DASH is an acronym for domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and ‘honour’ based violence.
This refers to an individual revealing information either about a safeguarding incident which has happened to them – known as a direct disclosure – or which the individual communicates through their behaviour, writing, art, discussions etc – known as an indirect disclosure.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is a government service for organisations which carries out checks on individuals' criminal records. They also make decisions about whether someone should not work with children or adults at risk. This is known as ‘barring’.
The service was formed following the merging of the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). Many people still refer to checks on new staff as CRB checks. This is no longer the case and DBS checks have been used since 2012. DBS checks allow employers to make safer recruitment choices and check someone is appropriate to working with children and adults at risk.
The designated safeguarding officer is the person who acts as the main source of support, advice and expertise for safeguarding in a voluntary organisation. Also known as designated safeguarding lead, designated safeguarding person, safeguarding manager, safeguarding focal person.
Some people call this domestic violence, however that is not the preferred term because it implies domestic abuse is always physical. The cross-government definition of domestic abuse is:
'Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse:
Family members are: mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and grandparents; directly-related, in-laws or step-family.'
The cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse is not a legal definition and includes so called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group.
A review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by someone:
It is held with a view to identifying the lessons to be learnt from the death.
‘Intimate personal relationship’ includes relationships between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Learn about domestic homicide reviews in the Home Office Statutory Guidance
The police have a common law power to disclose information where it is necessary to prevent crime. The domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS) provides structure and processes for the exercise of the powers to allow any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them.
A member of the public can also make enquiries into the partner of a close friend or family member. It is often called ‘Clare’s Law’ after in memory of Clare Wood who was murdered.
There should be a social workers 'on duty' to discuss concerns out of regular office hours. These social workers often will not have prior knowledge of the individual or if it is an ongoing case therefore be prepared with as much detail as possible.
This is the single plan, which covers the education, health and social care needs of a child or young person with special educational needs and/or a disability (known as SEND).
Economic abuse is a term used in different ways.
In the context of domestic abuse, economic abuse is when someone interferes (through control, exploitation or sabotage) with their partner’s ability to acquire, use and/or maintain economic resources. Economic resources include: money, housing, transportation, utilities such as heating or items such as food or clothing. This reinforces or creates economic instability.
In the context of adult at risk where they are financially dependent on another adult by being deprived of the ability to either make money or control their own financial resources. It can include but is not limited to: requiring justification for the person’s expenditure; forcing them to ask for money; preventing them from getting or keeping a job; limiting access to cash and cards; taking their money without consent.
This can also be known as financial abuse but ‘economic abuse’ is a broader term.
This comes from the court, a local authority can apply for it if they believe that children are at immediate risk of harm. It lasts for eight days but can be extended by the court if necessary. This allows the local authority to remove children from the situation they are in, sometimes without telling the parents or the children concerned.
In relation to children, this is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
For children and adults at risk, there are a variety of types of behaviour that could be classed as emotional abuse. These include:
It can involve a carer deliberately trying to humiliate, isolate, scare, or ignore the individual they are caring for (this is also known as emotional neglect), be that a child, young person, or adult at risk.
This can also be called psychological abuse but the most commonly used term is emotional abuse.
The UK government defined this as vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
The UK also includes in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.
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