Preventing domestic violence

People who have experienced or been exposed to domestic violence often seek help for a range of problems and symptoms from health and social services before the real cause – violence – comes to light. As few people disclose their experiences of violence on their own initiative, it is important for healthcare and social welfare professionals to raise the issue. It is also important for professionals to recognise the barriers caused by shame, guilt, and fear that prevent people from seeking help and to actively offer support and methods to break free from violence.

Vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities and older people, are at an increased risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. You should also raise the topic of violence with children and young people and support them in building safe relationships.

Only discuss violence with the client in private. Create a calm, safe, and confidential atmosphere in every client encounter.

Provide information about the prevalence and risks of domestic violence. Explain that violence is always wrong, often a crime, and that help is available.

When domestic violence comes to light, authorities have an obligation to assess the risk of violence and help the victim without delay. Note that the client may have previous negative experiences of talking about the issue, or that you may be the first authority the client turns to with their experience of domestic violence.

Follow these steps when assessing experiences of domestic violence:

1. Make sure that the client is alone with you, and it is safe for them to talk.
2. Use a professional interpreter if interpretation is needed.
3. Ask everyone about violence directly and with open questions. For example, you can ask: What are your relationships like? Do you have to be afraid at home? Has someone close to you ever been violent toward you? Or have you ever behaved violently or feared behaving violently toward someone close to you?
4. Use the Domestic violence enquiry and assessment form. The form is also available in some wellbeing services counties’ client record systems under the name “Assessment of experiences of violence.”
5. Talk about violence by its proper name. Ask about different forms of violence and, if necessary, explain them with examples. Help the client name the violence they have experienced.
6. Listen carefully and show that you believe the client.
7. Recognise the client’s individual situation and background. Also pay attention to any possible violent behaviour by the client.
8. Identify your personal prejudices and history of violence – do not let your work reflect them.

Bringing up domestic violence is an important intervention that can help a person who has experienced violence identify their own situation and seek help. Screening for domestic violence is part of the comprehensive health examinations carried out, for example, in maternity and child health clinics and school health care.

Forms and tools for bringing up and documenting violence

By intervening promptly and without hesitation, you can prevent harmful and serious consequences of violence, which in extreme cases may cost the victim their life. Timely help and service coordination support recovery, prevent the situation from prolonging, and protect the client from further violence.

Note that the situations of people who have experienced domestic violence vary. The client’s situation may be acute or related to past experiences. The client may not always recognise the connection between their problems and symptoms and violence, which can delay seeking help. Support the client in identifying the situation, help them, and guide them to appropriate follow-up services to prevent health and social problems from becoming prolonged.

Please note that domestic violence may manifest differently among clients from different backgrounds. A gender- and culturally sensitive approach and equal treatment of clients build trust and promote the acceptance of help.

Follow these steps when the client has experienced domestic violence:

1. Assess the danger of the situation and risk of violence, for example, by using the MARAC risk assessment form. Refer high-risk cases to the MARAC working group with the client’s consent. If your region uses another method for risk assessment and management, follow those instructions.
   Forms and tools
2. Complete the stalking and harassment assessment form if the client has experienced harassment or stalking.
   Stalking and harassment assessment form (in Finnish)
3. Ensure the safety of the client and their children. Assess whether it is safe for them to return home. In an acute emergency, always call the emergency number 112.
4. Inform the client about Nollalinja and shelter services. If necessary, assist the client in accessing a shelter or other safe place. You can call the nearest shelter or Nollalinja and inquire about available shelter places.
   Shelter contact information
   Nollalinja contact information (Nollalinja.fi)
5. Refer the client to a doctor’s appointment, especially if the case involves acute physical violence. Refer clients who have experienced sexual violence to a Seri Support Centre.
   Seri Support Centres
6. Encourage the client to file a police report. Explain that, for example, a restraining order can be a way to increase safety. However, you should emphasise that receiving help does not require filing a police report.
7. Prepare a personal safety plan with the person who has experienced violence. Give a copy to the client only if you deem this to be safe.
   Personal safety plan (in Finnish)
8. Explain your obligation to file a child welfare notification and your other reporting obligations. A professional must file a police report when the person who has experienced violence is under 18 years old. File the report if necessary.
9. File an anticipatory child welfare notification if the client is pregnant.
10. If the client is not ready to accept help, lower the threshold for returning to the issue later. Give the client contact information and schedule a new appointment.
11. Arrange a follow-up appointment if possible.
12. Refer the client to other services if necessary. Follow the service pathways of your wellbeing services county, which include the services offered by the wellbeing services county and NGOs, and national support services.

Follow these steps when encountering a person who has experienced violence:

1. Focus on the encounter – do not multitask.
2. Treat the client with respect and compassion.
3. Listen empathetically and give space for the client to share their experiences.
4. Respect the client’s agency and choices.
5. Explain that violence is never the victim’s fault but always the perpetrator’s responsibility.
6. Be sensitive – avoid downplaying the situation or expressing shock, condemn the violence in no uncertain terms.
7. Do not blame or question the client – believe the client’s account.
8. Treat everyone as an individual – consider their gender, age, language, functional ability, and cultural background. Do not exclude anyone from help.
9. Give encouraging feedback – thank the client for their courage to speak up and seek help.

Healthcare and social welfare professionals play a key role in supporting people who have experienced domestic violence. Timely help and service guidance support recovery, prevent the situation from prolonging, and protect the client from further violence.

Domestic violence occurs at all levels of society, and the perpetrator can be of any age. As few clients actively bring up their violent behaviour, it is important that you, as the professional, ask about the possible use of violence.

Follow these steps when assessing the perpetration of domestic violence:

1. Make sure that the client is alone with you during the discussion.
2. Approach the client in a friendly and respectful manner, and show that you are interested in helping them with their situation.
3. Use a professional interpreter if interpretation is needed.
4. Use open-ended questions. For example, you can ask: What are your relationships like? How do you behave when you get angry? Has anyone close to you ever found you frightening? Have you ever been worried about your own behaviour? Have you ever behaved violently or feared that you might behave violently towards someone close to you?
5. Ask the client about the different forms of domesticviolence, using examples if necessary. Describe the consequences of violence, also taking into account its impact on children. Domestic violence has been shown to have significant harmful effects on children, even when the violence is not directly targeted at them.
6. Assess the client’s overall situation and any need for other services (e.g. financial and debt counselling, substance abuse rehabilitation, mental health services).
7. Assess possible suicidal tendencies. In some cases, perpetrators of intimate partner violence may have an increased risk of suicide.
8. Assess the risk of continued violence.

When the use of domestic violence comes to light, it is important to offer support to the client without delay. If you return to the matter later, the client may no longer be motivated to accept help.
National and regional support services for perpetrators of domestic violence

Services offered to perpetrators of domestic violence are based on voluntariness, which means that the client has to be willing to participate in the process. If necessary, you can use motivational interviewing in your discussions with the client.
Motivational interviewing (in Finnish, Kaypahoito.fi)

Prepare a comprehensive plan together with the client and take into account multi-professional cooperation. If the client is transferred to another professional, ensure the transfer follows the “escorted handover” principle whenever possible. For example, you can arrange a joint meeting between yourself, the new professional and the client. When assessing the overall situation, remember that the client may be a perpetrator of violence while having also been subjected to domestic violence during childhood.

Inform the client about data processing, confidentiality obligations and statutory reporting duties. If the client has underage children and violence occurs at home, file a child welfare notification. Explain openly about your reporting obligation and that the notification is a way to obtain help.

If you suspect violence against a child, read the detailed instructions on the reporting obligation.
Duty to notify violence against a child