Implications for social work practice and assessment

• Social workers need to feel knowledeable about substance use and domestic violence as separate issues to confidently and sensitively ask questions.
  
  
• They also need to be aware of the links between the two, so if one is identified, they assess appropriate for the 'other' issue.
  
  
• Social workers who know their local resources, both in terms of domestic violence, alcohol and drug agencies are best placed to respond to the answers they are given and to support the victim and any children.
  
  
• It is important to believe victims of domestic violence. At no time does a person deserve or provoke violence or abuse. Disclosing domestic violence feels shameful and stigmatising. Important not to continue the abuse by blaming the victim for her partner's violent and abusive actgions or for not leaving him when she is likely to have nowhere to go.
  
• Support the woman by holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions, as far as the law allows, and in agreement with the woman, e.g. non-molestation or occupancy orders.

Introduction | Impact of domestic violence on women | Impact of domestic violence on children
Additional risk factors | Good practice examples | Websites