New Directions in NOMS Domestic Abuse Programmes

New Directions in NOMS
Domestic Abuse
Programmes
Paul Weatherstone. NOMS Lead for Prison and Probation Domestic Abuse
Programmes.
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Currently three accredited domestic abuse programmes in use in
Prisons and Probation: -
• Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP)
• Community Domestic Violence Programme (CDVP)
• Healthy Relationships Programme (HRP) – moderate and high intensity
versions
For those considered unsuitable for group work programmes
some individual non-accredited provision and other court sentences.
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Perpetrator programmes popular with both Courts and
practitioners but: -
• Long waiting lists
• High attrition rates (approx 35 – 40%)
• Lack of robust evidence for effectiveness
• Narrow focus (men in heterosexual relationships, “patriarchy” and “power
and control”)
• Not kept up with changes/developments in practice e.g. strengths-based
approaches
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

In response we have been tasked with creating…
“… a new rolling domestic violence programme which will allow
easier access and more flexible delivery. This will incorporate
more contemporary ideas and materials and have bolt on
components that will address alcohol and substance
misuse reducing the need for an additional programme
requirement. The programme will be designed in both a
group and one to one format”
… with a focus on evaluation.
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Some Basics.
• As a criminal justice agency our primary aim is to reduce re-offending
• “What Works” – programmes should be multi-modal, skills orientated,
cognitive behavioural in their approach and should adhere to risk, needs
and responsivity principles
• “What Works” with violent offenders – effective interventions use cognitive
behavioural techniques, are intensive … and include cognitive skills training,
role play and relapse prevention”
• Programmes should target a range of relevant dynamic risk factors and use
approaches and techniques that have been shown to achieve successful
outcomes.
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Guiding Principles.
• Building on the past. Retaining an integrated approach – maintaining
existing infrastructures e.g. victim services, working collaboratively
• A more individualised approach – developing a more differentiated response
that enables the individual to better understand his abusive behaviour in
order to effect change
• A more holistic approach that enables us to retain the possible influences of
patriarchy and male privilege while allowing us to take account of other
explanations for why some men assault their partners
• A more flexible approach – rolling, closed, group, 1-1, same sex violence
etc.
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Innovations and aspirations
• A “new” model of offending/change retaining a multifactorial explanation for
dv (the “Nested Ecological Model”) supplemented by the “General
Aggression Model” (GAM) (Anderson and Bushman)
• Strengths-based approach using “Good Lives” principles
• The use of principles/approaches associated with Narrative Therapy and
“Mindfulness”
• Optional “bolt-on” modules to address specific, individual areas of concern
e.g. alcohol abuse, effects of military service, parenting etc
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Challenges
• Time – new programme to be piloted in Jan/Feb 2011
• Financial climate – new programme has to fit with existing resourcing
models for prison and Probation programmes including training
• Creating an effective evaluation process to enable us to demonstrate that
the programme “works”
• “Selling” the programme to commissioners and practitioners in the face of
competition
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group

Paul Weatherstone
paul.weatherstone@noms.gsi.gov.uk
RSG – Rehabilitation Services Group