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Responding to Immediate Risk

If you have identified family violence and hold immediate concerns about risk and safety always:

  • Contact police (000) in crisis situations where an immediate response is required
  • Seeking a medical response to serious/injury.
  • Seek support from your line manager on how best to proceed
  • Ensure you have completed any mandatory reporting related to the children to Child Protection and/or other statutory reporting
  • Seek a secondary from a Family Violence Specialist

What is a Risk Assessment?

Risk assessments are done with:

  • Those who are experiencing violence to determine the level of risk they may be in, by the person using violence. The risk assessment also helps us identify factors that are keeping the adult safe.
  • Each individual child who may be in the home or affected by violence, to determine their independent level of risk by the person using violence and to identify and factors that are keeping the child safe.
  • With the person using violence, to determine the level of risk they are to those around them and to identify what can be put in place to keep any family members safe.

When assessing family violence risk, we use the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework.

Introduction to Risk Assessment
Source 1800Respect

What are we assessing 

When undertaking a risk assessment practitioners are looking for the pattern of risk. In the MARAM Framework, there are three categories of risk factors which are:

  • specific to an adult victim survivor’s circumstances
  • caused by a perpetrator’s behaviour towards an adult or child victim survivor
  • additional risk factors caused by a perpetrator’s behaviour specific to children, which recognises that children experience some unique risk factors, and that their risk must be assessed independently of adult victim survivor

There is also a separate category reflecting children’s circumstances that may indicate (not determine in isolation) that family violence is present or escalating and should prompt assessment of children.

The risk factors reflect the current and emerging evidence base relating to family violence risk.

Risk Levels

In the MARAM Framework, we determine the level of risk, by the answers provided by the questions on the risk assessments. But it is important to use the risk assessments for ALL parties in the home to determine this level of risk, as they may have different information which will impact on the seriousness of the outcome. It is also important to note that regardless of risk level everyone should receive a service, but the risk level and the existing protective factors should help us determine which supports we prioritise and how services manage the response.

These risk factors are based on the behaviour of the Adult Using Violence and are defined in the Foundational Knowledge Guide as:

  • Financial difficulties
  • Has ever threatened to harm the victim or family members
  • Previous or current breach of court orders/intervention orders
  • History of family violence
  • Previous or current breach of court orders/intervention orders
  • Mental illness / Depression
  • Isolation
  • Physical Harm
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Property Damage
  • Children’s exposure to family violence
  • Sexualised behaviours towards a child by the AUV
  • Child intervention in violence
  • Behaviour indicating non return of child
  • Undermining the child–parent relationship

For a client to be categorised as at-risk there can be NO: escalation, imminence, or the V/S cannot experience a serious level of self assessed fear.

An example of a Risk assessment and rationale, that would be at-risk:

The Adult Experiencing Violence reported the Adult Using Violence has used financial control, to limit access to joint savings accounts, mortgage, and everyday finances. The Adult Experiencing Violence reported that Adult Using Violence has had bouts of depression, but has been well managed with support, for past 5 years.

 The Adult Experiencing Violence separated from the other party 6 months ago and there has been no contact, except through legal representatives. The Adult Experiencing Violence holds no fear of the other party. .

This example shows risk factors, but there is no escalation, imminence or fear.

 

Serious Risk factors are present. These risk factors are based on the behaviour of the Adult Using Violence and are defined in the foundational knowledge guide as:

  • Physical assault while pregnant/following new birth
  • Planning to leave or recent separation
  • Controlling behaviours
  • Access to weapons
  • Use of weapon in most recent event
  • Has ever tried to strangle or choke the V/S
  • Has ever threatened to kill victim
  • Has ever harmed or threatened to harm or kill pets or other animals
  • Has ever threatened or tried to self-harm or commit suicide
  • Stalking of victim
  • Sexual assault of victim
  • Obsession/jealous behaviour toward victim
  • Unemployed / Disengaged from education
  • Drug and/or alcohol misuse/abuse
  • (Children only) History of professional involvement and/ or statutory intervention
  • (Children only) Change in behaviour not explained by other causes
  • (Children only)Child is a victim of other forms of harm

For a client to be categorised as Serious Risk there can be NO: escalation, imminence, or the person experiencing violence cannot experience a serious level of self assessed fear.

An example of a Risk assessment and rationale, that would be at elevated risk:

Adult Experiencing Violence reported that there was a physical assault, while they were pregnant in 2008. In the incident, the Adult Using Violence pushed the Adult Experiencing Violence up against a wall during a fight about finances.

The Adult Experiencing Violence reported that the Adult Using Violence threatened self harm, three years ago during an episode of depression, and has been under the care of a mental health service since then and has not reported suicide ideation since 2023.

The Adult Experiencing Violence and Adult Using Violence separated 8 months ago, while they are still in the process of separating assets, they are communicating amicably. The Adult Experiencing Violence has no fear of the Adult Using Violence.

This example shows serious risk factors, but there is no escalation, imminence or fear.

Once someone has been at Elevated Risk- They will ALWAYS be at Elevated Risk, because you cannot remove the history of the elevated risk factors.

Serious Risk
For serious risk to be present, you need any of the risk factors listed in the Elevated Risk Section (minimum of one) AND any combination of:

  • Imminence
  • Escalation
  • Self assessed level of fear by the V/S

An example of a Risk assessment and rationale, that would be at serious risk:

The Adult Experiencing Violence stated to children’s teacher:

“I need to go, my partner is monitoring where I am, he doesn’t want me out of the house for long, he’s been getting worse lately, I am really scared of what he will do if I stay any longer”

In this instance a full risk assessment has not been undertaken but because the limited information we have shows:

  • Controlling behaviours/possible stalking
  • Escalation
  • Self assessed level of fear

We categorise this as Serious Risk and work with relevant agencies to support an environment where a full risk assessment for all members of the family can be undertaken.

Once someone is categorised as serious risk, the work of comprehensive services (who do not provide therapeutic supports) is to support establishing protective factors around the family to reduce or remove the likelihood of family violence reoccurring or continuing. The aim is to move the risk from Serious Risk to Elevated (remember, once you have been at elevated risk, you can never be categorised at-risk again).

Who should undertake a risk assessment?

The MARAM Framework is designed to support the identification of family violence across a broad range of services. It also acknowledges that every practitioner will have a different capacity to monitor, follow up and support clients within the scope of their role, so the Framework provides different responsibilities and tools for different roles.

Comprehensive workers are any worker who is a family violence or sexual assault specialist, this includes:

  • Intake workers (Orange Door)
  • Family Violence Case Management
  • Family Violence Counselling
  • Sexual Assault Counselling
  • Family Violence Therapeutic Workers
  • Men’s Case Management
  • Men’s Group Facilitators
  • Family Safety Contact Workers

Comprehensive workers hold comprehensive responsibilities to ALL parties, including those who experience violence, those who use violence and children.

You may only work with one party in the family, however the MARAM Framework provides you with responsibilities under all MARAM Practice Guides and for you to be able to assess the risk of your party correctly, you need to be able to have an understanding of how the other parties are being assessed, including what information they need and why.

  • To understand your Risk Assessment Responsibilities for Adults Using Violence, this Practice Guide is not online, so please speak to your manager.

If you would like a video demonstration of a comprehensive risk assessment:

    • Adult Experiencing Violence– Comprehensive Risk Assessment – Watch Video
    • Person Using Violence – Intermediate Risk Assessment – Watch Video

 

Intermediate workers are any state funded (or in some case government services) which provide long term supports to clients such as:

  • Homelessness Workers
  • Family Service Workers
  • Child Protection
  • Gambling Support Workers
  • Court and Correction workers
  • Alcohol and other drug support workers
  • Mental Health (state funded) workers
  • Youth Workers
  • (this is not an exhaustive list)

Intermediate workers hold responsibilities to ALL parties, including those who experience violence, those who use violence and children.

Many Intermediate Workers will work with both parties, more so than our comprehensive sector. It’s important to understand, you can and should do risk assessments on those you suspect who are using violence, and the Intermediate Tool, is observational and you do not need the permission of the client to complete the observation, but you SHOULD seek a secondary consult from a Specialist Men’s Program, which you can find here 

You may only work with one party in the family, however the MARAM Framework provides you with responsibilities under all MARAM Practice Guides and for you to be able to assess the risk of your party correctly, you need to be able to have an understanding of how the other parties are being assessed, including what information they need and why.

If you would like a video demonstration to complete an Intermediate Risk Assessment:

    • Adult Experiencing violence– Intermediate Risk Assessment  – Watch Video
    • Person Using Violence – Intermediate Risk Assessment – Watch Video

 

 

Screening and Identification workers are those who are in state funded programs, but do not have the time in their role to provide ongoing supports. Such as:

  • Publicly funded healthcare
  • Publicly funded schools
  • State funded childcare/kindergarten

Screening and ID workers hold responsibilities to ALL parties, including those who experience violence, those who use violence and children.

Many screening and ID may witness instances of unhealthy behaviour where both parties are present, given the nature of the work environments they are in. It’s important to understand, you can and should do risk assessments on those you suspect who are using violence, and the Screening and ID tool, is observational and you do not need the permission of the client to complete the observation, but you SHOULD seek a secondary consult from the Orange Door, which you can find here 

You may only work with one party in the family, however the MARAM Framework provides you with responsibilities under all MARAM Practice Guides and for you to be able to assess the risk of your party correctly, you need to be able to have an understanding of how the other parties are being assessed, including what information they need and why.

Risk Management

Risk management is a coordinated set of strategies and actions aimed at enhancing the safety of the person/people experiencing violence (adult, child or young person) and reducing or removing the likelihood that the perpetrator will commit further violence.

All risk management must involve safety planning. In addition to safety planning, other forms of risk management may also be required such as discussing options with victim survivors, connection to support and services, secondary consultation, and ongoing risk assessment.

Risk management activities for victim survivors may include responding to a range of risks and associated needs, such as:

  • Responding to immediate risk
  • Safety planning (including for children or young people and those using violence)
  • Identifying protective factors and looking at referral options
  • Ongoing risk assessment and management (monitoring for change and/or escalation
  • Information Sharing to ensure we have a complete picture of what is occurring for all members of the family and to ensure other services working with the family all have the same information.

A Safety plan is supporting your client to think about practical actions a victim survivor can take, if they are faced with another situation where family violence may occur. A safety plan can be done:

  • With an adult who is experiencing violence, to identify things they can do if they experience another situation of violence. This could include identifying ways they can change their environment, identify ways to seek help and places to go where they can find assistance.
  • With a child who is experiencing violence. This could include where they can go for assistance, identifying who they feel safe with, and supporting them with ways to have discussions with safe people.
  • With the adult who is using violence. This is typically only done by a Comprehensive or Intermediate worker, and with someone who has acknowledged their use of violence. This can include discussing alternative strategies to using violence and identifying situations where they are likely to use violence.

In all these instance you are examining what the CLIENT can do. This is different to identifying protective factors, which are things the PRACTITIONER supports the client with.

A safety plan must be current, relevant, adaptable and kept up-to-date in response to change in circumstances. It must be shared with any other services involved and it should be discussed and updated regularly.

A Safety Plan should be undertaken by those in Intermediate or Comprehensive Services. To find out more and to view the tools:

If you would like to see a video about how to do a safety Plan, Family Safety Victoria has created the following:

  • Adult Experiencing violence– Intermediate Safety Plan  – Watch Video
  • Adult Experiencing violence–Comprehensive Safety Plan Watch Video 
  • Person Using Violence – Intermediate Safety Plan Watch Video

The Gippsland Family Violence Alliance has created a resource to support Safety Planning with Victim/Survivors download here 

Protective/Stablisation factors are factors that have been identified that, when strengthened, promote safety, stabilisation and recovery from family violence, such as:

  • intervention orders,
  • housing stability and safety,
  • health responses,
  • support networks,
  • financial resources and
  • responding to wellbeing and needs.

 

Protective factors may be identified through a needs assessment. However, they should be considered as part of the interventions that will create safety for the family. In comprehensive services, we should be prioritising the interventions that are going to have the greatest impact on risk and safety first, and ensuring we are documenting whether the intervention did in fact lower the risk. Whether an intervention was/wasn’t effective at reducing/removing risk should be shared at the close of our intervention with the Orange Door, to guide any future interventions with the family.

Identifying protective factors should be done with:

  • Adults and children who are experiencing violence
  • Adults who are using violence

When engaging with a person using violence, identifying and responding to these factors enables professionals to understand a ‘person in their context’. This lens supports targeted and tailored risk management responses to their use of violence.

Where protective factors are strengthened, it may reduce the likelihood of continued use of some forms of family violence and increase capacity for behaviour change. Consideration of protective and stabilisation factors provides an understanding of contextual factors related to their use of violence, not a justification for it.

Due to the length of this topic, please visit this page to understand how using the Family Violence and Child Information Sharing Scheme can reduce risk. https://gippslandfamilyviolencealliance.com.au/information-sharing/

What is Collaborative Risk Management?

Risk assessment and management cannot be done by one agency alone. It needs to be done with other support services and practitioners to ensure:

  • there is a comprehensive understanding of what is occurring for all members of the family
  • it allows for more tailored responses and risk management strategies,
  • there can be a time sensitive response to changes in the level of risk and safety.

No one agency or practitioner should ever hold the risk alone.

Information sharing allows us to ensure we are both supported in our decision making and we can all work together to reduce risk for the families we support.

I would like training on how to use the MARAM Framework

Click here for the MARAM Portal

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