Tackling domestic violence is a high priority in Rotterdam. Domestic violence is a big problem, often with serious consequences for those involved and for society at large. It regularly occurs that people are actually killed as a result of this form of violence. The best way to stop it is to detect it, report it and to put it up for discussion early. The Rotterdam approach aims to stop domestic violence as soon as possible and to prevent violence from being passed down from one generation to the next.

Why a Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct for Reporting Domestic Violence and Child Abuse is a step-by-step action plan for careproviders and institutions that can be followed where domestic violence or child abuse are suspected or detected. The action plan offers carers support by making clear what is expected of them. This clarity is not only important for the care provider, but certainly also for providing effective help to the victim and the perpetrator.

Who is the Code of Conduct aimed at

The Code of Conduct is aimed at all care providers and institutions that offer education, shelter, assistance, care or support, such as teachers, social workers, doctors, nurses and psychiatric nurses, childcare employees, carers and the like.

AMK and ASHG: for advice and to report incidents

At every step of the Code of Conduct, contact can always be made with the AMK (the Child Abuse Counselling and Reporting Centre) and with the ASHG (the Domestic Violence Advice and Counselling Centre). They can provide information on the signs of abuse and can provide assistance in the approach taken and in discussions held with clients. When a

care provider or institution cannot manage on their own, the case can be reported, so that the AMK or ASHG can take over the handling of the matter either entirely or in part. After abuse has been reported, the AMK or ASHG indicates which procedures have been put in motion. The AMK is called in if the matter concerns the abuse of children or young people, while the ASHG can be consulted in the case of domestic violence where adults are involved.

The four steps in the Code of Conduct

1. Discuss violence/suspected violence with the

client.

An important fundamental attitude for care providers and teachers is openness towards the client. This is why the matter is first of all discussed with him/her. Important: skip this step if it may endanger the safety of the client, or if it is suspected that the client may break off contact with the care provider after the discussion.

2. Consult an expert colleague or the AMK or

ASHG.

If concerns persist after the discussion with the client, discuss the violence/suspected violence with an expert colleague, the AMK or the ASHG.

3. Always report suspicions of serious violence to the AMK or ASHG.

In the best interests of the client, serious violence should always reported. Otherwise the risk is too great that various care providers could end up working past each other. By reporting the matter, all the information is brought together, and the various actions by care providers can be coordinated.

Serious violence

The seriousness of the violence can be determined (amongst other things) in the light of:

- its duration and intensity

- the use of weapons or other serious means

- the chance of the actions being repeated

- the seriousness of the physical and/or psychological injury to the victim

- the presence of children in the case of structural partner abuse

4. When the violence/suspected violence is addressed by the care provider him/herself, he/she must continue to follow the client so that a report can be made if the violence does not stop.

If there is no serious violence involved, the client wants assistance and it is possible to provide this assistance or organise for it to be provided, then this should certainly be done, but do not do it alone! In case of doubt, consult an expert colleague or the AMK or ASHG. Continue to follow the client, make follow-up appointments and be on the look-out for signs that could indicate that the violence is starting up again, in which case you should report it after all. The Code of Conduct and professional confidentiality. As a professional working in care, education, help services or assistance, you are under an obligation to observe professional confidentiality. This implies that permission has to be requested from the client before his/her case may be discussed with a third party. Professional confidentiality is not inviolable, however. In the case of domestic violence or child abuse (or suspicions of it), action should always be taken. Suspicions should be investigated further, and if domestic violence is indeed taking place, then both victim and perpetrator need to receive help in order for the violence to stop. This is so important that it should take priority over professional confidentiality. The Code of Conduct indicates how the necessary steps can be taken in a proper manner. Openness to the client A client is entitled to expect from the care provider that no action be taken without consulting him/her. Three rules of thumb when it comes to an open way of working are:

- discuss your concerns and suspicions with the client

- involve the client as far as possible in the assistance that needs to be initiated

- inform the client if a decision is made to report the abuse

Important: these rules of thumb can be deviated from:

- in order to ensure the safety of the client or the care provider

- if it is feared that the client may break off contact with the care provider as a result.

Reporting to the police

Child abuse and domestic violence are punishable by law. The AMK and ASHG have an agreement with the police that they will report cases of serious violence to the police, so that criminal proceedings can be started. But care providers can also report cases of domestic

violence to the police if it becomes apparent that this is essential to ensure the safety of the client. Within an institution, both an expert colleague and a superior should be consulted first, and the report made on behalf of the institution by a director of the institution.

The care provider is not alone

As soon as a care provider starts work at an institution that has signed the Code of Conduct,  the employer needs to ensure that he/she is capable of effectively following the Code of Conduct, for instance by offering training and by setting up the organisation in such a

way that the new employee can always fall back on a special-task employee or a team of expert colleagues. Should a client lodge a complaint about a care provider in a case where the Code of Conduct was followed, then the care giver is entitled to support (including legal support) from the employer. In short, the reporting Code of Conduct is not only a matter for

the individual care provider, but also for the institution for which he/she works.

Domestic violence

‘Violence and/or threats of violence by someone in the domestic circle. “Violence” is understood to mean: the physical, sexual or psychological violation of the personal integrity of the victim, including their exploitation. The domestic circle of the victim is understood to

include: partners and former partners, family members and friends’.

Child abuse

‘Every form of interaction with a minor that is threatening or violent in a physical, psychological or sexual manner, including exploitation, that the parents or other persons with whom the minor is in a relationship of dependence or lack of freedom force on the minor

either passively or actively, so that serious harm is done or may imminently be done to the minor in the form of physical or psychological injury’.

More information

The full text of the Code of Conduct and a detailed explanation of it can be found in Dutch at: www.ggd.rotterdam.nl or visit www.huiselijkgeweld.rotterdam.nl

Contact

For content-related information, please contact: Anthony Polychronakis (senior policy advisor for domestic violence)

at +31 (0)10 43 39 162 or polychronakisa@ggd.rotterdam.nl

GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Postbus 700