What is the VAWDASV Act?
The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 is a landmark law, the first of its kind in the UK. The purpose of this Act is to provide:
- Arrangements for the prevention of gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
- Arrangements for the protection of victims of gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
- Support for people affected by gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
- A National Training Framework
- A duty on Welsh Ministers to publish and implement a national strategy for tackling violence against women, and a duty on local authorities to produce and implement local strategies.
What is the National Training Framework?
The first of its kind in the United Kingdom, the National Training Framework offers proportionate training to strengthen the response provided across Wales to those experiencing VAWDASV. It does this within a national context which ensures the quality of training, and the required professional practice is standardised. This will ensure that no matter where a survivor accesses services within Wales, the professional response they receive is consistently excellent.
How does Group 6 fit into the National Training Framework?
The National Training Framework is formed of six groups and a specialist subject syllabus. Although there is some progression within the Framework, generally each part of it relates to a specific group of professions who, following training, will form part of a workforce working towards a collective aim; to improve the response to those who have experienced VAWDASV.
Group 1: Public Service employees complete an e-learning course to increase their understanding of Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence & increase their confidence to recognise the signs of possible violence and abuse and to signpost colleagues, friends and family to specialist services.
Group 2: Ask & Act training is delivered to public service staff who are most likely to be making contact with those experiencing VAWDASV as part of their roles. The primary objective of “Ask and Act” is to enable relevant professionals to “ask” potential victims about the possibility that they are experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, or other forms of gender-based violence in certain circumstances and to “act” so suffering and harm as a result of the violence and abuse is reduced.
Group 3: Participants will hold enhanced knowledge relating to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence and be able to implement effective practice to support colleagues and ensure that all members of a family experiencing violence and abuse are offered effective interventions. G3 is for any professional who has a lead responsibility for their profession in terms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (e.g. safeguarding nurses, specialist midwives) & workplace champions.
Group 4: Group 4 of the National Training Framework is delivered to those in specialist roles working directly and only with those who have experienced VAWDASV. G4 aims to ensure all specialist professionals are appropriately trained to ensure clients have access to expert practitioners at the point at which they seek help from services.
Group 5: Training for group 5 equips participants to understand the processes required to manage a service to those affected by violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence and to enhance the performance of frontline workers through strong management and leadership.
Group 6: Group 6 of the Framework aims to encourage building towards a culture and infrastructure which provides leadership and management support to introduce and implement the knowledge and practice direction held within groups 1 to 5. Delivery to group 6 combines an annually reviewed Strategic Engagement Plan with a series of relevant supporting materials.
