Working with victims, offenders and domestic abuse: Trauma informed approaches in assessment and intervention

This talk is about my work with child and adult, victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse. I draw on my work as an expert witness providing whole family assessments in childcare proceedings and as a therapist, working with children who are looked after, their carers and families. I start by setting the context in terms of reflecting on the knowledge base and how knowledge shapes our understanding of what counts as domestic abuse, and how we act to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. I then consider grooming tactics and mental health impacts, and other potential intersecting vulnerabilities. I provide a framework for conducting whole family assessments in the family courts and provide an overview of how I work with children who are looked after, their families and/ or carers, in the context of domestic abuse.