Learning from the research was distilled into five principles. These were developed in collaboration with Community of Practice, and the Family Forums: two co-production mechanisms that underpinned the project. 

They are intended to support a fundamental shift in how children’s social care and other public services understand and respond to domestic abuse and violence (DVA)

For further learning on how these principles can be applied in practice see the strategic and frontline briefings.

Principle 1
Move on from casework: Address inequalities and structural drivers 

• DVA is a complex social problem; children’s services casework should be embedded in a broad preventative approach that addresses the causes of violence and abuse. 

Principle 2
See the whole person: Adopt holistic, whole-person, whole-family approaches

• Practitioners need confidence to explore the causes and contributory factors underlying the experiences of all family members, adopting a holistic approach to assessing and responding to DVA. Explaining behaviours does not equate with excusing them. 

Principle 3
Fit-for-purpose data: Build better quality data systems that support nuanced understandings

• Capturing relevant data is critical to improving understanding and supporting effective practice. Data frameworks should be developed with this in mind. 

Principle 4
Evidence-informed understandings: Strengthen evidence-informed professional understanding 

• Developing a nuanced, detailed understanding of the types and nature of DVA and its causes and consequences is necessary for practices that can support change for children and families. 

Principle 5
Build confidence: Build meaningful engagement with families and communities 

• Utilising the expertise of those who have experienced DVA, both individually and at a community level, will support services and practices that are directly relevant to lived experiences.

The importance of a Community of Practice

Dr Jessica Wild and Professor Brid Featherstone share details on a key component of the advanced mixed methodology employed in RDAC, a Community of Practice (CoP). Which comprises of representatives from 30 local authorities and voluntary organisations across England and Scotland.

Read the blog

Learning from 'experts by experience'

Professor Kate Morris talks about the proposals and plans needed to develop and support a Family Forum.

Read the blog

What does the research tell us? An introduction to the research project

The RDAC team share an insight into the research review, findings, key learning and next steps.

Read the blog

RDAC is made possible due to a Nuffield Foundation award to better understand and enhance our national response to domestic abuse and child protection.

It offered a unique opportunity to co-produce practice principles that engage with family members with a focus on their parenting and caring roles. RDAC’s Community of Practice played a key role in developing these practice and policy principles to support people to think and do differently when it comes to child protection and domestic abuse.

Using advanced mixed methods based upon recognising the importance of intersecting inequalities, RDAC produced nuanced understandings to support policy and practice responses that are attuned to the life circumstances of some of the most vulnerable families in the UK.

Read more about the RDAC project

The RDAC project team is led by Kate Morris, Professor of Social Work in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield, with Professor Brid Featherstone from the University of Huddersfield.

They are joined by Professor Rick Hood from Kingston University and Dr Lois Liao and Dr Claire Cunnington from the University of Sheffield. University colleagues will collaborate with partners from SafeLives, FutureMen and Research in Practice.

For any questions, or to reach a member of the research team, please contact Dr Jessica Wild.