Training Programmes

Domestic Abuse Prevention through Change (DAPC) programme

The Change Project’s new, innovative ‘Domestic Abuse Prevention through Change’ (DAPC) programme, embodies current research and understanding, in line with the recent Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and Tackling Violence against Woman and Girls Strategy. The DAPC comprises of robust risk suitability assessment, 2 x pre group sessions and 12 x core sessions.

The DAPC includes the fundamental role of our Integrated Support Service who provide support to survivors and their children along with case and risk management throughout.

By working with individuals who cause harm, the DAPC improves the wellbeing and safety of the individual, survivors, children and the whole family. The 12 core sessions utilise a biopsychosocial approach which considers biological, psychological and social factors and their interactions when considering the multifaceted causes of domestic abuse.

The pioneering nature of the DAPC and the biopsychosocial approach it employs, allows for therapeutic work through principles explained within the cognitive-behavioural model of thoughts, emotions, behaviour and body sensations. This provides individuals who cause harm with specific tools and strategies to regulate their emotions and prevent future abusive behaviours. The DAPC explores biological factors by educating individuals who cause harm from the biochemistry of hormones that influence feelings and emotional regulation. Finally, the DAPC explores and addresses sociological factors such as misogyny, patriarchy and privilege.

Caring Dads

Developed in a University-community partnership, Caring Dads is an evidence based intervention programme for males (him/he) who have abused, neglected, or exposed their children to domestic abuse.

Caring Dad’s is a 17-week group-work programme to help fathers value their children. The course has been developed to engage men in the process of examining their fathering and motivating them to instigate change.

The programme is designed to increase men’s awareness and the application of child centred fathering. Fathers (him/he) will build awareness of, and responsibility for, abuse and neglectful fathering. We will support them in understanding the impact of domestic abuse and maltreatment of children and help them to rebuild trust and plan for the future.

Caring Dads includes the fundamental role of our Integrated Support Service. This component involves systematic outreach to mothers (her/she) to ensure safety and freedom from coercion. Contact with children’s mothers (she/her) by ISS, ensures mothers (she/her) are informed about the program. Collaboration between professionals and with mothers (she/her) to anticipate and work to avoid potential unintended negative consequences of fathers (him/he) involvement in intervention. Provision of referral and of safety planning to children’s mothers, as necessary.

Responding to Tate

Andrew Tate has raised many concerns amongst parents and professionals supporting children due to his extreme misogyny and capability of radicalising men and boys. Tate influences how young people see the world and in particular how they perceive women. Exposure to misogynistic content like Tate, has been linked with harmful perceptions of relationships, and those who view his content are exposed to toxic masculinity, aggression and violence.

The Change Project will be offering a support webinar for parents and professionals on how to approach Tate, misogyny and gender based violence with young people. This will support on how to avoid condemning, by opening dialogue and empowering young people to see all sides and opinions. It will educate on how young people have their own autonomy to make their decisions about who they follow and believe. It will encourage asking the right questions and educating on positive male role models for young people. This is an opportunity to support and prepare young people to develop a critical lens and understand that they have the capability to choose whether they take part in the culture of GBV, or to challenge it.

Fundamentally, it will support professionals and parents to model critical thinking, model empathy, ask questions and address the connection between language and action.

The Change Project will, be working closely with children and young people teams to provide an interactive workshop to take place within the school setting to address the topic of Tate and misogyny.

History, Theory and Cycle of Domestic Abuse

The Change Project will be offering a webinar into the historical background of domestic abuse and the arrival of the 21st century that brought Government involvement to ending domestic abuse.

Furthermore, the webinar will deliberate the theory behind domestic abuse perpetration, such as the usefulness of sociological criminology in aiding our understanding of domestic abuse.

Additionally, there will be exploration of the intergenerational transmission of abuse (cycle of abuse) and to what degree do adult intimate partner perpetrators experience childhood exposure to domestic abuse.

Myths, Beliefs and Boundaries.

The Change Project will be offering a webinar, breaking down the myths surrounding domestic abuse within society. It will include cultural myths and beliefs about gender that may be used to justify domestic abuse. The webinar will highlight the importance of challenging myths and how they may influence a professionals belief systems.

Professional boundaries are the legal, ethical and organisational framework that protects both survivors, perpetrators and the professionals. It signifies between what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour both in and outside of work.

The webinar will entail the importance of being aware of own values and beliefs and the potential impact of these in influencing responses to survivors and perpetrators of domestic abuse. The potential for stress on professionals and the indicators will be explored alongside how to mitigate stress through various support mechanisms available.