Social Work Now: The scourge of domestic violence has to be confronted head-on

There are more than one million female victims of domestic violence a year in England and Wales while in an average week, two women will lose their lives at the hands of a current or former partner. For children, the psychological impact of growing up around violence every day, involving the very people who are supposed to provide them with unconditional love and care, can be devastating and last a lifetime. The tragic truth is that children who witness domestic violence are much more likely to become abusers as adults. Our feature this month underlines the importance for all social workers to be alert to any signs of violence in the home. Broaching the issue of domestic violence with the suspected victim might be difficult but is essential. Working with other professionals and specialists is also crucial in order to get to the root of the abuse. This month's multi-agency panel considers a suspected case of domestic abuse, demonstrating clearly how social workers cannot work in isolation to protect women and children.