All DV-ACTION programmes include a full final report. This post will explain how they are completed, what they include and why they are important?
DV-ACTION programmes are designed for parents in child protection measures so child safety is always our priority. Therefore, it is important that parents attendance and engagement is recorded accurately, assessed and reported to the local authority/court to help inform their decisions. Additionally, final assessment reports are completed by specialist domestic abuse risk assessors who are independent from the treatment worker and are able to attend court as expert witnesses.
How is the final report completed?
When a case is referred to us both a treatment worker and an expert risk assessor are assigned to the case. The treatment worker will then liaise with the expert risk assessor throughout the programme as follows:
before the programme starts, they meet in order to develop the treatment plan
treatment workers write detailed notes for each session which are available to the risk assessor so that they can incorporate them into the final report
at the midway point another meeting is held to ensure the work is on track and to assess whether the treatment plan needs to change
after the programme is completed a final meeting is held to feed back progress
in the case of our perpetrator programme the risk assessor will also meet with the assigned integrated support worker to gain an understanding of the ex/partners views on risk and any concerns they may have.
Upon completion of the programme the risk assessor will then interview the client to assess their understanding of the programme sessions and what changes have taken place. The full report will then be filed with all parties and the court where necessary.
What is included in the report?
For all completed DV-ACTION programmes the final report will include:
what sessions were attended/missed
topics covered in the sessions
details of the client’s engagement with the programme material;
a consideration of any new developments in the case;
a view on whether the client’s risk or vulnerability has been reduced;
further recommendations for risk management including a view on child contact where appropriate.
Where the full programme of work is not completed by the client a final report can still be produced however it may be more limited.
Do I have to pay extra for the final report?
DV-ACTION programmes all include a full final report, no additional fees are required.
Why are final reports important?
As experts in domestic abuse risk assessment we know that attendance on, and completion of, a treatment programme does not guarantee a reduction in the risk to victims and their children. Therefore, it is important that a full final report is always provided at the end of any behavioural change intervention.
Further questions
If you have any further questions about programme final reports or wish to make a referral please contact the programmes team at programmes@dvact.org or call on 0203 9678368. If you would like to discuss a specific case a call back can be arranged with one of our clinical managers.
About us
DV-ACT Programmes are a division of DV-ACT Ltd. DV-ACT comprises a team of domestic abuse experts, available throughout the UK, who provide assessments, consultancy training and treatment programmes to local authorities and the family courts. DV-ACT was formed with the aim of using our expertise to help safeguard children from abuse, this is at the heart of everything that we do.
You can find out more about us by visiting out blog post Who runs DV-ACTION Bespoke Programmes? or visit our main company website at dvact.org.
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