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Jesrine Clarke-Darrington,
Parveen Ali,
and
Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for health and social care professionals, including nurses, doctors, family support workers, and community workers. It will also appeal to lawyers, school teachers, police, and anyone familiar with victims of domestic violence. This course has been designed to help practitioners who work with victims of domestic violence and abuse to provide effective support. We regret that we are unable to provide direct support to victims in this course.
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for health and social care professionals, including nurses, doctors, family support workers, and community workers. It will also appeal to lawyers, school teachers, police, and anyone familiar with victims of domestic violence. This course has been designed to help practitioners who work with victims of domestic violence and abuse to provide effective support. We regret that we are unable to provide direct support to victims in this course.
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for health and social care professionals, including nurses, doctors, family support workers, and community workers. It will also appeal to lawyers, school teachers, police, and anyone familiar with victims of domestic violence. This course has been designed to help practitioners who work with victims of domestic violence and abuse to provide effective support. We regret that we are unable to provide direct support to victims in this course.
Topics Covered
- Gender and gender role expectations
- Forms of domestic violence and abuse (DVA)
- The prevalence of DVA around the world
- Factors that influence violence
- The impact on victims, families and children
- Recognising signs and symptoms of DVA
- Talking to victims
- Safety planning
- How the law can protect victims
- Working in multi-agency partnerships
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/vimq1q/supporting
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Reviews summary
Comprehensive support for domestic violence victims
According to students, this course is an exceptionally comprehensive and practical resource for professionals working with victims of domestic violence. Learners praise its clear and empathetic presentation, highlighting the actionable advice on safety planning and legal protections, as well as crucial modules on recognizing signs and effective communication techniques. While largely seen as an essential and empowering learning experience, some experienced learners felt it was more suited for beginners, suggesting a need for more advanced strategies. A few older reviews mentioned that some statistics might be dated, though this does not diminish its overall value.
Serves as an excellent starting point for new practitioners.
"The course is okay, but it felt a bit introductory in some areas... it might be more suited for beginners."
"Good foundational knowledge. The course did a great job of emphasizing the importance of multi-agency collaboration."
"I found this course helpful for a general overview, but it didn't dive deep enough into specific intervention models..."
Instructors present sensitive topics with clarity and empathy.
"The content was incredibly comprehensive and the instructors presented it in a very clear and empathetic manner."
"The instructors were knowledgeable and presented complex topics clearly."
"The discussions around gender and societal factors were handled with great sensitivity."
Covers a wide range of essential topics thoroughly.
"This course was absolutely fantastic. The content was incredibly comprehensive and the instructors presented it in a very clear..."
"A very informative course covering a wide range of topics related to domestic violence. The material was well-structured..."
"The breadth of topics covered, from the psychological impact to legal avenues, is impressive."
Provides actionable strategies for supporting victims effectively.
"I particularly appreciated the modules on safety planning and legal protections, which provided practical, actionable advice."
"The information on recognizing signs and talking to victims was especially useful for my work as a social worker. I'm already applying some of the strategies learned."
"I found the practical advice on safety planning and legal frameworks to be incredibly valuable."
Some statistics and older modules could benefit from updates.
"The older content could use some refreshing, especially statistics."
"Generally good, but some parts felt a bit dated, particularly the statistics."
"The production quality of some earlier modules wasn't great."
Activities
Coming soon
We're preparing activities for
Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence.
These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.
Career center
Learners who complete Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/vimq1q/supporting
Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Provides a comprehensive overview of intimate partner violence from a health-based perspective, exploring the physical, mental, and sexual health consequences of abuse.
Explores the relationship between domestic violence and child welfare, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities for intervention and prevention.
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Explores the gender-based violence and post-conflict reconstruction, offering insights into the unique challenges and opportunities for addressing abuse in post-conflict settings.
Includes a chapter on international criminal law and domestic violence, providing a comprehensive overview of the legal framework and challenges in addressing abuse at the international level.
Comprehensive treatise on the crime of domestic violence, offering a detailed analysis of the legal and social issues surrounding abuse.
Explores the relationship between domestic violence and mental health, offering insights into the psychological impact of abuse and the challenges in providing effective treatment.
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Is considered a foundational text for understanding the motivations and beliefs of abusive individuals. It is particularly useful for gaining a broad understanding of the dynamics of abusive relationships and is often recommended for both victims and professionals. It can serve as valuable background reading for anyone studying domestic violence. It is widely referenced and considered a must-read in the field.
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A recent and highly acclaimed work, this book provides a contemporary look at the epidemic of domestic violence in the United States. It delves into the systemic failures in addressing the issue and challenges common misconceptions. is essential for deepening one's understanding of the current landscape and must-read for anyone seeking to grasp the severity and complexity of domestic violence today. It is based on extensive reporting and research.
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A classic in the field of trauma studies, this book provides a deep understanding of the psychological impact of violence, including domestic abuse. It outlines stages of recovery and places individual trauma within a broader social and political context. While not solely focused on domestic violence, it offers crucial background knowledge on the effects of trauma that is essential for anyone working in this field. It is often used as a foundational text in academic settings.
This investigative work focuses on the dynamics of coercive control and challenges the common question of 'why doesn't she leave?' by centering the perpetrator's actions. It provides a contemporary and in-depth analysis of how domestic abuse operates and the societal systems that enable it. is highly relevant for understanding contemporary issues and deepening one's knowledge of abusive power dynamics. It multi-award winning book and considered a must-read.
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While broader than just domestic violence, this book valuable resource for understanding and recognizing potential danger, including in intimate relationships. It focuses on trusting one's intuition and assessing risk. provides helpful supplementary knowledge for personal safety and can be particularly useful for victims or those supporting them. It popular and widely recommended book.
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This practical guide offers support and information for women in abusive relationships, covering various forms of abuse. It includes exercises and stories from survivors, making it a valuable resource for those experiencing or seeking to understand abusive dynamics. It is particularly useful for gaining a broad understanding from a victim's perspective and as a supportive tool.
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Introduces and elaborates on the concept of coercive control as a central dynamic in domestic violence. It provides a deeper theoretical framework for understanding the non-physical tactics of abuse and their impact. This key text for deepening one's understanding of the complexities of abuse beyond physical violence and is highly relevant for contemporary discussions.
A classic in the field, this book introduced the concept of the 'battered woman syndrome' and shed light on the psychological experiences of women in abusive relationships. While some of its theories have evolved, it remains an important historical text for understanding the development of research and awareness in domestic violence. It provides valuable historical context and foundational understanding.
Provides a concise and accessible overview of key facts and statistics related to domestic violence. It good starting point for gaining a broad understanding of the prevalence, nature, and impact of abuse. This book can serve as helpful introductory reading for those new to the topic or as a quick reference tool.
Focusing specifically on verbal abuse, this book helps readers identify and understand this often-overlooked form of abuse. It provides strategies for responding to verbal aggression and its impact on self-esteem. is useful for deepening understanding of a specific type of abuse and its psychological effects.
Explores various forms of non-physical abuse, including emotional and psychological manipulation, which are central to coercive control. It helps readers identify subtle signs of abuse and provides guidance on coping and healing. This valuable resource for understanding the less visible aspects of domestic violence.
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Combining memoir, reporting, and research, this book offers a personal and insightful account of intimate partner violence, particularly focusing on abuse of power. It helps to expose the prevalence of abuse among seemingly powerful individuals. provides a contemporary perspective and adds a powerful personal dimension to understanding the issue.
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A landmark feminist work, this book fundamentally changed the understanding of rape by arguing it tool of patriarchal control rather than a crime of passion. While focused on rape, its analysis of violence against women within societal power structures is highly relevant to understanding the roots of domestic violence. It is considered a classic and provides essential historical and theoretical context.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/vimq1q/supporting
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