Introducing routine enquiry about domestic violence in a paedistric setting

摘要

ABSTRACT Implementation of routine enquiry (RE) about domestic abuse in the multidisciplinary Evelina London Guys and St. Thomas Trust (GSTT) Community Health Services (CHS). THE PROBLEM Domestic abuse (domestic violence (DV)) is a major public health problem. One in four women in England and Wales will experience DV in their lifetime and 8% will suffer DV in any given year.1 DV has been highlighted as a key feature in Serious Case Reviews (SCRs).2 A SCR into the deaths of two children killed by their father in 2011 recommended that routine enquiry (RE) about DV be introduced as staff were unaware of serious DV within this family. AIMS To empower staff to enquire about DV in all client consultations and take appropriate action; to measure staff engagement with RE postimplementation and action taken to reduce morbidity using serial audits. MAKING A CASE FOR CHANGE The SCR report and recommendation to implement RE was presented to managers. Some said the recommendation was unnecessary as.RE may not have prevented the deaths. Others were concerned about complaints (this was prior to the publication of the 2014 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guidelines which recommends that trained staff ask people about domestic violence and abuse)? Together with the Clinical Director, we sold the vision to key stakeholders. We allayed anxiety by sharing the evidence and presenting a clear strategy using the change cycle as a tool.