Outer Hebrides Domestic Abuse Forum (OHDAF)

”… Sharing, Networking - Promoting Good Practice”

The Outer Hebrides Domestic Abuse Forum (OHDAF) is a multi – agency partnership which seeks to reduce and prevent incidents of domestic abuse through effective co-operation between the private, public and voluntary sectors in the provision of high quality appropriate services and the protection of adults and children experiencing, affected by or at risk of suffering domestic abuse. The Forum meets four times a year.

Key Priorities

OHDAF has prioritised four key Objectives:

Objective 1:    Consolidate and progress Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferencing (MARAC) in the Outer Hebrides (see below)

Objective 2:      Consolidate and progress training strategy in line with key national and local priorities

Objective 3:      Strengthen the focus on the wider continuum of violence against women

Objective 4:      Strengthen the approach to children affected by Domestic Abuse

Local Context

The following table details Domestic Abuse Concerns raised for Eilean Siar for 2016 (Information provided by the Concern Hub, Public Protection Unit. Police Service of Scotland Police Scotland)

Domestic Abuse Concerns raised for Eilean Siar for 2016

 

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

Scotland

60,080

58,439

59,882

58,104

Outer Hebrides

94

124

145

154

Orkney

95

107

114

138

Shetland

101

86

107

134

Highland

2102

2047

2247

2312


MARAC

To actively address the increase in reported domestic violence incidents the OHDAF introduced ‘Multi- Agency Risk Assessment Conferences’ (MARAC) in 2016. A MARAC is a monthly risk management meeting where professionals share information on high risk cases of domestic violence and abuse and put in place a risk management plan. This has proven to be a successful partnership intervention. OHDAF also facilitates in-schools training and a programme of wider community domestic violence awareness-raising.

OHDAF Membership

  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council)
  • Outer Hebrides Community Safety Partnership
  • Hebridean Housing Partnership
  • Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
  • Criminal Justice Service, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
  • NHS Western Isles
  • Housing Services - CnES
  • Education and Children’s Services - CnES
  • Child Protection Committee
  • Police Scotland
  • Western Isles Women’s Aid
  • Action for Children
  • Western Isles Rape Crisis Centre
  • Western Isles Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP)

 

For all OHDAF enquiries please contact:

e-Mail :  fpcreighton@cne-siar.gov.uk 
Tel: 01870 604 985