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Domestic abuse training for employers

Employers are well placed to spot the signs of domestic abuse in colleagues: anxiety, decreased motivation, seeming distracted, being late, being on the phone to a partner or family member very often – and yet so often no one knows what to say or do. This must change. 

For those interested in our 'honour'-based abuse or domestic abuse awareness training courses for employers, HR staff or line managers please click here. 

How can SafeLives help you?

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SafeLives' Training and Development team are domestic abuse experts, with backgrounds in practice. National and local data from the SafeLives research and evaluation team informs all our activities. We have a diverse group of associate trainers and expert guest speakers who work with us to provide bespoke training packages that are relevant, practical, interactive and engaging. 

We've supported organisations of all different sizes and from different sectors to improve their response to domestic abuse, including NatWest banking group, Ogilvy, URBN, NHS Blood and Transplant, Aviva, Vodafone Foundation and Comic Relief. We can work with you to create a bespoke package for your workplace.

Some of the practical help we've given to employers includes:

 

Make an enquiry about a bespoke package

To find out more about how we can help, or enquire about a bespoke package for your workplace, contact Freya Potter, Lead Trainer: Trainingcommissions@safelives.org.uk

Everyone at work knew. They must have done. I arrived late, left early, and was constantly checking my phone. He came to my office a few times and demanded to see me. It was so embarrassing, I’d say anything to make him leave.

Sophie*, survivor

Open courses

Our online training workshops are designed for people such as HR staff, line or business managers, Mental Health First Aiders, or representatives from employee network groups from any sector.

 

Domestic Abuse awareness & responding well to disclosures in the workplace

This course is comprised of two half day sessions, each lasting 3.5 hours. These sessions will increase awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and enable delegates to feel confident in talking about domestic abuse and signposting colleagues to specialist support. Read more about what this session covers​.

The cost for this training is £150 per person. If you work for a registered charity with up to £2 million turnover or an organisation with up to 50 employees, you are entitled to a subsidised rate of £90 per person. The discount will be applied once you have registered.

Full Day Course £150

Discounted rate £90 applies for Charities with a turnover of <£2,000,000 - To access this discount, email trainingcommissions@safelives.org.uk and include your charity number.

Upcoming Training: 14 May 2024 + 21 May 2024

Times: 09:30 - 13:00

Platform: Zoom

Please register for this course by clicking here. 

If you cannot attend this date, please express your interest in future dates here.

Sessions will be supported by a resource pack containing the session slides and a further reading list which will be made available to delegates post-training.

 

 

It was immensely informative and excellently interactive! The case studies and videos were also excellent and helped bring the material covered alive. 

- Anonymous 

I feel that I could more confidently deal with a disclosure of DA if it were made or know how to advise managers who may deal with disclosures

- Anonymous 

 

'Honour'-based abuse awareness in the workplace 

For International Women's Day this year we're launching this new course, designed to equip businesses with in-depth knowledge and enhanced skills to identify and respond appropriately to ‘honour’-based abuse and forced marriage. We will also explore intersectionality and how it can improve practice.

In this training we will cover:

  • Definitions – we look at the terminology and what is meant by the terms 'honour'-based abuse and forced marriage.
  • Dynamics and risks – we explore the links between coercive control, 'honour'-based abuse and forced marriage, and what the risks are for staff impacted within 'honour'-based abuse and forced marriage.
  • Barriers for survivors – we identify the additional barriers for people experiencing 'honour'-based abuse, and the reasons they might not disclose or report.
  • Support options – we look at the roles of support services and their professional responsibilities and have an awareness of support that is available, the referral process and joint working options.

The cost for this session is £75 per person. If you work for a registered charity with up to £2 million turnover or an organisation with up to 50 employees, you are entitled to a subsidised rate of £45 per person. The discount will be applied once you have registered.

We do not have any dates for this course currently scheduled, please express your interest in a future date here.

"Our policy will look completely different now, which will help people when the need arises."

- Anonymous

 

Why is domestic abuse training for your business important?

Domestic abuse is everybody’s business, and this includes employers. We know that as an employer, you want to do everything you can to keep your staff healthy, happy, and productive. Sadly, we also know that one in four women and one in seven men have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.

International research commissioned by Vodafone in 2019 found that one in five (21%) survey respondents from the UK felt they had been less productive at work as a result of experiencing domestic abuse. 

Survivor quote image 1 - DA T&D for employers

 

We also know one impact of Covid-19 has seen an increase in the incidences of domestic abuse because safe spaces and escape routes may no longer have been available to victims and survivors, with them feeling increasingly isolated from their support network.

 

The above means virtually every employer will have staff who are affected, and yet so few employers have adequate policies or training about domestic abuse.

Public and private sector organisations must recognise that domestic abuse will impact their workforce and take positive action to support those who may be suffering in silence. The workplace is often the last place a victim will say they felt like themselves or say that it was a place they felt safe. 

Employers are in a unique position to offer vital resources and support to victims. Businesses from every sector need to take responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of their staff. This requires training, resources, and leadership.

To find out more about how we can help, or enquire about a bespoke package for your workplace, contact Freya Potter, Lead Trainer: Trainingcommissions@safelives.org.uk