{"id":30791,"date":"2025-01-30T15:37:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T15:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/?page_id=30791"},"modified":"2025-01-30T15:44:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T15:44:31","slug":"children-and-young-people-who-have-experienced-domestic-abuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/educational-psychology\/resources\/devon-psychology-in-action\/children-and-young-people-who-have-experienced-domestic-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-abed67cc wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column doc-aside is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-is-domestic-abuse\">What is domestic abuse?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#who-is-affected-by-domestic-abuse\">Who is affected by domestic abuse?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-effects-of-domestic-abuse-on-children-and-young-people\">The effects of domestic abuse on children and young people<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-might-this-impact-children-and-young-people-in-an-educational-setting\">How might this impact children and young people in an educational setting?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-can-educational-settings-help\">How can educational settings help?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-do-children-and-young-people-want-educational-settings-to-know\">What do children and young people want educational settings to know?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#further-support\">Further support<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"document-download-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-679b9e5ca51ba\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\" dcc-documents-downloads hide-for-print\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><div class=\"content-container\"><div class=\"content-column download-copy\"><h2 class=\"dcc-documents-title\">Document resources<\/strong><\/h2><p class=\"dcc-documents-intro\">These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-column download-button\"><ul class=\"dcc-documents-widget-dropdown dcc-documents-widget-menu\"><li class=\"dcc-documents-widget-is-dropdown\"><button class=\"button secondary dcc-documents-widget-noarrow dcc-documents-widget-button dcc-documents-widget-download-button\" >Download<\/button><ul id=\"\" class=\"dcc-documents-widget-vertical dcc-documents-widget-menu dcc-documents-widget-is-submenu\" data-disable-hover=\"true\" data-click-open=\"true\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/PublicDocs\/Education\/EfyEn8u_whRJoozstbVK5X8B73uupuzitZ48r-WaTlquIA?e=UMNwaI\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"dcc-documents-widget-text\"><span>Children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse  (Document)<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"dcc-documents-cpt-fixed dccdocs-sticky dccdocs-hidden\">\r\n    <div class=\"grid-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x\">\r\n            <div class=\"cell medium-12\">\r\n                <a class=\"back-to-top hide-for-print\" href=\"#content\"><svg class=\"app-c-back-to-top__icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 17\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 0L0 6.5 1.4 8l4-4v12.7h2V4l4.3 4L13 6.4z\"><\/path><\/svg> Contents<\/a>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column doc-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<article class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-domestic-abuse\"><strong>What is domestic abuse?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within the Domestic Abuse Act (2021), domestic abuse is described as any abusive behaviour towards one person from another, when the two are connected and aged sixteen or older. Domestic abuse can happen inside or outside the home. It can also happen over the internet. Domestic abuse may continue to occur even when a relationship ends. Abusive behaviours include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Physical abuse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sexual abuse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Threatening behaviour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Controlling or coercive behaviour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychological abuse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"who-is-affected-by-domestic-abuse\"><a><\/a><strong>Who is affected by domestic abuse?<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic abuse can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status. Children and young people are considered victims of domestic abuse if they see, hear or experience its effects. It is estimated that around 4.5% of children and young people experience domestic abuse in the UK. It is reported that incidents of domestic abuse increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-effects-of-domestic-abuse-on-children-and-young-people\"><a><\/a><strong>The effects of domestic abuse on children and young people<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Experiencing domestic abuse can have a negative impact on children and young people. This may present immediately or at a later stage of development. The effects may be short term or long lasting. Research suggests that experiencing domestic abuse can have an impact on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Social outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emotional wellbeing\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cognitive ability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-might-this-impact-children-and-young-people-in-an-educational-setting\"><strong>How might this impact children and young people in an educational setting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within a school setting, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find it difficult to make positive relationships (with both peers and adults)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find it difficult to attend school<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exhibit externalised behaviours (arguing, aggressive behaviour)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exhibit internalised behaviours (withdrawal, isolation, experiencing anxiety)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Report somatic complaints (headaches, stomach aches and pains)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experience difficulties in concentration during lessons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-educational-settings-help\"><a><\/a><strong>How can educational settings help?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Educational settings can act as a protecting factor for children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. Some of the ways in which school settings may support children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Support to build positive relationships with adults at school<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifying a key adult\/adults who can offer extra support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Providing check-ins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support to identify and manage emotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support to make friends<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support interpreting situations as non-threatening<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supporting building self-esteem<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identifying strategies, with the young person, which support them with learning and behaviour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-do-children-and-young-people-want-educational-settings-to-know\"><a><\/a><strong>What do children and young people want educational settings to know?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Devon Educational Psychology Service worked with children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse to explore their experiences of school. Difficulties experienced in school included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Completing homework \u2013 particularly when living within a refuge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The stigmatisation of males experiencing emotional difficulties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being unable to sit by peers in class with whom the young person has a trusting relationship with<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having caring responsibilities which school weren\u2019t always aware of<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being academically capable, therefore appearing successful and unable to ask for help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children and young people described having a positive relationship with an adult within their class as a major factor in making school easier for them. Examples of the outcomes of these positive relationships included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Feeling heard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having someone check in with them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Receiving personal praise as opposed to public<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being given choices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feeling able to ask for help<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being given time to settle at times of transition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A relationship built on trust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"further-support\"><a><\/a><strong>Further support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have a safeguarding concern about a child or young person, you should report this to your designated safeguarding lead. Useful contacts\/support:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/dsva\/support-services\/\">https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/dsva\/support-services\/<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Devon Domestic Abuse Support Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ndada.co.uk\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/ndada.co.uk<\/a> North Devon Against Domestic Abuse 01271 <a>370079\/80<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wearesafe.org.uk\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/wearesafe.org.uk<\/a> Stop Abuse For Everyone<\/p>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"document-meta-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-679b9e5ca51f7\"><div class=\" dcc-documents-meta\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><p class=\"dcc-documents-published\"><span>Published<\/span> <time datetime=\"2025-01-30T15:37:56+00:00\">30\/01\/2025 3:37pm<\/time><\/p><p class=\"dcc-documents-updated\"><span>Last Updated<\/span> <time datetime=\"2025-01-30T15:44:31+00:00\">30\/01\/2025 3:44pm<\/time><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is domestic abuse? Within the Domestic Abuse Act (2021), domestic abuse is described as any abusive behaviour towards one person from another, when the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2755,"featured_media":0,"parent":18176,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"longdocument-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-30791","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"updated":"","dccdocs_documents":null,"section-guidance":"","sections":null},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-21 04:59:50","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2755"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30791"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30794,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30791\/revisions\/30794"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}