England & Wales — Verified Resources and Legal Responsibilities
A comprehensive guide for NHS, primary care, and multi-agency teams
Why This Matters
Nearly half a million victims of domestic abuse seek assistance from medical professionals every year. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner reports that domestic abuse features in almost 90% of family court cases. Healthcare professionals are often the first—and sometimes only—professionals that victims encounter, making training essential for recognition, response, and referral.
This resource provides verified training links, legal responsibilities, and multi-agency resources for healthcare professionals across England and Wales.
Legal Responsibilities to Recognise and Act
Healthcare professionals in the UK have specific legal and professional duties regarding domestic abuse. Understanding these responsibilities is crucial for ensuring compliance and maintaining patient safety.
Key Legislation and Professional Duties
| Framework | Healthcare Responsibilities |
| Domestic Abuse Act 2021 | Recognises children as victims in their own right. Prohibits GPs from charging for supporting letters for legal aid applications. Creates statutory framework for multi-agency working. |
| VAWDASV (Wales) Act 2015 | Statutory duty on Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts to provide consistent ‘Ask and Act’ training to all staff. Mandatory refresher training every 3 years for Group 2; every 2 years for Group 3. |
| Care Act 2014 | Duty to safeguard adults at risk. Healthcare professionals must report concerns to Local Authority when there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect. |
| Children Act 2004 (Section 11) | Organisations must ensure functions are discharged with regard to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children. Includes domestic abuse exposure. |
| NHS Mandatory Safeguarding Training | All NHS staff must undertake mandatory safeguarding training which includes focus on domestic abuse. Levels 1-4 depending on role and patient contact. |
| NICE Guidelines (PH50) | Commissioners and providers have responsibility to enable guideline application. Quality Standard requires adequate training for appropriate and consistent response to disclosures. |
| FGM Mandatory Reporting | Mandatory reporting duty for regulated health professionals to report known cases of FGM in under-18s to Police (via 101). In force since October 2015. |
| NMC Code / GMC Good Medical Practice | Professional duty to act on concerns about patient safety, maintain competence in safeguarding, and work within multi-agency frameworks. |
What Healthcare Professionals Must Do
- Recognise signs and indicators of domestic abuse in patients
- Complete mandatory safeguarding training appropriate to role
- Ask about domestic abuse when clinically relevant (using appropriate enquiry methods)
- Document disclosures accurately and safely in clinical records
- Know local referral pathways and specialist services
- Make safeguarding referrals when adults or children are at risk
- Participate in multi-agency processes (including MARAC when required)
- Report FGM in under-18s to Police (mandatory for regulated professionals)
Wales — Healthcare Training
| Provider | Description | Cost | Link |
| NHS Wales VAWDASV e-Learning (Group 1) | Mandatory online training for all NHS Wales and local authority staff. Covers awareness, recognising abuse, and signposting. | FREE | Access |
| Ask and Act Group 2 Training | Statutory training for professionals likely to encounter abuse. Enables targeted enquiry and appropriate response. Refresher every 3 years. | FREE | Info |
| Ask and Act Group 3 (Champion) | Advanced training for those supporting colleagues with complex decisions. Champions advise on appropriate actions for all family members. | FREE | Info |
| Welsh Women’s Aid National Training Centre | CPD accredited and Agored Cymru Level 2/3 courses. Covers coercive control, domestic abuse awareness, vicarious trauma. Train the Trainer for Ask & Act. | Paid | Website |
| SafeLives Wales IDVA Foundation | Welsh Government-funded accredited training for IDVAs and domestic abuse practitioners. Relevant to NHS safeguarding teams. | FUNDED | Apply |
| Trusted Professional Training | Two-day course developed by Welsh Women’s Aid and Respect. Recognise signs, respond to disclosures, and refer appropriately. | Paid | Info |
England — Healthcare Training
| Provider | Description | Cost | Link |
| e-Learning for Healthcare (elfh) — DVA Programme | NHS England programme for health visitors and nurses. Covers identification, routine enquiry, impact on children, and safe responses. | FREE (NHS) | Access |
| IRIS Programme (Primary Care) | Evidence-based DVA training for GPs, practice nurses, and primary care teams. Includes embedded advocate-educators and referral pathways. RCGP Research Paper of the Year. | Commissioned | Website |
| ADViSE (Sexual Health Settings) | Specialist DVA programme for sexual health services. Partnership between IRISi and Advance charity. Trained 65 staff, supported 94 patients in first year. | Commissioned | Info |
| SafeLives — Understanding Domestic Abuse | One-day online course for all healthcare professionals. Covers coercive control, trauma, safe responses, and building confidence to discuss domestic abuse. | Paid | Book |
| SafeLives — DASH Risk Assessment | Training on using the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment risk checklist. Essential for those who may need to refer to MARAC. | Paid | Info |
| SafeLives — Non-Fatal Strangulation | Free e-Learning on recognising and responding to non-fatal strangulation, which became a criminal offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. | FREE | Register |
| NHS England — Safeguarding Level 3 & 4 | Mandatory safeguarding training including domestic abuse modules. Covers coercive control, DASH risk assessment, trauma-informed practice. | FREE (NHS) | Info |
| IDAS Free Online Courses | CPD accredited online courses on domestic abuse and sexual violence. Suitable for all professionals who may encounter victims. | FREE | Access |
| Free Courses in England — Level 2 | Government-funded Level 2 qualification in Understanding Domestic Abuse. Accredited certificate on completion. | FREE | Apply |
Scotland — Healthcare Training
| Provider | Description | Cost | Link |
| SafeLives DAART (Free Online) | Domestic Abuse Awareness Raising Tool. Free online resource for all professionals. Introduction to domestic abuse and coercive control. | FREE | Access |
| SafeLives — Open Training Scotland | Half-day and full-day courses for any professionals. Covers risk assessment, safety planning, young people, minority ethnic women. | £45-70 | Book |
| SafeLives IDAA Foundation | Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate training for Scotland. Equips managers and practitioners with skills for consistent, safe response to high-risk victims. | Paid | Apply |
| Identification & Referral Pathways | Empowers practitioners to recognise domestic abuse, navigate risk assessment and referral processes in Scotland. | Paid | Info |
| IRIS Scotland | Primary care DVA programme available in Scotland since 2013. Training, support and referral pathways for GP practices. | Commissioned | Website |
Multi-Agency Resources (Used by Healthcare)
| Resource | Description | Link |
| Live Fear Free (Wales) | Welsh Government helpline managed by Welsh Women’s Aid. 24/7 support for survivors, families, and professionals seeking guidance. Phone, text, email and webchat. Helpline: 0808 80 10 800 | Website |
| SafeLives Knowledge Hub | Comprehensive collection of research, toolkits, MARAC guidance, DASH risk assessment resources, Spotlight reports, and clinical practice materials for frontline professionals. | Access |
| SafeLives MARAC Resources | Resources for Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences including referral templates, governance guidance, toolkits for individual agencies, video resources, and quarterly national datasets. | Access |
| SafeLives DASH Resources | Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment risk checklist in multiple languages. Practice guidance, FAQs, and versions adapted for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. | Download |
| Welsh Government VAWDASV | National Training Framework, Ask and Act guidance, implementation resources, and professional guidance for relevant authorities in Wales. Strategy 2022-2026. | Access |
| UK Government Statutory Guidance | Domestic Abuse Act 2021 statutory guidance covering multi-agency responsibilities, NHS duties, definition of domestic abuse, and recognising children as victims. | Read |
| NICE Quality Standard (QS116) | Quality standard covering domestic violence and abuse. Ensures healthcare professionals receive adequate training for appropriate and consistent response to disclosures. | View |
| GOV.UK Health Professional Resource | Department of Health resource for all NHS staff. Draws on NICE guidelines. Covers legal and policy context, identification, sensitive enquiry, and responding to disclosures. | Read |
| Public Health Wales Safeguarding | Key topics guidance including VAWDASV, FGM protocols, honour-based violence, modern slavery, and links to Mental Capacity Act considerations. | Browse |
Key Helplines for Professionals and Patients
| Service | Number | Hours | Coverage |
| Live Fear Free | 0808 80 10 800 | 24/7 | Wales |
| National DA Helpline (Refuge) | 0808 2000 247 | 24/7 | UK (Women) |
| Men’s Advice Line | 0808 8010 327 | Mon-Fri 9 am-8pm | UK (Men) |
| Galop (LGBT+) | 0800 999 5428 | Various | UK (LGBT+) |
| Karma Nirvana | 0800 5999 247 | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm | UK (HBV/FM) |
| NSPCC Helpline | 0808 800 5000 | 24/7 | UK (Children) |
| Respect Perpetrator Line | 0808 802 4040 | Mon-Fri 9 am-8 pm | UK (Perpetrators) |
Key Points for Healthcare Professionals
- In Wales: Ask and Act training is a statutory duty for NHS staff. Group 1 e-learning is mandatory for all; Group 2 for those with patient contact.
- In England, Safeguarding training (Levels 1-4) must include domestic abuse. IRIS is the gold standard for primary care.
- DASH Risk Assessment: 14+ ticks = refer to MARAC. Professional judgement applies for cases below threshold with high-risk indicators.
- Children: Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, children who see, hear, or experience effects of abuse are victims in their own right.
- FGM: Mandatory reporting duty for regulated health professionals — report known cases in under-18s to Police via 101.
- GP practices with IRIS: 30 times more likely to refer patients to specialist support. 4.8 times more cost-effective than the flu jab.
- Research shows: ‘Lack of training and education’ is the most prevalent barrier preventing health professionals from screening for domestic abuse.
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This resource was created for NAAVoices.com
Links verified January 2025. Always check for the most current training availability.
Author: Laura Prince | www.naavoices.com
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