National Risk Assessment Principles for domestic and family violence: Companion resource

Abstract

"This review provides a summary of the evidence-base for the National Risk Assessment Principles for domestic and family violence (the Principles) developed on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Social Services. It examines Australian and international peer-reviewed research, "grey literature", including government reports and inquiries, domestic violence death review reports as well as community-based research and resources reflecting the wisdom of practitioners and victim-survivors.<br/ ><br/ >Building on findings from the Queensland Integrated Services Response to Domestic and Family Violence project undertaken by ANROWS (2016) this summary of literature highlights key aspects of the evidence-base that underpin the development and implementation of the Principles, including literature regarding: risk and safety; need and vulnerability; risk assessment and management approaches; intimate partner sexual violence and sexual assault; and multi-agency integrated service responses.<br/ ><br/ >Risk assessment is "the formal application of instruments to assess the likelihood that intimate partner violence will be repeated and escalated" (Roehl & Guertin, 2000, p.171). Risk assessment is a complex, ongoing and evaluative process conducted by professionals in collaboration with victim-survivors and perpetrators separately, rather than a static, one-off event. Typically, validated tools and practice guides are used to map patterns of abuse and to systematically assess the likelihood of reassault or that the violence will escalate in frequency and/or severity (Breckenridge, Rees, valentine, & Murray, 2015).<br/ ><br/ >A central element of the risk management process is repeatedly conducting risk assessments. As risk can change quickly and unpredictably, it must be continuously<br/ >assessed, monitored and reviewed, ideally as part of the client's regular contact with the specialist domestic and family violence services overseeing their case management and therapeutic needs (Victoria. Department of Human Services, 2012).<br/ ><br/ >In practice, all risk assessment should be followed by effective risk and safety management strategies to avoid becoming a "useless exercise in sharing information to no effect" (Humphreys, Healey, & Diemer, 2015, p.3). Risk management is a dynamic, active and collaborative process that aims to promote the ongoing safety and wellbeing of victimsurvivors and their families through an integrated, holistic strategy, and coordinated, multi-agency service response to reduce and prevent future violence (Albuquerque et al., 2013).<br/ ><br/ >All Australian states and territories have implemented, are developing or are reviewing common risk assessment tools for domestic and family violence and/or integrated, multiagency service response frameworks in their jurisdictions. Specific tools and practice guidelines for the screening, assessment and management of domestic and family violence sit within the context of these broader policy frameworks." (pp. 3-4)