Practitioner Consultation Substance Use and Domestic Abuse Women's Project Survey

1.In what kind of organisation do you work?

In a substance use family support service

In a drug and alcohol treatment service

In a generic womens-only service

In another third sector organisation not covered above

In a statutory service e.g. social care, health

In a prison family support setting

Other (please specify)

2.How frequently do you meet female clients who talk about experiencing behaviour from a loved one that could be described as abusive? e.g. threatening, controlling, intimidating; emotional or psychological abuse, financial abuse, physical or sexual violence, coercive control, degradation, harassment, stalking or online/digital abuse

Very frequently (almost every female client)

Frequently (more than half of clients)

Sometimes (fewer than half of clients but more than occasionally)

Occasionally (some clients but it's not common)

Never

3.Do you ask specific questions of all clients that will identify if someone is experiencing abuse?

Yes, as part of a risk assessment. This mainly identifies physical abuse and violence but may not pick up other forms of abuse.

Yes, I ask questions to identify all forms of abuse

No, I don't necessarily always ask questions that would identify abuse

Other (please explain)

4.Do the women clients you meet with tend to identify this behaviour as abusive (without having this pointed out to them)?

Yes, most usually use the term 'abuse'

Yes, most know it is problematic but they don't necessarily use the word 'abuse'

No, they don't recognise this behaviour as problematic or abusive

It depends on the type of abuse - most recognise violence as problematic but not other forms of abuse

It varies a bit - some women recognise it as abuse but most do not

It varies a lot - about half of women recognise it as abuse and half do not

Any other comments about women's attitudes towards abusive behaviour:

5.When a female client describes behaviour like this do you make a point of using the term 'abuse' and naming the behaviour as abuse?

Yes, always. I make a point of doing this.

Sometimes I might but it's not something I make a point of.

I'm not sure

I tend to use whatever language the client uses

No, I wouldn't use the term 'abuse', especially if the client did not.

Other (please specify)

6.If abusive behaviour is mentioned as part of a loved one's substance use problems, would you seek to address it under this umbrella or as a distinct issue?

It would be part of the conversation about how they will cope with their loved one's substance use. I wouldn't discuss it as a distinct issue.

I would treat the abusive behaviour as a distinct issue and be sure to address this with the client

I would address it in relation to the substance use and also refer outside our service for more specific support around abuse

I'm not sure / it varies

Other (please explain)

7.How would you typically work with a female client who describes abusive behaviour?

8.Would you typically refer such a client to specialist Violence Against Women and Girls or Domestic Abuse services?

Yes, always, I would discuss this with them and actively make a referral (e.g. ring up the other service to pass on details)

Yes, I would always discuss this with them and give them the information but I wouldn't actively get involved in the referral

I would mention services in case they were interested

I might sometimes mention services

No, I don't usually mention specialist VAWG or DA services

Other (please specify)

9.Do you know who the domestic abuse services are in your area?

Yes (please name them below)

I'm not sure

Please name any domestic abuse services for women that you know of in your area:

10.Have you received training in domestic abuse?

Yes

Not sure

If yes, please explain what was covered in this training:

11.Do you feel confident to support women experiencing domestic abuse and to deal with these cases appropriately?

Yes, very confident

Quite confident but I would appreciate further training

Not very confident

Not at all confident

12.Would you like further (free) training on domestic abuse and how to support women affected by both abuse and someone else's substance use?

No, I am confident to deal with this and don't need further training

No, I don't consider this relevant to the job that I do

No (for another reason - please explain below)

Yes (please give further details below)

If you would like further training please give any details of what you would like covered. If you would not like further training, please explain your reasons.

13.We will be designing training for women affected by both domestic abuse and someone else's substance use. This training will aim to empower them and give them skillls to offer befriending peer support to other affected women. We would welcome your thoughts and suggestions on what would be most beneficial to include in such a training programme. Please give your thoughts in the space provided.

14.It would be useful for us to know which services in which regions have responded to this survey. This will also enable us to plan where to run training, based on your responses. Responses will not be linked to service names in our report which will keep all comments and findings anonymous, though we may use regional data to identify regional trends. If you are willing to provide the name of your service or the locality that you cover (or both), please do so in the box below.

15.If you would like to be notified of training (for both women and practitioners) taking place in your region as part of this project, please provide your email address below.

Many thanks for completing the survey. If you have further questions about the project please contact Rebekah on r.allon-smith@adfam.org.uk.
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