At the height of the pandemic, Desq began working with Somerset Council to develop training on how professionals should respond to domestic abuse.
The COVID-19 pandemic had forced Somerset Council to suspend their face-to-face training, just as appeals from people experiencing domestic abuse were at an all-time high. Not only this, but the then upcoming Domestic Abuse Act (2021) would soon place a legal duty on local authorities to support victims in their area.
Victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse are often in frequent contact with a wide range of services—from health and social care and children’s services to police, housing services, education and many more. This means professionals in these areas are ideally placed to spot signs of abuse and offer some support.
It was vital that practitioners finished the training feeling confident about what they could personally do to support victims – and that they felt empowered to take action.
We concluded that the best way to do this was to immerse them in video branching scenarios where they could experience what it’s like to respond to realistic situations.
To make it as relevant and close to home as possible, we chunked the learning into modules that were role-specific – from Housing and Education to Healthcare Professionals and Substance Misuse – and developed a video branching scenario for each.
We worked closely with Somerset Council and their network of professionals to develop realistic choices that included common mistakes or errors that professionals often make.
"We wanted to give learners a safe space to practice and see the consequences of their actions."
After the scenario played out, a narrator highlighted any missteps made and offered suggestions for how they might have navigated the scenario better. Practitioners were encouraged to replay the scenario to see how different approaches played out.
We worked with one of our film partners, Magneto Films, who helped us cast, script and film the scenarios with professional actors. This helped make the dramatisations feel as realistic as possible, as well as accurately representing the nuances in how professions and victims respond.
Now, five years on, the lessons from that early pandemic-era training continue to resonate. As services rebuild, reconnect, and in many cases redesign their approaches to safeguarding and supporting victims, we’ve seen the long-term value of equipping professionals with immersive, practical learning tools.
Domestic abuse did not begin with the pandemic, and it certainly hasn’t ended with it. But what we’ve seen is a sustained commitment to training and awareness, and a recognition that learning how to respond – effectively and empathetically – is an ongoing process.
We spoke with one of the practitioners who completed the training at the time, and asked them to reflect on the impact it’s had:
“Possibly the best online training I’ve ever done. Very moving in places, very informative. Really thought-provoking and I’ve already been able to use some of what I have learnt to help a friend in a difficult home situation.”
As we look ahead, we're proud to have played a part in helping build more responsive, confident frontline services – and we remain committed to evolving this training to meet the challenges of the future.
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