9.4 Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC)

1. Introduction

A Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a local, multi-agency victim focused meeting where professionals meet to share information on the highest risk cases of domestic abuse. It is part of a coordinated response to domestic abuse, incorporating representatives from statutory, community and voluntary agencies working with victims (aged 16+), adults experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, children and alleged perpetrators.

Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are discussed, and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies.

The key aims of MARAC are to:

• share information to increase the safety, health and well-being of victims/survivors – adults and their children;
• determine whether the alleged perpetrator poses a significant risk to any individual or to the general community;
• jointly construct and implement a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm;
• reduce repeat victimization;
• improve agency accountability; and
• improve support for staff involved in high-risk domestic abuse cases.

2. Making a Referral to MARAC

Referrals to MARAC can be made by staff in any agency who identify a victim of domestic abuse as being high risk. To make a referral into the MARAC, the DASH Risk Checklist  needs to be completed (see Section 3, DASH Checklist and MARAC Referral Criteria).

The DASH Risk Checklist can be used to help practitioners to assess the level of risk posed to a victim. If the threshold for high risk is met, the MARAC coordinator should be contacted regarding making a referral. The case will be submitted for the next available MARAC; however in some circumstances, an emergency MARAC meeting may be called.

Once a high-risk case has been identified, a MARAC referral form should be completed and sent via secure email to the South Tyneside MASH mailbox: [email protected]

A referral to the IDVA service should also be made by emailing [email protected]

3. DASH Checklist and MARAC Referral Criteria

See DASH Checklist (SafeLives) and MARAC Referral Criteria (SafeLives)

The DASH Risk Checklist is for all practitioners working with victims of domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based abuse. The checklist should be completed with the victim as soon as possible to determine the level of risk posed to them.

The checklist gives a consistent and simple to use tool and helps practitioners to identify those who are at high risk of harm and whose cases should be referred to a MARAC meeting in order to manage the risk. The primary audience is front line practitioners working with victims of domestic abuse who are represented at MARAC. This will include both domestic abuse specialists, such as independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs), and generic practitioners such as those working in a primary care health service or housing.  However, a range of agencies can use the checklist with their clients or service users.

Risk in domestic abuse situations is dynamic and can change very quickly.  Therefore, as well as being used when you receive an initial disclosure of domestic abuse, it may be appropriate to review the checklist with a client on more than one occasion.  It is designed to be used for those suffering current rather than historic domestic abuse and ideally would be used close in time to the last incident of abuse that somebody has suffered. Using an evidence based risk checklist tool increases the likelihood of the victim being responded to appropriately and therefore of addressing the risks they face.  The risk checklist provides practitioners with common criteria and a common language of risk. The risk checklist should be introduced to the victim within the framework of an agency’s confidentiality policy, information sharing policy and protocols and its MARAC referral policies and protocols.

Safelives advise that 14 ‘yes’ answers on the DASH Checklist suggests very high risk and a referral to MARAC is recommended. However, professional judgement is important, and cases which fall below 14 ‘yes’ answers can still be referred, particularly if the victim is a young person. For more information, see MARAC Referral Criteria.

4. Assessing Risk

Practitioners must follow agreed protocols when referring to MARAC and children’s social care (see Local Contacts).  It is important for practitioners to use professional judgement in all cases.  The results from a checklist are not a definitive assessment of risk; they merely provide a structure to inform judgement and act as prompts to further questioning, analysis and risk management whether via a MARAC or in another way.

4.1 High risk victims

If the victim is assessed as high risk, a referral should be made to both the MARAC Coordinator and to the IDVA service. This, in itself, will not keep a victim safe and practitioners should consider what other actions are necessary including making a safeguarding referral where appropriate.

5. MARAC Attendance

The MARAC consists of a core group of professionals, representing the statutory and voluntary sectors in the local area. The meeting involves contribution and commitment from agencies including police, probation, children’s social care, adult social care (mental health, safeguarding adults), health, education, housing, substance misuse services, and specialist domestic abuse services. Other agencies can attend as required, when they have involvement in a case which is being discussed.

The MARAC Coordinator maintains a list of the nominated representatives for each agency represented at the MARAC, including a telephone number and secure email address.

Representatives who attend the meeting will bring information about the household that might help assess the risks or and the development of the safety / risk management plan. This includes information on any disclosures of domestic abuse, current support being provided, the needs of the adult, and names and dates of birth of other people living in or visiting the house (other family members, carers etc.) Any information on mental capacity issues in relation to the victim and the perpetrator, should also be shared, as well as any history of mental illness, any previous history of disclosed domestic abuse and whether the perpetrator is the main carer.

In South Tyneside, the MARAC meets weekly on a Thursday, and is chaired by the MARAC Supervisor from Northumbria Police.

The victim does not attend the meeting, but their views will be represented by an Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) who will speak on their behalf.

6. Independent Domestic Violence Advisers

Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) provide independent support to victims / survivors of domestic abuse.

They provide this support regardless of whether a victim / survivor has chosen to report an offence to the police, whether they have ended the relationship with the perpetrator or whether they are victims of multiple offences.

IDVAs can help victims / survivors to understand and systems and processes relating to areas such as victims’ / survivors’ rights, health and wellbeing, reporting to the police, criminal and family justice processes and accessing support services.

The IDVA will attempt to make contact with the referrer and the victim following receipt of a MARAC referral. The IDVA’s job is to be a bridge between victims and the MARAC meeting. The IDVA will try and meet the victim beforehand, or at least talk to them on the phone, and explain how the meeting works, what it can do, and what the options are.

The IDVA will also ask if there is anything the victim wants to be discussed at the meeting.

Children and Young Persons IDVAs (CHIDVAs) support children and young people experiencing domestic abuse between adults in their household or within their own intimate relationships.

Young Persons Violence Advisers (YPVAs) work with young people experiencing domestic abuse in their own intimate relationships.

Court IDVAs provide dedicated support for victims / survivors navigating courts by offering practical and emotional support throughout both public and private law proceedings. Their role includes explaining the court process and the different options that are available, supporting with any arrangements required (such as travelling to court or childcare), attending court with victims/survivors and liaising with court officials.

Health-based IDVAs (HIDVA) provide support to victims / survivors of domestic abuse who are accessing healthcare, alongside providing training and case consultation assistance for health professionals to understand and respond to domestic abuse.

A victim / survivor can be referred into the IDVA service at any time, by any professional engaging with them. Some IDVA services accept self-referrals by victims themselves.

See also Independent Domestic Violence Adviser Statutory Guidance

7. Interface with Safeguarding Adults

In common with safeguarding adult enquiries under the Care Act, the MARAC process is a way of sharing information about risks of harm and identifies actions needed to increase safety.

Although a number of cases discussed at MARAC with include adults experiencing or at risk of abuse and neglect, it does not replace safeguarding adults meetings or processes. MARAC does not discuss cases in the same level of detail as at a safeguarding meeting, the adult victim does not attend the meeting, nor is there any ongoing case management. Cases are only discussed at MARAC once unless there is a new incident in the next 12 months.

Whichever process is followed, the main priority is always the safety and wellbeing of the adult (and any other adults at risk / children involved). Multi-agency safeguarding planning will be key in whatever process is used.

At MARAC meetings the adult will not be present (as may also be the case for safeguarding meetings); however either an IDVA or a victim support worker will be present to advocate on behalf of the adult.