Survivor-safety oriented perpetrator work

Ensure perpetrator programmes are safe for partners & children

This training provides key competencies for perpetrator programmes and victim support services for running safe, victim-safety-centred perpetrator work. Ensuring internal victim support measures and close cooperation of perpetrator programs and victim support services is a core demand of international standards, such as the Istanbul Convention. However, many programmes face challenges in establishing these measures.

This training is practice-based and offers concrete guidance and tools to start or improve this essential aspect of the work.

Learn how to

  • Collaborate with victim support services/perpetrator programmes
  • Ensure your programme is working in line with international standards for perpetrator work
  • Overcome the challenges of building good collaboration
  • Choose the model of victim support that works for your programme

Training agenda

  • Understand why a survivor-centred approach is central to working with perpetrators 
  • Learn about service-generated risks and how to mitigate them 
  • Learn why cooperation between perpetrator programmes and survivor support services is crucial for the safety of survivors 
  • Understand how to set up cooperation and what typical challenges are in practice 
  • Learn about possible models of survivor contact and support for perpetrator programmes
  • Understand which model would be the best for your organisation
  • Learn about roles, responsibilities and information sharing
  • Build your skills in managing challenging situations in cooperation and information sharing using real practice case studies 
  • Learn how survivor support services and perpetrator programmes jointly assess and manage risks 
  • Build your skills in running risk management meetings using practical case studies

The trainers

Kath Albiston

Kath Albiston has worked in the UK for over 20 years in roles dealing directly or indirectly with domestic violence. As a consultant and trainer, she specialises in risk management and safeguarding, providing supervision, and designing and implementing domestic violence and risk assessments, policies and procedures. Kath further specialises as a Chairperson and author of Domestic Homicide and Serious Case Reviews, and undertakes expert assessments for family and civil courts.

Fionnuala Collins

Fionnuala Collins currently works part-time in Ireland as a local coordinator of  the TLC Kidz programme-a specialised group recovery programme for mothers and children who have experienced domestic abuse. She is also studying for a Masters degree and the focus of her research is engaging fathers effectively after gender based violence. Previous to this, Fionnuala has accumulated 25 years of experience in a variety of frontline roles in the community and voluntary sector,  the last 5 years focusing on male perpetrators.  Based on the WWP "Engage" guidelines, she developed and delivered tailored training for a diverse range of frontline staff in Ireland, to support breaking the stigma and engaging perpetrators effectively.

Fionnuala develops methods to encourage reflection, thinking, and deeper engagement, understanding that gender based violence is a complex issue that requires good understanding, protocols, and practices both internally and between agencies/sectors. Fionnuala is both a member of the WWP steering committee which is developing European Quality Assured Standards and an independent, external evaluator of grant applications for those wishing to develop quality work across Europe in this area.

It was a really helpful training with lots of information and what I liked most, was the group collaboration and the assignments because they helped me think in a more critical way.

Anonymous