Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 4: Specific support needs and concerns 149 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Systematic responses Safe and Together 4.115 The Safe and Together Model is based on partnering with domestic abuse survivors and intervening with domestic abuse perpetrators in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. The Safe and Together approach includes principles and elements essential to safe practice. These are to: • keep the child safe with the non-abusive parent • form a supportive partnership with the non-abusive parent • hold the abusive parent accountable for their abuse 4.116 Within this approach, practitioners from statutory and non-statutory agencies work collaboratively and reach consensus to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children living with domestic abuse (Humphreys, Healey and Mandel 2018). Practitioners will: • locate responsibility for the abuse with the perpetrator and recognise their abuse is a parenting choice • get as much information about fathering and father’s parenting choices as about mothering and find out about the pattern of abuse and how this affects choices available to the non-abusing parent • explore the perpetrator’s pattern of coercive control to identify all forms of abuse and control in both current and previous relationships, rather than outlining singular incidents of physical violence • assess how abuse has harmed the child, including descriptions of direct physical, emotional and sexual abuse from the perpetrator to the child, as well as the way in which the domestic abuse has harmed them • assess wider wellbeing impact upon the child • define how the non-abusing parent has promoted the safety, wellbeing, stability and nurture of their children • assess the interaction of other factors like substance abuse, mental health, culture, and how other socio-economic factors are considered and addressed 4.117 The Caledonian System is implemented in many Scottish local authorities (2019). This is an integrated approach to address men’s domestic abuse and to improve the lives of women, children and men. It does this by working with men convicted of domestic abuse-related offences on a programme to reduce their re-offending while offering integrated services to women and children. The Men’s Service uses a challenging but trauma-sensitive approach with cognitive behavioural techniques to encourage men to recognise their abuse and take responsibility for themselves and their relationship with their ex/partners and children. The Women’s and Children’s Services support women and children and advocate for their rights. Men will be referred to the programme if they have been convicted of offences involving domestic abuse.