ADVANCE programme – substance use and IPV

The first London Learning Alliance for the ADVANCE project took place this week at Kings College London. The Learning Alliance will work together to address this issue across sectors by supporting the exchange of information and good practice. Members of the London Learning Alliance include drug and alcohol treatment services, domestic violence survivor and perpetrator organisations, the Department of Health, the Home Office, Public Health England and local authorities.

Gail Gilchrist and Polly Radcliffe described the project goals and work streams. Participants were asked to comment on the research plans and to highlight best practice surrounding safety when recruiting survivors of IPV into research. Attendees suggested strategies when contacting IPV survivors and how to work with partners and perpetrators simultaneously.

Attendees shared what they hoped to gain from attending the learning alliance more broadly. Common themes included sharing experience on the challenges of working with substance using IPV perpetrators. Attendees were invited to promote their activities, reports or events through this blog. The next meeting will take place in June.

If you are interested in attending our Learning Alliance meetings please contact Juliet.henderson@kcl.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

The Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP)  and Cranstoun has published a report detailing outcomes of working with 30 male perpetrators of domestic violence in a substance treatment context. The report documents what has been learnt from the pilot programme that assesses and treats a group of men disclosing behavioural concerns relating to substance us and DV.

DVIP and Cranstoun jointly developed a safety focussed, 60+ hours day programme designed to support the aims and objectives of a substance use treatment programme. It combines the two working styles by using emotionally challenging and more general self-talk and CBT material. The assessment process used to recruit men to the group showed the majority of men had used severe and persistent violence and abuse in their intimate relationships.

Outcomes

1. 87% of men started treatment  

2. 77% of men completed over 30 hours of DV prevention work

3. Men on the programme reduced their drug/alcohol use by 29% and reported a 40% improvement in their quality of life

4. The combined intervention did not impinge on the aims of the substance use treatment

5. Active contact was established with 53% of ex/partners

6. Only 1 woman disclosed an incidence of violence during the programme

7. 87% of men commenced treatment

8. 77% of men completed more than 30 hours of treatment

The report concluded:

The high proportion of men using persistent and severe violence and abuse in their relationships and the programme outcomes highlight the need for a combined intervention. The authors recommend that other domestic violence and substance misuse agencies bring together their skills and understanding to deliver joint substance misuse and domestic violence interventions. All joint work should be conducted alongside a partner support service and delivered by dedicated and experienced staff to allow for a comprehensive case and risk management process to take place alongside service delivery.

If you would like more details please contact Cranstoun on 0207 923 8010.

You can download the report here.