Information for professionals
MARAC
The Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is an initiative designed to bring agencies together to discuss the safety and well-being of people that are at high risk of further serious harm or death.
Who is referred to the MARAC?
Practitioners from a wide range of agencies across Tameside are trained to identify domestic abuse and ask the right questions to help them make a decision about the risks to victims and their family members.
People who are identified as being at ‘high risk’ of serious current or future harm from domestic abuse will be referred to the MARAC.
As a practitioner referring someone to MARAC you need to explain what the MARAC is and ask if you agree for your details to be discussed with other agencies at the meeting. You should explain that all information that is shared at the meeting is kept secure and only shared for the purposes of safeguarding the victim. Every MARAC representative from across all agencies must sign a confidentiality agreement before the meeting begins.
The alleged perpetrator is not aware that the MARAC is taking place and information will not be passed on to them.
If the victim does not consent to sharing their information but you believe that they are at risk of serious harm or death you must refer to MARAC without consent and explain to the victim that you are doing this and why.
Bridges Domestic Abuse Service
Bridges is the domestic abuse service within Tameside which provides an outreach service for all and refuge provision for women and their children at risk. In addition, they offer dispersed properties to occasions when the refuge is not appropriate/accessible.
The Bridges team has a range of specialist workers; these include vital workers and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). IDVAs address the safety of victims at high risk of harm from partners, ex-partners or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.
IDVAs work with their client from the point of crisis and serve as a victim’s primary point of contact. After assessing the level of risk, they discuss the range of suitable options and develop the appropriate safety plans.
Safety plans are tailored to the client’s needs; they include emergency accommodation, civil/legal protection, signposting to other agencies and court support.
A key worker’s role is similar to that of an IDVA; however, they work on cases where clients are considered at standard or medium risk.
Support work is completed one-to-one, with some planned sessions around domestic abuse. Specialist workers also attend the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) daily, working alongside PCSOs to complete a triage of standard risk Public Protection Incidents (PPIs) in Tameside.