National Practitioners' Network
The National Practitioners’ Network (NPN) is an informal group of organisations and individuals working in the domestic violence perpetrator sector. The NPN has no formal membership and no one is in charge.
Following discussions between a small group of practitioners working in the field at a conference hosted by CHANGE in January 1992, the first meeting of the (NPN) was held in Keighley, England in 1992. The NPN has met for two days, once every six months from then onwards, with a different organisation hosting the event each time. Initially covering the UK, the NPN has expanded to include the Republic of Ireland, and meetings were held in Ireland in 2005 and 2009.
What happens at the NPN
NPN meetings are not formal conferences. They are informal network meetings which provide opportunities for practitioners to meet and discuss common issues, to subject practice to peer scrutiny, to offer guidance to newcomers and to give each other support.
Respect and the NPN
Respect was formed from a steering group of NPN members and continues to have a close relationship with the NPN, holding our Annual General Meetings during NPN meetings every November.
National Practitioners’ Network meetings history
A list of all previous NPN meetings
Download: National Practitioners Network History (word document)
Organising an NPN? NPN guidelines to help
The guidelines below have been put together by Respect to assist agencies who are considering, or are, hosting a meeting of the National Practitioners' Network.
The guidelines are an attempt to draw together the experiences of both previous hosts and participants so as to avoid 'reinventing the wheel' and thus, hopefully, make it less daunting for agencies to volunteer to host/organise meetings.
Respect would like to thank Dave Potts from KPTA (Kennedy Potts Training Associates) for putting together these very useful and thorough guidelines.
Download: NPN guidelines
Next NPN meeting
Sadly the NPN that was due to be hosted by Hull Strength To Change, Hull City Safe and NHS Hull in November 2010 has been cancelled. If you are interested in hosting the next meeting (under normal circumstances this would be held in May 2011) please email membership.respect@respect.uk.net or call the Respect office on 020 7022 1801 to discuss.