A group programme for men who perpetrate domestic abuse has been shown to reduce violence and save money, and this project will now turn that evidence into practical guidance for the services that commission and run such programmes. Domestic violence and abuse is a serious public health problem with long-lasting consequences, but until recently the evidence for what actually works to stop it has been unclear. This team’s earlier randomised controlled trial demonstrated that a specific group programme for male perpetrators is both effective and cost-saving. The problem is that this knowledge has not yet been translated into widespread practice. If this work succeeds, it will produce commissioning guidance, training standards, and inclusive service recommendations that help local authorities and health bodies confidently invest in quality perpetrator programmes. It will also develop accessible materials for under-served groups and standardise how behaviour change is measured across Europe. The ultimate goal is to reduce abuse and increase safety for victims, survivors, and their children, while helping the government meet its target of halving violence against women and girls.
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Background Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a serious public and clinical health problem with long-lasting consequences and significant associated costs. The evidence for what works in abuse-reduction has, so far, been equivocal. However, our randomised controlled trial of a group programme for men perpetrating DVA has demonstrated effectiveness and cost savings. Aims and objectives The overall aim is for knowledge from the trial to be mobilised for societal benefit, across all sectors of the population. This work will include: 1) enhanced and inclusive dissemination and knowledge mobilisation; and 2) further research, analysis and patient and public involvement (PPI) input to support this. While we have organised a description of the work under these two broad categories, elements of this work span both categories and multiple objectives. Objective 1 - To work with commissioning bodies to produce comprehensive guidance that would assist them to form strong partnerships and work effectively together to better understand and co-commission quality Domestic Abuse Prevention Programmes (DAPPs). Objective 2 - To work with key stakeholders to develop recommendations for enhanced standards and training protocols for DAPPs to increase their quality and impact. Objective 3 - To work with under-served groups, community organisations, social care and service providers to co-produce inclusive recommendations for improved service delivery and access/referral pathways. Objective 4 - To co-produce with public contributors, including those from under-served populations, accessible formats/products for dissemination to lay and professional audiences to influence and inform future polices and research. Objective 5 - To collaborate with Work With Perpetrators European Network (WWP-EN) on exploring associations between our primary outcome measure (Abusive Behaviour Inventory) and the European IMPACT measure to inform standardisation of measurement for behaviour change in DAPPs. Development work plan We will utilise a knowledge mobilisation and collaborative approach. Timelines for delivery (months) 1-3: Map target audiences/identify contacts. Start commissioning work. Start developing briefing reports/case studies. Plan webinars. 4-6: Produce case studies/animation/infographics. Stakeholder networking. Academic writing. 7-9: Stakeholder engagement. Hold briefings. 10-12: Conference/symposium presentations. Public communications. Publish commissioning package. Anticipated impact and dissemination Tackling DVA perpetration at source is important. Interventions that reduce abuse will play a critical role in helping the government reach its target of halving violence against women and girls. Uncertainty about the effectiveness of perpetrator interventions complicates decision-making for service commissioners and undermines programme safety and quality. A clearer understanding of the cost savings and what works for prevention programmes (including recommendations for inclusion of diverse and marginalised groups) will be crucial for reducing inequalities, increasing access, improving services, national commissioning and ultimately reduced abuse and increased safety for victim/survivors and their children.
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