Publications

Domestic abuse: best practice papers — Written by and for Practitioners and Trainers

Standing Together against Domestic Violence and its partner agencies have extensive experience of developing best practice guidance for many aspects of operational domestic violence work, by both single agencies and by multi agency groups.

• Best Practice Paper Number 1:
  Good Practice Checklist for Interpreters Working With Domestic Violence Situations

The Checklist is designed for one to one interviews, and not specifically for court or to take account of the codes of guidance covering police interview settings. However, many of the good practice ideas are generic.

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Coordinating the Future: The Post-Conference Report

Standing Together held their national conference for domestic violence coordinators on the 23rd April. Over 300 delegates attended the event at Imperial College, Kensington and the feedback has been very positive. We think this was the largest gathering of coordinators held in the UK and a very packed day saw discussions around the key issues facing the domestic violence sector.

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Completing the Jigsaw — Help-seeking by survivors of domestic violence: What’s the problem?

In 2007 Standing Together were commissioned by London Councils to undertake research into the extent of help seeking by known victims of domestic violence across various statutory and voluntary agencies.

Summary and Recommendations
Full Report

Summary, Full Report
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Domestic Violence Coordinator Survey

In order to achieve a clearer picture of the role of the Domestic Violence Coordinator (DVC), how it was constituted, funded and the issues confronted by post holders we conducted a national online survey with DVCs alongside the conference in April 2008.

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SDVC Toolkit 2006

Following the success of our Specialist Domestic Violence Court at West London Magistrates Court, Standing Together are now pleased to offer our newly designed SDVC Toolkit to those courts developing an SDVC and those who are about to start the journey. Read more...

Table of Contents

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Briefing Papers of SDVC Annual Review 2006 (follow this link for more information)

Six Years On

Six years of best practice in tackling Domestic Violence. A summary of where Standing Together came from and what it's doing now.

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Six Years On

Annual Report 2002

Standing Together's aims, structure and the role of each partner and of the Standing Together staff during 2002 are outlined in the annual report. Survivor feedback and future directions are also included.

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Annual Report 2002

Lessons to Share

Four years at the Specialist Domestic Violence Court, West London Magistrates’ Court

The West London Specialist Domestic Violence Court is one of the five original SDVCs in the country, and, after nearly 5 years of operation, is the longest running one in London. Lessons To Share 2007 is the report of the fourth annual Review of the court’s operation, within its context of a coordinated community response in Hammersmith & Fulham. This new report outlines the principles that guide the coordination of the court, 4 years’ outcomes data, and operational best practice.

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Lessons Learnt 2006

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Two Years On

Partnership in practice at the Specialist Domestic Violence Court, West London

The Specialist Domestic Violence Court in West London was the first court of its type in London and the first in the country to hear trials. In November 2004 operational partners held the second annual review to identify good practice and areas for improvement. This report documents detailed qualitative and quantitative findings and lessons learnt.

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One Year On

The First Annual Review of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court at West London Magistrates Court (pp68)

The Specialist Domestic Violence Court in West London is the first Court of its type in London and the first in the country to hear trials. In November 2003 operational partners held a review to identify good practice and areas for improvement. This report documents detailed qualitative and quantitative findings and builds on the three-month review — First Soundings — listed below. A copy of the protocol governing the court's operations is included.

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Specialist Domestic Violence Court Review

Effective Interventions

Explorations in improving the justice system's response to domestic violence (pp77) 2001

This report draws together the findings from two exercises that Standing Together organised to develop the response to domestic violence. The first exercise, What Can Magistrates Do?, is a report of a workshop held for London Magistrates. The second documents a 'Walkthrough' exercise, exploring criminal/civil links

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Effective Interventions

Support at Court

The experience of witnesses attending the Specialist Domestic Violence Court at West London Magistrate’s Court

The Standing Together partnership holds the safety of survivors as their over arching aim. The experience of survivors using the Specialist Court is therefore central to reviewing the success of that Court. Feedback has been sought using a number of methods and the results are relevant for other SDVC’s and for all those working with witnesses in domestic violence cases.

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Equal Voices

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender survivors of domestic violence speak about their experiences of policing and the courts in West London

LGBT survivors were understood to be especially hard to reach and the difficulties in getting feedback from them is a reflection of their difficulties in accessing criminal justice services. This report will bring their voices to the attention of criminal justice and voluntary agencies. Equal Voices includes the findings of a questionnaire, two in depth interviews and an account of the process used to contact and consult. It will therefore be useful both to those agencies wishing to set up their own consultations and to those working to improve access for LGBT survivors.

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Speaking Up

Survivors' experience of policing as part of a coordinated response to domestic violence

Speaking Up covers discussions from two consultations held at the end of 2005. The report focuses on the police, the courts and the role of the ADVANCE advocacy service in Hammersmith and Fulham.

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Speaking Up

Voices of Experience

Consultation with survivors of domestic violence in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham 2003-2004. Published September 2004. (pp52)

Detailed report of our third year of consultation with survivors. Chapters on; Consultation with Filipino women; Survivor’s views of using the Specialist Domestic Violence Court; taking part in Government’s National Safety and Justice Consultation. Direct quotes from women throughout.

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Heard and Not Judged

Consultation with survivors of domestic violence in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham 2002-2003 (pp74)

Topics covered include: Improving Health Services; Black & Ethnic Minority Women's Experiences & Views; The Specialist Domestic Violence Court (West London); Reviewing The Consultation Process. Importantly, the report also describes the unique methodology, outlining the process of organising the consultations, the meeting plans and the model used.

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Heard and Not Judged

Survivors Speak

A report of the findings of consulting with survivors of domestic violence 2001-2002 (pp76)

Documenting the first round of consultations the report accompanies Heard and Not Judged, and outlines how the process was developed. Topics covered include: The Courts; The Police; Solicitors; Health Services; Responding to Black and Ethnic minority women.

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Survivors Speak

Health and Domestic Violence: Improving Safety Through Screening

A report on what has been achieved at three health sites in West London. Published July 2004 (pp33)

This report is an evaluative review of the Health Screening Project. It outlines the achievements of the project and also the complex issues and challenges faced from July 2003 to March 2004. It includes comments from survivors who accessed ADVANCE through the project, lessons learnt and Standing Together's recommendations for future of health based domestic violence interventions.

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Health and domestic violence: What can be done?

A report on the implementation of a protocol at three health sites in West London. Published March 2002 (pp67)

The report contains the domestic violence protocol which was developed, associated documentation, as well as training and resource materials used.

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Health and domestic violence: What can be done?

Domestic Violence Bench Book and Good Practice Guide

Protecting Survivors, Holding Perpetrators Accountable

The Crime Reduction Programme Health and Civil Law Projects in Hammersmith and Fulham, 2003

A series of briefing papers documents the processes, outcomes and lessons learnt. The briefing paper topics are: Introduction and Lessons Learnt; Civil Law Project; Health Project; Training; Expert Witnesses. Eleven appendices contain useful practical information, for example, police policy and procedures plus training objectives. Online version updated February 2005

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Protecting Survivors, Holding Perpetrators Accountable