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Working with People Who Are Violent to Their Partners: A Safety Building Approach

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Abstract

This article offers a new perspective on the assessment, treatment and management of adults who are violent to their partners. Using a worked case example, it describes how a solution-focused approach is used to develop, and evidence, safety for all family members.

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Notes

  1. Dobash et al. (2000).

  2. See, for example, Pearson (1997); McKeowan et al. (2001); Fitzroy (2002, pp. 7–34); on the incidence of female-on-male violence; Muptic et al. (2007, pp. 753–774); on violence in same sex relationships see Renzetti (1992) and Leventhal and Lundy (1999).

  3. Milner (2008, pp. 27–51).

  4. See, for example, Lipchik and Kubicki (1996, pp. 65–98); Milner and Jessop (2003, pp. 127–141); Milner (2004, pp. 79–101); Milner and Myers (2007, pp. 19–29) and Milner (2008).

  5. Lord and Willmott (2004, pp. 51–61).

  6. Cavanagh and Lewis (1996, pp. 87–112).

  7. Milner and Jessop (2003); Turnell and Essex (2006).

  8. Lee et al. (2007, pp. 30–41).

  9. Milner (2008).

  10. Scourfield (2003, p. 82).

  11. Gondolf and White (2001, pp. 361–380). For a fuller account of the problems in risk assessment, see Milner and Myers (2007).

  12. Milner (2008).

  13. Turnell and Edwards (1999); Milner (2004); Milner (2008); Milner and Myers (2007); Lee et al. (2003, 2007); Myers (2005, pp. 97–112); Turnell and Essex (2006).

  14. Gondolf (1998, pp. 64–65, 87–89); Marshall (2003, pp. 25–30); Gadd (2004, pp. 173–197).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 3 Sunnybank Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield, HD3 3DE, UK

    Judith Milner

Authors
  1. Judith Milner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judith Milner.

Additional information

Judith Milner is a freelance solution focused practitioner who works mainly with men and women who are violent, adult and juvenile sex offenders, and victims of violence. She acts as Independent Expert in child protection cases. She is also a senior consultant with Resolutions (Yorkshire) and external consultant for Barnardo’s The Junction service for young people whose behaviour is sexually concerning or harmful. Her recent publications include Women and Social Work 2001; Assessment in Social Work, 2002, 2nd edition; Brief Counselling: Narratives and Solutions, 2002; and Assessment in Counselling, 2004 (all with P. O’Byrne, published by Palgrave). She has also published Working with Violence. Policies and Practices in Risk Assessment and Management, Palgrave, 2007 (with S. Myers) and Sexual Issues in Social Work, Policy Press, 2007 (with S. Myers). Email: judithmilner@tiscali.co.uk

Appendix

Appendix

  A sample preliminary safe care plan for Joelle and Helen
Full size table

Goals

Social services’ goals are for Danny and Helen to demonstrate that the safety indicators listed above are present.

Danny and Helen’s goals are for Joelle to be returned to their care, social services out of their lives, and live a normal life.

Current Indicators of Safety

  1. 1.

    Helen says she feels safe now and this is evidenced in how she can talk freely about events in front of Danny and tell him what she wants.

  2. 2.

    Danny has never lost his temper with any of his children. Children do not stress him out. This has been confirmed by Helen, health visitors, and contact supervisors.

  3. 3.

    He has given up dealing in cocaine. This has been confirmed by him moving to a new address, avoiding old customers and getting rid of his old mobile phone number. Police checks reveal no evidence of current dealing.

  4. 4.

    He accepts that his actions led to Joelle being removed from his care and this has been a wake up call for him.

  5. 5.

    Contact supervisors report that both parents are capable of meeting Joelle’s needs. They are not afraid of Danny, who is always punctual, polite and considerate.

Action Plan

  1. 1.

    Danny will be offered therapy to help him learn how to control his temper and handle stress. A good outcome of the therapy will be that Danny is peaceable and calm, and can talk to people politely, even when stressed.

  2. 2.

    Helen will be offered therapy to help her learn to control her jealous thoughts. A good outcome of the therapy for Helen will be that she feels more secure about herself and can control her jealous thoughts.

  3. 3.

    Contact arrangements will be varied so that the parents can obtain work or training. They will be offered guidance and assistance in obtaining suitable work.

  4. 4.

    Social services will support the parents in their grief at being parted from Joelle by ensuring that they are given full information about Joelle’s life in the foster home, consulted about any issues that may arise concerning Joelle’s well-being, and involved in her care as much as is practically possible.

  5. 5.

    As far as possible, appointments for the parenting assessment will be arranged around the parents’ existing commitments. Social workers will be sensitive to both parents’ possible reactions to talking about earlier abusive experiences.

  6. 6.

    If social workers have any other concerns they will explain these to Danny and Helen promptly.

Time Frame

Joelle is developing rapidly and a decision about her future cannot be delayed too long. The expectation is that the parents will demonstrate safety within a time frame of four months, progress to be reviewed monthly.

Social Services will be confident enough to return Joelle to her (monitored) parents’ care when the parents have demonstrated that all the indicators of safety listed above are in place. They will be confident enough to close the case when these changes have been sustained over a period of six months. Should safety not be demonstrated, the plan will be for Joelle to be placed for adoption.

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Milner, J. Working with People Who Are Violent to Their Partners: A Safety Building Approach. Liverpool Law Rev 29, 67–80 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-008-9029-6

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