This presentation focuses on how a child protection worker provided a detailed assessment report to the Family Court of Western Australia with clear harm and danger statements in a domestic violence case.
Perpetrator accountability and victim safety were two concepts that helped us develop powerful harm and danger statements with the mother. These helped her understand where safety had been breached, and the value behind having a safety plan. This process helped her to understand the difference between an argument and a physical assault and to link her experience of domestic violence to that of her children.
The statements also helped identify the safety goals required for the children. The Department was able to clearly communicate these to other family members and safety people involved, and external professional organisations including police, hospitals, day care centre, and legal aid to the Family Court.
The Department helped carry a mother’s voice, which had been silenced for many years, acknowledging her worst fears, and helped her to build safety. The mother took away the value behind having clear harm and danger statements, serving as a platform in order to keep safe. (Fremantle District).
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