Risk Assessment
Respect has been working to develop both resources for risk assessment and the training courses to improve practice and knowledge.
Resources include:
- A Review of Domestic Violence Risk Assessment in the Family Court a report by Dr. Chris Newman
- Respect Risk Identification Checklist (RIC)
- Directory of Professionals able to undertake assessments of domestic violence risks in family court proceedings (see below for further detail).
- Guidance for Commissioners of Domestic Violence Risk Assessments in Family Law Proceedings. (See below for further detail).
Respect Directory of Professionals able to undertake expert assessments of domestic violence risks in family court proceedings
Respect has established a directory of professionals who are suitably qualified, trained, experienced to undertake assessments of domestic violence risks and impact in families involved in legal proceedings in relation to children. Respect aim is to provide solicitors, Cafcass, our members and others with a list of suitable assessors they can contact when an expert assessment is required.
Respect took this step following the recommendations of Dr. Chris Newman which explored what should be included in an expert assessment of domestic violence risks and the skills and experience necessary to undertake these assessments.
Respect will aim to ensure the quality of the expert assessors listed in the directory through a peer review process which we hope will give confidence to professionals when choosing an assessor from the Respect directory.
Interested in being listed in the directory?
Guidance for Commissioners of Domestic Violence Risk Assessments in Family Law Proceedings
The Payment Annex of the Unified Contract 2007 (Civil), 2010 Standard Civil Contract and Schedule 6 of the Criminal Defence Service (Funding) (Amendment) Order 2011 does not include a category for Domestic Violence Risk Assessor within the Schedule of experts’ fees.
The following guidance is issued to those who commission expert Domestic Violence Risk Assessments within private or public law proceedings. This guidance is issued to safeguard against the risk that, in the absence of a specified guidance regarding the funding of these assessments, experts may be commissioned who do not possess the requisite expertise for the undertaking of this specialist work.
Download: Guidance for Commissioners of Domestic Violence Risk Assessments in Family Law Proceedings