Closing the Gap in Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programmes: DVACT-PAIs National Support for Children's Services
In response to increased demand for high standard perpetrator work DVACT-PAI has expanded it's capacity to provide flexible and accessible perpetrator work across the UK
Children's services across the UK are facing increasing challenges when trying to access appropriate domestic abuse perpetrator programmes for parents involved in child protection, and family court proceedings. Families that need support to address abusive behaviour, understand its impact on children and make meaningful changes are often unable to access a suitable intervention. This may be due to lack of provision in the area, referral criteria, waiting lists or a lack of flexibility in delivery that are unable to meet the particular circumstances of a family. For social workers and other professionals, this can create a significant gap in intervention.
To meet this increasing need DVACT-PAI have increased their capacity to complete one to one work with perpetrators the following provides an understanding of the difficulties and how DVACT-PAI are able to overcome the barriers to a vital intervention that aims to safeguard vulnerable children from abuse in the home.
Financial Impact on Interventions
A 2025 report by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners noted that while perpetrator interventions are commissioned across many police force areas, short-term and piecemeal funding streams frequently cause local community-based schemes to open, restructure, or shut down unpredictably. Insufficient funding has long been a source of difficulty for perpetrator programmes, however, the decision by the Ministry of Justice to decommission their Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) network in 2022, essentially ending direct court-linked referrals in family proceedings, caused a funding crisis for many programmes.
Local financial, contracting arrangements may also provide a barrier to parents accessing support when they live outside the borough or where there is a cap on numbers or restricted criteria. DVACT-PAI work on a spot purchase basis, with children's services able to fund individual places for parents. There are no restrictions on the locality of the parent in relation to children's services and this approach provides ongoing financial stability for the service. We are also able to accept self-funding parents or part funding where this is deemed appropriate by the referring social worker.
A flexible solution when local programmes are unavailable
One of the biggest barriers facing professionals is finding a programme that will accept referrals from outside a particular local authority area or geographical region. Additionally social workers and commissioning teams are often working under considerable pressure to identify appropriate services within tight timescales. When local programmes have waiting lists, geographical restrictions or referral criteria that exclude a particular family, this can delay access to intervention.
DVACT-PAI programmes are delivered on a one-to-one basis using video calling, enabling us to work with parents wherever they are based in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, (subject to appropriate assessment and service suitability). This removes the geographical barrier and helps children's services access specialist perpetrator work without being restricted to the availability of programmes in their immediate area.
Remote delivery also removes some of the practical barriers that can prevent parents from accessing support, including travel difficulties, childcare arrangements, work commitments and the availability of local services.
Individual programmes designed around the parent
Domestic abuse is complex, and parents who use abusive behaviour do not all present with the same needs, attitudes, experiences or levels of understanding. A standardised or manualised approach will not necessarily address the particular issues affecting an individual parent, particularly parents in child protection measures that often have complex needs. Delivering programmes on a one-to-one basis, allows DVACT-PAI to provide focus on the specific child protection concerns and the pace and focus of the work can be responsive to the parent's individual circumstances.
For our behavioural change programme this provides an opportunity to explore issues such as:
Understanding domestic abuse and the different forms it can take.
Recognising patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour.
Understanding the impact of domestic abuse on children.
Recognising the impact of abusive behaviour on partners and former partners.
Taking responsibility for behaviour rather than minimising, justifying or blaming others.
Developing an understanding of power, control and entitlement.
Exploring attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that contribute to abuse.
Developing safer and more respectful ways of communicating and managing conflict.
Understanding healthy, respectful sexual relationships.
Developing practical reparative parenting techniques.
Working with parents who have additional needs
Professionals will be familiar with the challenges of finding suitable interventions for parents who have additional needs or circumstances that make accessing conventional programmes difficult. Some parents may have learning difficulties, communication needs, mental health difficulties, neurodivergence, literacy difficulties or other personal circumstances that affect their ability to participate in group-based work. Others may struggle with the practical requirements of attending a programme, particularly where travel, employment, childcare or geographical isolation are barriers. Our individual delivery model allows us to consider these circumstances and provide a programme that may be a more appropriate way of engaging them in meaningful work.
Sessions can also be delivered to those traditionally excluded from groupwork programmes such as:
Those that require a translator.
Female perpetrators.
Same sex parents.
Sex offenders.
Working with parents at any stage of the case
DVACT-PAI can consider referrals at different stages of a family's involvement with children's services and the family courts. Our approach is not restricted to parents who are at a particular point in proceedings and we recognise that professionals may need to commission an intervention:
Before or during child protection proceedings.
While a child protection plan is in place.
During public law care proceedings.
During private law children proceedings.
Following court directions or recommendations.
As part of ongoing safeguarding and family support planning.
Where concerns about domestic abuse have been identified but local intervention is unavailable.
We understand that every family has different circumstances and that the timing of intervention can be important. Our individual approach allows us to consider the impact on the child and their timescales alongside the referral information, identified risks and the parent's circumstances, when determining whether a programme is appropriate.
Providing an intervention to those unsuitable for behaviour change
Domestic abuse prevention (perpetrator) programmes (DAPP's) are behaviour change programmes and therefore require participants to demonstrate a certain level of acceptance that their behaviour requires change and be motivated to make those changes. In cases where the perpetrator does not admit to their abusive behaviour this leaves social workers with no way to progress the case and keeps perpetrators in a state of entrenched denial with no opportunity to work on their behaviour. Pressure then rests solely on the victim to make changes and, in many cases, nothing further is done to engage the perpetrator in meaningful work to challenge their abusive behaviour.
To address this gap in provision DVACT-PAI experts have created a unique motivational programme specifically for these perpetrators who have children in child protection measures and are willing to complete domestic abuse work. This programme aims to get perpetrators to the point at which they can attend a full perpetrator programme. The programme is suitable for perpetrators who:
have been found unsuitable for a programme due to their denial/minimisation.
deny or minimise abusive behaviour but are willing to participate in domestic abuse work.
admit to low risk incidents but deny using high risk behaviour.
Programme sessions are tailored to the needs of the parent but will typically cover the following:
identifying the source of resistance.
understanding the cycle of violence and abuse.
gains and losses from changing behaviour.
understanding the impact of domestic abuse on children.
understanding the Local Authorities concerns.
viewing DAPP material to prepare for a full programme.
cultural challenges.
Supporting children's services to address risk and promote change
For children's services, domestic abuse intervention is not simply about providing a parent with an opportunity to attend a programme. It is about understanding whether the work can contribute to meaningful behavioural change and improved safety for children and the non-abusive parent. Professionals need to be able to identify whether a parent is developing an understanding of their behaviour, accepting responsibility and demonstrating an ability to make and sustain changes.
DVACT-PAI recognises the importance of this wider safeguarding context and that attendance or completion of a programme should never, in itself, be treated as evidence that risk has reduced or that a child or non-abusive parent is safe. Our aim is to provide meaningful intervention that can contribute to a wider assessment of risk, safety planning and decision-making. Therefore, all of our interventions include the provision of information and support to ex and current partners from our linked support service, an initial suitability assessment and final report.
The final report is completed by a DVACT-PAI registered assessor and is independent from the practitioner delivering the sessions. All registered assessors are experienced expert witnesses meaning that the report can be used with confidence in court proceedings. The final report includes:
sessions missed/attended.
what the sessions covered.
whether the perpetrator has met the targets outlined at the beginning of the work.
recommendations for further work.
recommendations for risk management strategies.
Clear Informed Referral Process
Our decisions about the appropriateness of an intervention is always based on what is in the best interest of the child therefore The most appropriate programme is typically determined following a suitability assessment. This involves a one-to-two-hour Zoom interview with the parent and a review of relevant case documents. Following this, we provide a suitability report which aids professionals in making an informed decision on the best course of action. This report outlines:
Positive and negative indicators for successful behavioural change.
likely prognosis.
recommended work to address child protection concerns,
bespoke treatment plan.
conditions for acceptance on a programme for risk management.
Effective information-sharing is a vital element of safeguarding and several Serious Case Reviews have highlighted poor information-sharing as a factor. In order for us to provide an intervention that improves the child/ren’s safety we always consider collateral information. To accept a referral we require a completed referral form and access to social services or court documents. These documents are used to identify the concerns of the court, assess the parents suitability for the programme and respond to risks and concerns about the safety and welfare of the victim and child/ren during the programme. The final report will also need the documents to inform any recommendations regarding risk management and child contact.
Referrals can be made by contacting the programmes team at programmes@dvact.org with the team available to answer any questions you may have by email or on the phone at 0203 967 8368 (option 2).
Helplines and Support
DVACT-PAI are committed to protecting the public and safeguarding children from abuse in the home.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
In an emergency always dial 999. If you dial 999 and are unable to speak press 55 and follow the instructions from the operator, find out more here -https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/research-learning/Silent_solution_guide.pdf
If you are a child affected by domestic abuse or are concerned about a child call:
Childline on 0800 1111 you can also go to https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/
NSPCC (Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm or 9am – 6pm at the weekends) - 0808 800 5000 or Contact counsellors 24 hours a day by email or online reporting form help@nspcc.org.uk
Kaleidoscopic UK provides independent, confidential and free on-going survivor led support groups. Available to anyone who has experienced any form of domestic abuse. Visit their website at https://www.kaleidoscopic.uk/
If you are a domestic abuse perpetrator who is not involved in childrens services and want to self refer to a programme you can contact Respect on 0808 8024040
Helplines are available in the UK as follows:
The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428
Action on Elder Abuse helpline: 0808 808 8141
The Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Whatever you're going through, you can call free any time, from any phone, on 116 123
About DVACT-PAI
DVACT-PAI are a team of domestic abuse experts, available throughout the UK, who provide assessments, programmes, consultancy and training to local authorities and the family courts. Our experts have decades of experience working directly with domestic abuse perpetrators and victims, as specialist assessors and as expert witnesses in the family courts.
DV-ACT was formed with the aim of using our expertise to help safeguard children from abuse, this is at the heart of everything that we do. To read more about us please visit our post - Who are DV-ACT?
