Professionals

Domestic Violence and Abuse

Professionals

ADVA

Against Domestic Violence and Abuse (ADVA) is the adopted name and image for the Devon Domestic Violence Partnership. This was set up in November 2002 to bring together the statutory and voluntary agencies within the county to tackle the problem of domestic violence. These agencies include Devon County Council, Patient and Practitioner Agency, Devon Primary Care Trust, CAFCASS, Crown Prosecution Service, HM Courts Service, Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Cornwall Probation Service, Devon Partnership Trust, Children’s Trust, Westcountry Ambulance Trust, Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Victim Support, Witness Care Service, Women’s Aid, Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, District Housing, Devon Homelessness Group, Supporting People, Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust.

In 2007/8 there were 8925 incidents reported to the police.These figures, whilst startlingly high, still mask the real scale of the problem. Research commissioned by the Partnership applying accepted prevalence levels, estimated the real scale of the problem would mean that there are something like 33,000 incidents occurring in Devon each year.

What has ADVA been doing?

Since the launch of the Partnership strategy in November 2002 much work has been done to try to reduce the impact of domestic violence within Devon. This has been greatly helped by the establishment of a multi-agency pooled budget which has enabled the following services and projects to take place.

Women's outreach support service in each district
Free phone helpline for male victims
Pilot community based programme for male perpetrators
One day training course delivered to 1,000 workers across all agencies
Two day specialist course for people working with children
Trialling of a one day course on Domestic Violence in Lesbian, Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender relationships
Intervention programmes for children living with domestic violence
Children's support worker in North Devon
Publicity and Awareness materials for schools and youth settings to raise awareness
Production and trialling of curriculum materials in schools aimed at developing healthy relationships
Research to identify the educational, social and emotional impact on children who live with domestic violence
Awareness and publicity materials and campaigns to raise awareness about domestic violence and encourage those affected by it to seek help

Working with perpetrators

REPAIR is a project which works with men who abuse their partners to try to change their attitudes and behaviour. It can also offer support to their partners and children.
The scheme works by encouraging the abuser to acknowledge their behaviour and take responsibility for it. It teaches them care and respect for other people. It’s an intensive programme with a total of 40 sessions.
If you’re an abuser and actively want to change your behaviour then contact REPAIR. The course looks at ways to take responsibility for your behaviour. It will show you the effect your actions have on the people around you. Men should refer themselves to REPAIR if they can prove that they really want to end their abusive behaviour.

REPAIR stands for Resolved to End Power and Abuse In Relationships.

Find a REPAIR project in your area.

Exeter, East and Mid Devon 07870 980272
North Devon and Torridge 07773 394278
South Hams, Teignbridge and West 07816 549113

Key Publications and Downloads

Profile and Criteria for DVACs (49KB - pdf help)
Client Evaluation Form (56KB - pdf help)
Client Record Form (57KB - pdf help)
DVAC Application Form (49KB - pdf help)
DVAC Supervision Record (47KB - pdf help)
ADVA Directory of DV Services (172KB - pdf help)
ADVA Initial Risk Assessment Form (46KB - pdf help)
MARAC Referral Form for non-Police Agencies (30KB - pdf help)
MARAC Information Sharing without Consent Form (37KB - pdf help)
ADVA Business Plan 2007-9 (79KB - pdf help)
Music Against Domestic Abuse

Support and Services