An Interprofessional Approach to Domestic Abuse Training and Child protection

AN INTER-PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO DOMESTIC ABUSE AND CHILD PROTECTION TRAINING

A.M. Popoola a,*, A.R. Charley b , J. Arnott c

a Department of Paediatrics, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford. TN24 0LZ

b NHS Canterbury and Coastal CCG, Northgate Medical Practice, 1, Northgate, Canterbury. CT1 1WL

c School of Public Health, Social Work and Midwifery, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury. Kent. CT1 1QU

Domestic abuse and child protection are complex, interrelated issues requiring multi-professional expertise. High profile policy reviews persistently identify training deficiencies of primary health care professionals contributing to poorer detection, management and communication in domestic abuse cases.

Inter-Professional Education (IPE) has shown benefit in certain healthcare settings. IPE was proposed to promote domestic abuse awareness at postgraduate level amongst a group of General Practice registrars, social workers, health visitors, midwives, and school nurses through a workshop overseen by General Practice program directors and educators from Canterbury Christchurch University.

Evaluation of both participant and educator perceptions of domestic abuse and child protection following the workshop were collected through questionnaires. The data was subsequently coded and grouped.

Participants (N=58) and educators (N=4) cited predominantly positive, useful outcomes. These included; an increased awareness of domestic abuse, an identification of factors contributing to effective client-centred collaboration and integration of health and social care, and an enhanced appreciation of multi-professional roles and responsibilities. The group’s negative perceptions were based upon variances in knowledge, experience and attitude of fellow group-members, and the requirement of intensive preparation and high quality facilitation.

Broad recognition for IPE in bolstering knowledge of domestic abuse was evident in the group. Furthermore, the group anticipated IPE would contribute toward transformative care for victims of domestic abuse through enhanced, collaborative, professional working which would likely reflect in key outcome measures.

IPE was deemed relevant, effective, and potentially transformative within the scope of domestic abuse training among primary care givers and educators within this group.