domestic violence and we are pleased we are now able to offer
Solo on an ongoing basis as a sentencing option to courts across
Northumbria”.
Solo involves a number of modules for the
offenders to work, through which challenge their behaviour and
attitudes. The first step is for the offender to recognise their
behaviour as abusive, and to accept personal responsibility rather than
blaming their behaviour on other factors such alcohol or difficult
circumstances.
The programme then looks at factors which have
contributed to the breakdown in the offenders behaviour, and looks at
solutions to respond to these problems in a different way. It also looks
at how to build and maintain healthy relationships.
Solo to be an
effective tool in tackling domestic violence and we are pleased we are
now able to offer Solo on an ongoing basis as a sentencing option to
courts across Northumbria”.
Solo involves a number of
modules for the offenders to work, through which challenge their
behaviour and attitudes. The first step is for the offender to recognise
their behaviour as abusive, and to accept personal responsibility rather
than blaming their behaviour on other factors such alcohol or difficult
circumstances.
Solo case study: James
Background
James had been
in a relationship with Carol for 3 years. During the last year, their
relationship had become quite volatile with a number of arguments, which
had resulted in several police call outs to their house. The couple were
also drinking quite heavily.
One evening on a night out, they
began to argue. This continued when they returned home and James
assaulted Carol, knocking her to the floor and kicking and punching her.
Carol was left with severe bruising on her face and body.
James
pleaded guilty to assault and received a community order, supervised by
Northumbria Probation Trust, with requirements for supervision and the
Solo domestic violence course.
Progress on Solo
When
James first began the Solo programme, he was unable to understand why he
had attacked Carol.
Solo includes a number of modules for
offenders to work through, to identify the factors which have
contributed to their abusive behaviour. James began to realise that
alcohol had been a factor, and the amount and frequency of their
drinking was affecting the relationship.
Another module looks at
the qualities which are needed for healthy relationships, one of which
is trust. James was able to realise that he responded with jealousy when
Carol talked to other men and this lack of trust was also a factor.
James
also reflected on his childhood and began to understand that he had
witnessed abusive behaviour within his own family. By remembering how he
had felt as a child, he was able to appreciate how his behaviour had
affected Carol and her children, and this increased his motivation to
change.
Support for Carol
As part of the Solo
programme, Carol was supported by a women’s safety worker, who explained
about the work James was doing. Carol was able to discuss any concerns
she had.
Outcome
James initially blamed alcohol for
his problems. Through Solo, he began to understand it was his
responsibility to manage how much he drank and also to control his
emotions and responses when drinking.
He also learned techniques
to cope with difficult situations without becoming abusive. This
included walking away from stressful situations in order to calm down
and then later discuss the problem more rationally.
In the past
6 months there have been no further incidents of domestic abuse. There
have also been no further police call outs to James and Carol’s home as
a result of arguments. Their relationship is now much more stable.
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