1. Our panel this pm at #DACFestival on children as victims of #Domesticabuse in their own right raised crucial points about the impact on them + how we respond to their needs. @David_Challen @AltheaCribb Emma Bradshaw Roz Davidson Abby @acorns_project Here's a summary 🧵
2. Children feel they are responsible..that they should try to stop it. Children can become invisible with the focus on adults - both victims + perpetrators. (Roz) Children aren't 2nd hand victims + shouldn't be perceived that way @David_Challen 'they can often get lost in it'.
3. The impact on children can't be underestimated. Panellists said: Children who experience abuse grow up with fear + a sense of blame. Children who experience abuse are more likely to be excluded from school as they can present problematic behaviours + struggle in education.
4. So what do we do? I don't want to talk about the elephant in the room but we have to @LearningPru We need to work out what is behind the behaviour + so often it's stories of #DomesticAbuse Emma Listening to young people always lead to change. They need the chance to talk
5. Holistic approach across services is crucial + must respond to the different stages of a child's journey. We need to change commissioning processes to really make links with children in the community, Abby at @acorns_project Schools + education play an instrumental role
Education plays a huge role in tackling #DomesticAbuse - both spotting the signs + educating every child +young person so they learn what a healthy relationship looks like + know there is support out there for them. Our job is to ensure that support IS there for child victims.
@CommissionerDA 'Educating children' about healthy relationships is like a band aid on a haemorrhaging artery! The trauma of living with and experiencing domestic abuse and violence is not RATIONAL 'Educating' dismisses the trauma they hold within them at a body based level.
@CommissionerDA Emphasis has been put on commissioning services as the response to children as victims legal change but the resources needed aren’t there without new funding. And will the change be reflected in the upcoming review of Working Together?
@CommissionerDA We could not agree more here at @findtheglow @RWF_Glow #educationandprevention is key