MARAC Operating Protocol 2013 - Safer Derbyshire

Derbyshire MARAC Operating Protocol (MOP) 

I. INTRODUCTION 

The objective of Derbyshire MARAC is as follows: 

That in a single meeting a Domestic Violence (DV) MARAC will combine up to date information 

with a timely risk assessment of a victims needs and link those directly to the provision of 

appropriate services for all those involved in a DV case: victim, children and perpetrator. 

Derbyshire MARAC’s in all locations and areas within Derbyshire will seek to provide a service with the 

following aims: 

• To share information to increase the safety, health and well being of victims – adults 

and children; 

• To determine whether the perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular 

individual or the general community; 

• To construct jointly and implement a risk management plan that provides professional 

support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm; 

• To reduce repeat victimisation; 

• To improve agency accountability; 

• Improve support for all staff involved in High Risk DV cases. 

It is felt that the points stated above provide a clear rationale and justification for continuing with the 

MARAC process within Derbyshire and do not require further clarification. Derbyshire MARAC will continue 

to work towards achieving these aims in an attempt to make the most vulnerable victims of domestic 

violence safer. In adopting this process it will also ensure that Derbyshire is consistent in their approach 

and processes with other areas of the country. 

MARACs are now regarded as a key initiative in reducing serious offences arising out of domestic violence 

(DV) situations, including homicide. 

The Home Office have committed to MARAC’s being established nationally and have entrusted the 

implementation of this objective to the Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA). The active 

support and guidance provided by CAADA underpins the establishment of all MARACs. A consistency of 

MARAC structures is essential to ensure that best practice is recognised and acted upon. Derbyshire 

MARAC will maintain in close liaison with CAADA to ensure the recommendations within this document fit 

within their defining process. 

The responsibility to take appropriate actions rests with individual agencies: it is not 

transferred to the MARAC. The role of the MARAC is to facilitate, monitor and evaluate 

information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public safety. 

• Each of the five Derbyshire MARACs will have an affinity to the district(s) they cover in respect of the 

referrals they are considering and that the representation on each MARAC should as far as is possible 

also have a working familiarity with these district(s). Each MARAC will be located at set identified 

premises within the areas they each serve; 

Derbyshire MARAC Operating Protocol 2013 1


• Alfreton – Amber Valley and Erewash districts; 

• Buxton – High Peak and Derbyshire Dales districts; 

• Chesterfield – North East Derbyshire, Bolsover and Chesterfield districts; 

• Swadlincote - South East Derbyshire district; 

• Derby City – Derby City district. 

Derbyshire MARACs will each meet on a given Tuesday morning within a four week cycle. The scheduling 

of the MARACs within Derbyshire is as follows: 

• First Tuesday Alfreton MARAC; 

• Second Tuesday Derby City MARAC and Buxton MARAC; 

• Third Tuesday South Derbyshire MARAC; 

• Fourth Tuesday Chesterfield MARAC. 

Further to this each district, within the MARACs that cover more than one, will have their referrals heard 

together at a set point within the meeting. This will assist those representatives to a MARAC who are only 

there on behalf of a partner agency for a single district and will ensure that they need only be present for 

their own referrals. 

• Alfreton Amber Valley & Erewash 

• Buxton High Peak & Derbyshire Dales 

• Chesterfield Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire & Bolsover 

The district order will be done on a rotational basis throughout the year changing quarterly 

• The MARAC reporting structure is split into a Coordinating Group that will consist of multi agency 

practitioners & will have responsibility for the review & development of the MARAC process within 

Derbyshire, & the Serious Sexual Violence/Domestic Violence Governance which the coordinating 

group will feed into, this group will provide overall direction, management & guidance of MARAC. 

SARC, FJC & SDVC & is made up of multi agency senior managers. Each group will sit quarterly & 

will feed into the Safer Communities Boards for both Derby City & Derbyshire 

• It is important to state that no MARAC, irrespective of how well and effective it is performing, will 

eliminate entirely the risk that DV victims face. Any MARAC should be regarded as a part, albeit a 

key part, of the process that will help both identify and reduce this risk to such victims. Derbyshire 

MARACs will continue to be a separate process that works alongside other established procedures 

such as MAPPA and the Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. The MARAC process should 

not be seen in any way as a replacement for these. It should also be born in mind that the 

assessment of risk, using any tool or mechanism, in itself cannot be guaranteed to get things right 

and so eliminate risk. All that can be asked of everyone involved is that the most reliable tools are 

used and they are used accurately 



II. PARTNER AGENCIES 

List of all Derbyshire MARAC signatory agencies; 

Action Housing & Support 

Aquarius (Derby City) 

Amber Trust 

Chesterfield Royal Hospital 

Dales Housing (Derby County) 

Derby City County Council;- 

• Child and Young Peoples Department (Derby City) 

• Derby City and Neighbourhood Partnerships 

Derbyshire Alcohol Advise Service 

Derbyshire Constabulary 

Derbyshire County Council; (to include; Amber Valley, Erewash, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, 

North East Derbyshire, Bolsover, Chesterfield, South Derbyshire) 

• Adult Services (Derby County) 

• Children & Young Adults (Derby County) 

Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;- 

Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust;- 

• Amber Valley 

• Chesterfield 

• Erewash 

• High Peak and North Dales 

• North East Derbyshire and Bolsover 

• South Derbyshire and South Dales 

• Tameside and Glossop 

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service 

Derbyshire Health Care Foundation Trust 

Derbyshire Probation Trust 

Derbyshire Rape Crisis 

Erewash Borough Council 

High Peak Woman’s Aid (Derby County) 

HMP Nottingham 

Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (LPFT) Chesterfield 

Metropolitan Support Trust – Hadhari Nari Womens Aid Derby (Derby City) 

Next Step against Domestic Abuse (Derby County) 

North Derbyshire Woman’s Aid (Derby County) 

Nottingham Community Housing Association 

South Derbyshire Council for Voluntary Services (Derby County) 

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust 

Trident Reach Charity 

Victim Support 

Women’s Work (Derbyshire) Ltd 



• Derbyshire MARAC representation will seek to involve all agencies that can contribute to reducing risk 

to a victim. It is for this reason that involvement will continue to be actively encouraged within the 

MARAC’s from both the statutory and voluntary sectors. It has been sought to identify any local 

arrangements that are established and in place that support high risk victims of DA and no agency who 

has a key involvement in this area will be excluded from the MARAC process. 

• Particular reference is made to the crucial role that the Independent Domestic Violence Advocates 

(IDVAs) & Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVA’s) have to Derbyshire MARACs. In guidance 

from CAADA it assesses that whilst the police will be responsible for the administration of a MARAC, the 

IDVAs will take on around 80% of the work that arise from the referrals. 

• All agency representatives are broadly involved in the running of the Derbyshire MARAC process and it 

is noted that they indeed have a valuable contribution to make to the overall success of the process. 

Without a full commitment to the working of the Derbyshire MARACs, from every partner and 

representative involved, the process will fail to meet its core aims and objectives. It is for this reason 

that an informed attendance of all representatives at each MARAC is essential, as is their commitment 

in ensuring that actions are completed in a timely manner. Each partner agency must deliver to this 

and ensure that their representatives do likewise. 

• The identification of suitable representatives for a MARAC has to be solely the responsibility of the 

partner agency. However those identified should wherever possible have an operational management 

position and an affinity to the district(s) the MARAC serves. They should be able to commit to the 

MARAC process within their own working arrangements, have the ability to access information and 

databases and be able to ensure that actions are completed. It is envisaged that the ideal 

representatives would be local area managers, who may have a personal knowledge of many of the 

cases heard. It is also necessary that should the designated representative be unable to attend the 

meeting that appropriate alternative arrangements be made in order that the information is passed & 

shared as necessary. In the cases that a designated MARAC representative can not attend then a 

deputy must be assigned to attend in their place. 

• It will be the responsibility of all partnering agencies to induct new MARAC representatives within their 

new role. 

III. GOVERNANCE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT 

• The core responsibilities of the MARAC Governance group are as follows; 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

Monitor and evaluate the data from Derbyshire MARAC’s. 

Ensure that effective partnerships are maintained with other safeguarding and public 

protection bodies and other MARAC areas. 

Monitor and regularly assess the overall performance of the MARAC and ensure it operates 

in line with the 10 Principles for an Effective MARAC 1 . 

Address operational issues. 

Report to Safer Communities board on a quarterly basis. 

Oversee efforts to raise awareness with local practitioners about the MARAC. 

Communicate the performance of the MARAC to key stakeholders. 



o 

o 

Conduct/participate in reviews following a homicide where appropriate. 

Ensure that Derbyshire MARAC’s operate in line with legal responsibilities and keeps up-todate 

with changes to legislation national guidance. 

IV. PROCESS OF DERBYSHIRE MARAC’S 

Derbyshire MARAC will only be used to consider victims who are viewed to be the most at risk. It has to be 

a refined process, whose resources are focused solely on those most in need. Such are the numbers of DV 

police incidents within the county as a whole, (19,000 for 2010), that any deviation from this will make the 

process unworkable. Obviously added to this figure can be the referrals that will come from partner 

agencies in respect of victims who do not engage with the police. It is also the case that the sharing of 

information, on some occasions without the explicit consent of the victim, can only be justified where the 

risk is assessed as being high. 

(It must also be emphasised that DA has the potential to cover many areas of abuse aside from physical 

and sexual violence. For instance financial and emotional abuse by a perpetrator can equally be the cause 

of serious harm to a victim) 

Identification of MARAC cases 

• All agencies should identify domestic abuse based on agencies implementing their own policies 

• Identify the process for referring high risk cases to other appropriate professional (e.g. IDVA, 

police, children’s services and safeguarding adults). 

Criteria for MARAC 

• Derbyshire MARAC’s will use the ACPO CAADA DASH Assessment model (see Appendix A) The 

criteria score is 16 yes ticks or more. (*please note that the 3 additional questions around children 

in the this adopted DASH form are not weighted in the overall score. They are used for additional 

information only) 

• Any referring agency must ensure that the assessment of risk to a victim and so in turn a potential 

referral to a Derbyshire MARAC is conducted in a consistent way that is accountable and based on 

proven criteria. Every risk assessment will be to a degree subjective, but there are established 

indicators of risk that can be relied upon. Derbyshire MARAC’s have adopted the use of ACPO 

CAADA DASH risk assessment model to assess a victim’s level of risk for all referrals. (Appendix A 

– CAADA risk assessment document). This model also allows for the professional opinion of 

the person completing it to be brought into the decision as to whether to refer to a MARAC or not. 

• Derbyshire MARAC’s follow the Government definition of Domestic abuse which is as follows: 

Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, 

sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners 

or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. 

Derbyshire MARAC’s will also observe the Government definition of an adult as anyone aged 18 & 

above, however cases will be considered on a professional judgment basis as above, where either 

party are aged 16 or above & either party have a child. All cases will be looked at on their 

individual merits, Child safeguarding procedures will be followed where the victim is under the age 

of 18. 



• A repeat case occurs when a case that is reviewed at MARAC has also been reviewed 

at the same MARAC within the preceding 12 months (from the review). Each repeat 

case will also be counted each time an incident involving criminal behaviour takes 

place, and the case is therefore reviewed within the given 12 month period (i.e. if a 

case first comes to MARAC in January and then is reviewed in February and July then 

this will count as two repeats). 

• All MARAC reviews are a consequence of at least one incident being reported to at 

least one MARAC agency and that the incident involves: 

1. Violence or threats of violence, including threats to kill; and/or 

2. Where there is a significant pattern of stalking or harassment (the repeated 

following of communication with or other intrusions on the privacy of a victim); 

and/or 

3. Where rape or sexual abuse is disclosed. 

N.B. The repeat incident can be flagged by any of the agencies involved in the MARAC. 

Multiple incidents occurring between MARAC meetings only result in one MARAC review. 

• Derbyshire MARACs have adopted the performance indicator, National Indicator 32 (NI32). For 

repeat victimisation 

Referral 

• Any agency can refer to the Derbyshire MARAC process 

• All agency representative at any level can make a referral to the Derbyshire MARAC process 

• All MARAC referrals & risk assessments must be sent to the Derbyshire MARAC Administration 

Team via secure e-mail MARAC@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk & the retrospective IDVA for the 

area in which the victim is residing using the following secure email address(es); 

idva.team@ndwa.cjsm.net (County) sharon.ryan@bolsover.gcsx.gov.uk (Bolsover) 

family.justicecentre@derby.gov.uk.cjsm.net (City) 

• Derbyshire MARAC has adapted its own referral form which should be completed in full & sent to 

the Derbyshire MARAC Administration Team & IDVA service with the completed risk assessment for 

all cases no later than 10 working days before the perspective MARAC in which the case is to be 

heard. (please see appendix B) 

MARAC list/agenda 

• The Derbyshire MARAC Administration Team will collate all referrals & send out a detailed case 

summary sheet of all cases to be heard to all participating agencies via secure e-mail 8 working 

days before the perspective MARAC meeting takes place. Where possible those agencies that have 

referred more than one case will be grouped together, similarly all cases involving children will also 

be grouped together 

• It is expected that all agencies will conduct research in order to share relevant, proportionate 

information at the MARAC meeting. If for any reason a representative is unable to attend a 

meeting, an appropriate deputy must attend in their place, where this is not possible information 

may be passed to the Derbyshire MARAC Administration Team for distribution at the meeting 

(*please note that this is not always an appropriate form of information sharing as the information 

is 3 rd hand & any questions arising from the information can not be answered) 



Actions before the MARAC (where safe to do so) 

• Derbyshire MARAC’s do not take away responsibility for immediate actions in relation to the safety 

of high risk victims from agencies, particularly with regard to statutory duties (e.g. police, children’s 

services etc). 

• Contact with the victim must be conducted in advance of the meeting, normally through the IDVA 

service or via the referring agency where appropriate (see below). 

• All Derbyshire MARAC cases are open for Telecare Provisions in order to keep the victims safe. 

Referrals for this alarm must be made via an IDVA (please see appendix C) 

• Within the Derbyshire MARAC referral form there is the opportunity to raise any concerns for 

children & vulnerable adults. It is expected that should any agency have any concerns that a 

referral to the perspective agency has already been made via to the case being heard at a MARAC 

meeting 

• All agencies should systematically flag and tag files regarding cases heard at MARAC 

Victim contact before the meeting (where safe to do so) 

• It is expected that the referring/support agency will attend the MARAC meeting as a voice for the 

victim & bring along the views & perspective of the victim to the meeting. 

• In turn it is also the responsibility of the referring/supporting agency to feedback the appropriate 

outcome of the MARAC meeting once it has commenced 

• In all high risk cases it is considered essential that all victims are offered the services of the 

specialist IDVA service within the area they live, it is then up to the victim to have a choice to 

whom they wish to be supported by. A joint referral form must be sent to both MARAC Team & 

IDVA service. In any scenario the IDVA can offer specialist support & advice to both victims & 

professional 

MARAC meeting 

• Derbyshire MARAC meetings are held 4 weekly 

• The Derbyshire MARAC’s operate a rolling chair system, where all agencies are invited to volunteer 

to chair & deputy chair where appropriate. 

• The role of the chair; 

o To structure the meetings and ensure that agency representatives understand agreed 

actions and which agencies are responsible for such and review those which are 

outstanding from the last meeting. 



Minutes and administration 

• The Derbyshire MARAC Administration Team is made up of a MARAC Supervisor & 2 Administrative 

assistants 

• All Derbyshire MARAC Administrative duties will be conducted by the Derbyshire MARAC 

Administration Team. All minutes will be sent out no later than 3 working days after a MARAC 

meeting has taken place 

• The MARAC Administrator/Co-ordinator will let partners know what set cases have had a 12 months 

lapse since the last MARAC and therefore would not be considered a repeat should another incident 

occur. This will be in the form of a monthly updated spread sheet with those victims still current to 

MARAC highlight. 

Information shared at MARAC 

• The MARAC Information Sharing Protocol must be signed by all agencies and has an agreed date 

for review. 

• Agencies can sign up to the MARAC Information Sharing Protocol by requesting a copy of the 

protocol & then sending a signed letter headed agreement by the CEO of the agencies or 

organisation to the Derbyshire MARAC Supervisor, who has overall responsibility for collating & 

storing the signed agreements 

• At the beginning of each Derbyshire MARAC meeting the Chair will read out the confidentiality 

statement & invite attendees to sign it before the main body of the meeting begins. (please see 

appendix E) 

• Any victims that do not give consent will be identified to all partnering agencies ahead of the 

planned meeting, agencies are invited to refer cases that do not give consent as appropriate 

through to the MARAC process & document their actions accordingly. (please see Appendix F) 

Action planning 

• The purpose of the action plan; 

o A tailored action plan will be developed at the MARAC to increase the safety of the victim, 

children, perpetrator, other vulnerable parties and any professionals. 

• Typical types of actions that will be most commonly agreed. 

o flagging and tagging of files, referral to other appropriate multi-agency meetings, 

prioritising of agencies’ resources to MARAC cases. 

o Letter to victims GP 

o Referring Agency to feedback appropriate information to the victim with regards to the 

outcome of the MARAC meeting where safe to do so 

• All assigned actions will be completed in a timely manner pertaining to its urgency & specific risk 

identified, agency representatives are to report all actions with an explanation & planned continued 

action to the MARAC Team within the minutes template before the following meeting. All agencies 

will then be required to sign the Confirmation of Actions sheet (please see Appendix G) stating that 

any actions assigned to their agency have been completed unless stated. Outstanding actions are 

recorded within the minutes with a full explanation given. 



Referral to and from other MARACs 

• Agencies are able to refer to MARAC’s outside of Derbyshire by sending a completed referral 

& risk assessment to the Derbyshire MARAC Administration Team & they will forward the 

information to the relevant MARAC with full referring agency details for contact purposes 

• The referral to an outside MARAC may happen if a victim wishes to move to another part of 

the Country 

• The process in dealing with referrals from out side the Derbyshire area are exactly the same 

as those received by agencies within the Derbyshire area. However it should be noted that 

referring agencies from outside the Derbyshire area may not be able to attend the 

perspective Derbyshire MARAC, but are invited to do so where possible. Where this is not 

possible the responsibility of being the victims voice & support the referral will fall to the 

local IDVA 

• All relevant & proportionate Information will be shared relating to referrals to and from other 

MARAC’s, as per CAADA guidelines (***please see*** CAADA protocol on referring to other 

MARAC’s www.caada.org.uk) 

• It is the responsibility of the referring agency to inform the MARAC if they identify that a 

MARAC victim is leaving the area. 

V. EQUALITY 

• Specialist agencies & representatives are invited to participate in the Derbyshire MARAC’s where 

appropriate, any additional specialist service identified will be notified ahead of the perspective 

MARAC by the referring agency to allow those representatives to attend. i.e, specialist BME services 

& LGBT services, such as Derbyshire Friend 

• Equality outcome will be monitored in the following way; 

o The MARAC administrator collects information on the profile of the local population referred 

to the MARAC in order to monitor equality of outcome to all Derbyshire MARAC’s. 

o An Equality Impact Needs Assessment (or equivalent) will be conducted annual in relation to 

the MARAC (either independently or within existing assessments of domestic abuse) to 

identify the needs of your local population (including age, disability, race, belief, sexual 

orientation, gender or gender identity). 

VI. EVALUATION 

• Data from all Derbyshire MARAC’s is collected by the Derbyshire MARAC Administration Team 

• This date is the reviewed by e.g. CAADA, the Derbyshire MARAC coordinating & Governance Group 

and the Strategic Partnership 

o Data collected from the MARAC’s will be reviewed by the Coordinators group and the 

Steering Group and reported to the Strategic Partnership 

VII. COMPLAINTS 

• Derbyshire MARAC’s promote healthy working partnership within all organisations, no agency 

should take preference over another, where a grievance or complaint is evident & just, then full 

information should be passed through to the MARAC Team to enable adequate resolution via the 

coordinators group 



VIII. BREACHES 

• Any breaches of the protocol may increase the risk to a high risk victim. 

• It is the responsibility of all signatory agencies in relation to the MOP and the MARAC Information 

Sharing Protocol to abide fully by its principles 

IX. WITHDRAWAL 

• Should any agency wish to withdraw from the MARAC process, written authorisation from the ISA & 

MOP signatory will be required detailing the reasoning behind the decision to withdraw. Please note 

that this will be brought as an agenda item to the coordinators group & a combined multi agency 

decision will be taken as to the consequence of the disengagement of the agency has on the 

MARAC process over all & appropriate action to be taken to ensure the impact of the process will 

not increase risk to victims & their families 

X. SIGNATORIES 

• Signatries; Name; Title; date – Please see separate sheet to be attached of all agency 

representatives 

XI. REVIEW 

• Review date of Derbyshire ISA & MOP June 2014 

Appendices 

• Appendix A - CAADA- ACPO DASH RIC for all MARAC agencies 

• Appendix B - Derbyshire MARAC referral form 

• Appendix C – Telecare Referral Form 

• Appendix D – List of Derbyshire IDVA Contacts 

• Appendix E – Confidentiality Statement 

• Appendix F – Sharing Information without consent form 

• Appendix G – Confirmation of Actions Signatory sheet 

Further downloads & information can be found on www.caada.org.uk 



Appendix A – CAADA ACPO DASH RIC 

CAADA-DASH Risk Identification Checklist for use by all agencies for MARAC case identification 

when domestic abuse, ‘honour’- based violence and/or stalking are disclosed 

Please explain that the purpose of asking these questions is for the safety 

and protection of the individual concerned. 

Mark the ‘yes’ box if the factor is present. (Historical information to 

be included within practitioners notes) Please use the comment box 

underneath the questions to expand on any answers. 

Yes No Don’t 

Know 

State source 

of info if 

not the victim 

e.g. 

police officer 

It is assumed that your main source of information is the victim. If this is 

not the case please indicate in the right hand column 

1. Has the current incident resulted in injury? (Please state what and 

whether this is the first injury, date(s)) 

Comment: 

2. Are you very frightened? 

Comment: 

3. What are you afraid of? Is it further injury or violence? (Please give an 

indication of what you think (name of abuser(s)...) might do and to whom, 

including children, vulnerable adults) Comment: 

4. Do you feel isolated from family/friends i.e. does (name of abuser(s)...) 

try to stop you from seeing Friends/family/doctor or others? Comment: 

5. Are you feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts? 

Comment: 

6. Have you separated or tried to separate from (name of abuser(s)...) 

within the past year? (Please give date(s)) 

Comment: 

7. Is there conflict over child contact? 

Comment: 

8. Does (……) constantly text, call, contact, follow, stalk or harass you? 

(Please expand to identify what and whether you believe that this is done 

deliberately to intimidate you? Consider the context and behaviour of what 

is being done.) Comment: 

9. Are you pregnant, recently had a baby or is your partner pregnant, 

recently had a baby (within the last 18 months)? Comment: 

Information purposes 

only, answers do not 

form part of the overall 

score 

Are there any children, step-children that aren’t (…..) in the household? Or are there other 

dependants in the household (i.e. older relative)? Comment: 

Has (…..) ever hurt the children/dependants? Comment: 

Has (…..) ever threatened to hurt or kill the children/dependants? Comment: 

10. Is the abuse happening more often? 

Comment: 

11. Is the abuse getting worse? 

Comment: 

12. Does (……) try to control everything you do and/or are they 

excessively jealous? (In terms of relationships, who you see, being ‘policed 

at home’, telling you what to wear for example. Consider ‘honour’-based 

violence and specify behaviour.) Comment: 

13. Has (……) ever used weapons or objects to hurt you? Comment: 



14. Has (……) ever threatened to kill you or someone else and you 

believed them? (If yes, tick who.) Comment: 

You Children Other 

(please specify by underlining, circling or making bold those applicable) 

15. Has (……) ever attempted to strangle/choke/suffocate/drown you? 

Comment: 

16. Does (……) do or say things of a sexual nature that make you feel bad 

or that physically hurt you or someone else? (If someone else, specify 

who.) Comment: 

17. Is there any other person who has threatened you or who you are 

afraid of? (If yes, please specify whom and why. Consider extended family 

if HBV.) Comment: 

18. Do you know if (……) has hurt anyone else? (Please specify whom 

including the children, siblings or elderly relatives. Consider HBV.) 

Children Another family member 

Someone from a previous relationship Other 

Comment: 


19. Has (……) ever mistreated an animal or the family pet? 

Comment: 

20. Are there any financial issues? For example, are you dependent on 

(……) for money/have they recently lost their job/other financial issues? 

Comment: 

21. Has (……) had problems in the past year with drugs (prescription or 

other), alcohol or mental health leading to problems in leading a normal life? 

(If yes, please specify which and give relevant details if known.) 

Drugs Alcohol Mental Health 

Comment: 


22. Has (……) ever threatened or attempted suicide? 

Comment: 

23. Has (………) ever broken bail/an injunction and/or formal agreement 

for when they can see you and/or he children? (You may wish to consider 

this in relation to an ex-partner of the perpetrator if relevant.) 

Bail conditions Non Molestation/Occupation Order 

Child Contact arrangements Forced Marriage Protection Order 

Other 

Comment: 


24. Do you know if (……..) has ever been in trouble with the police or has 

a criminal history? (If yes, please specify.) 

DV Sexual violence Other violence Other 

Comment: 


(MARAC Referral Criteria is 16 ‘yes’ responses) 

Total ‘yes’ responses 

/24 



For consideration by professional: Is there any other relevant information (from victim or professional) which 

may increase risk levels? Consider victim’s 

situation in relation to disability, substance misuse, mental health issues, cultural/language barriers, ‘honour’- 

based systems and minimisation. Are they 

willing to engage with your service? Describe: 

Consider abuser’s occupation/interests-could this give them unique access to weapons? Describe: 

What are the victim’s greatest priorities to address their safety? 

Do you believe that there are reasonable grounds for referring this case to MARAC? Yes / No 

(MARAC Referral Criteria is 16 ‘yes’ responses) 

If yes, have you made a referral? Yes/No 

Name: 

Do you believe that there are risks facing the children in the family? 

Date: 

Yes / No 

If yes, please confirm if you have made a referral to safeguard the children: Yes/No 

Date referral made........................................... 

Name: 

Date: 

Signed: (if available) 

Practitioners’ Notes 



Appendix B – Derby & Derbyshire Joint MARAC & IDVA Referral Form 

Referrals should be sent by secure email to MARAC & the appropriate IDVA Services as listed below; 

MARAC@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk (All) idva.team@ndwa.cjsm.net (County) 

sharon.ryan@bolsover.gcsx.gov.uk (Bolsover) family.justicecentre@derby.gov.uk.cjsm.net (City) 

Client/Victim name 

Previous Alias 

Name(s) dob(s) 

Address 

(Including post code) 

Client/Victim DOB 

Ethnicity 

Language 

Gender LGBT Disabl 

ed 

M / F Y / N Y / N 

Time at address Years Months Disabled Y / N 

Telephone number Is this number safe to call? Y / N 

Please insert any relevant contact information e.g. times to call 

GP Details 

Any of the following used / suspected Drugs Y/N Alcohol Y/N Mental Health Y/N 

Perpetrator(s) name 

Previous / Alias 

Name(s) dob(s) 

Perpetrator(s) DOB 

Gender LGBT Disabl 

ed 

M / F Y / N Y / N 

Perpetrator(s) address 

Relationship to 

victim 

Any of the following used / suspected 

Drugs 

Y/N 

Alcohol Y/N Mental Health Y/ 

N 

Children Name 

(please add extra 

rows if necessary) 

DOB Relationship Address if different 

to victim 

to 

to 

victim perpetrator 

School / GP / 

Health Visitor 

/ Nursery 

Reason for Referral / Additional Information 



Has the behaviour of the perpetrator had a negative affect on your neighbours or other members of 

the community? If yes, please explain how. 

Professional judgement Y / N Visible high risk (16 ticks or more 

on CAADA - DASH RIC) 

Y / N 

Y / N 

MARAC repeat (further incident identified within twelve months from the date of the last referral) 

If Yes, please provide the date listed 

Reasons for Referral / 

incident details 

Incident reported 

Y / N 

Bail 

conditions 

Y / N 

Court dates 

Child concerns: Referral to Social Care made & Date referral made Y / N Date 

Vulnerable Adult concerns: Referral to Adult Care made & Date 

referral made 

Y / N 

Date 

Is the victim aware of MARAC referral? Y / N If no, why not? 

Has consent been given? 

Y / N 

Referring agency 

Contact name(s) 

Telephone / Email 

Referral Date 

For receiving agency only 

Referral taken 

Practitioners 

notes 

Y / N 

(e.g. referral to other services & dates made) 

Appendix C – Telecare Referral Form 



Client Information 

Clients Name: 

Address: 

Derbyshire Supporting People Community Alarm & 

Security Measures Domestic Abuse Referral Form 

Postcode: 

Tel. Number: 

Date of Birth: 

Tenure: 

Household: 

Landline: 

Ethnicity: 

Owner Occupied / Private Landlord / Council / Housing Association 

Single Person / Multiple Occupancy 

Name and Address of Landlord (where applicable): 

Referring Agency 

Name of Agency: 

Name of Referrer: 

Tel Number: 

E-Mail: 

Perpetrator Information 

Perpetrator in the area: Yes / No Police Involvement: Yes / No 

Any other relevant information (e.g. bail conditions): 

Requirements for Visit 



Suitable Date(s) for Visit: 

Additional person required on visit? 

Yes / No 

If so, name and contact details of person attending visit: 

Safe Methods of Contacting Client: (Please detail below) 

Details of Security Measures Required (If Applicable) 

Priority (Security Measures Only): 

Standard (within 5 working days) 

High (within 2 working days) 

Details of Community Alarm Service Required (If Applicable – MARAC Only) 



Equipment: Pendant/Watch Alarm (Silent) PIR Sensor 

BT main socket and 240v power point within 2m of each other? 

Yes / No 

Number of BT Mains Sockets in household (i.e. BT Telephone Extensions : 

Password to be given in case of false activation: 

Please ensure that completed Risk Assessment is attached 

I agree that the above information is accurate and that the information can be shared with 

appropriate agencies for the use of the Handy Van Network and Community Alarm Provider. It has 

been explained to me clearly that services provided by the Handy Van Network and Community 

Alarm Provider are to enhance the security of my home and increase my safety but ultimately my 

personal safety is my own responsibility. Any alarm monitoring equipment provided as part of this 

referral remains the property of Derbyshire County Council or the alarm provider. 

Client 

Print Name: 

Signed: 

Date: 

Staff Member 

Print Name: 

Signed: 

Date: 

To be Completed by Community Alarm Provider 

Date Referral Received by Community Alarm Provider: 



Monitoring Database Updated 

Equipment ready for collection by Handy Van Network 

Date Referral forwarded to Handy Van Network: 

DATE OF INSTALLATION: 

Staff Member: 

Print Name: 

Signed: 

Date: 

Appendix D – List of IDVA contacts 



County IDVA generic idva.team@ndwa.cjsm.net 01246 238281 

(except Bolsover) 

Erewash & Amber Valley Rhiannon Seymour (North Derbyshire Woman’s Aid) 

rhiannon.seymour@ndwa.cjsm.net 

Derbyshire Dales 

Jackie Carvill (North Derbyshire’s Women’s Aid) 

jackie.carvill@ndwa.cjsm.net 

High Peak 

Jackie Carvill (North Derbyshire’s Women’s Aid) 

jackie.carvill@ndwa.cjsm.net 

Chesterfield 

Vacant 

NE Derbyshire 

Sue Ready (North Derbyshire Woman’s Aid) 

sue.ready@ndwa.cjsm.net 

County Cout IDVA 

Karla Woodard (North Derbyshire Woman’s Aid) 

karla.woodard@ndwa.cjsm.net 

South Derbyshire 

Irene Hadley (North Derbyshire Woman’s Aid) 

irene.hadley@ndwa.cjsm.net 

Bolsover Sharon Ryan (Bolsover District Council) 01246 242503 

Derby City Family.JusticeCentre@derby.gov.uk.cjsm.net 07812 300560 

17 th June 2013 

Laura Martin 

laura.martin@derby.gov.uk.cjsm.net 

Suki Gosal 

sukdeep.gosal@derby.gov.uk.cjsm.net 

Cheryl Taylor 

Cheryl.Ward@derby.gov.uk.cjsm.net 



Appendix E – Confidentiality statement 



DATE: 

THE CHAIR OF THE MEETING REMINDS ALL CONCERNED OF THE PROTOCOLS WITHIN 

THE AGREED DOMESTIC ABUSE SHARING OF INFORMATION DOCUMENT. 

INFORMATION DISCUSSED BY THE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE, WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THIS 

MEETING IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND MUST NOT BE DISCLOSED TO THIRD PARTIES 

WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO THE ‘DOMESTIC ABUSE INFORMATION SHARING 

PROTOCOL’, WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTNERS OF THE MEETING. IT SHOULD 

FOCUS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD PROTECTION CONCERNS AND A CLEAR 

DISTINCTION SHOULD BE MADE BETWEEN FACT AND OPINION. 

ALL AGENCIES SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE MINUTES ARE RETAINED IN A CONFIDENTIAL 

AND APPROPRIATELY RESTRICTED MANNER. THESE MINUTES WILL AIM TO REFLECT THAT 

ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISCUSSED AT THESE MEETINGS SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY, 

WITH RESPECT AND WITHOUT IMPROPER DISCRIMINATION. ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN AT 

THE MEETINGS WILL BE INFORMED BY A COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND 

EFFECTIVE PRACTICE ISSUES IN RELATION TO RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY AND DISABILITY. 

THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING IS AS FOLLOWS: 

1. To share information to increase the safety, health and well being of victims – adults 

and their children; 

2. To determine whether the perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular 

individual or to the general community; 

3. To construct jointly and implement a risk management plan that provides 

professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm; 

4. To reduce repeat victimisation; 

5. To improve agency accountability; and 

6. Improve support for staff involved in high risk DV cases. 

The responsibility to take appropriate actions rests with individual agencies; it is not 


effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public 

safety. 

BY SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT WE AGREE TO ABIDE TO THESE PRINCIPLES. 



ATTENDEES 

Name Signature Agency 

Police 

Chair 

MARAC 

Administrator 

Police 

Erewash 

Police 

Amber Valley 

IDVA 

Adult Services 

C & Y Peoples 

DFRS 

Housing 

Adult 

Health Service 

Addaction 

Mental Health 

Probation 



Appendix F – Sharing information without consent form 

Victim name and DOB 

Victim address 

Children DOB Address School (if known) 

Who is at Risk? 

(e.g. Children, client, 

family, others) 

Who are they at risk 

from? (e.g. partner, expartner, 

family, self) 

What are the concerns 

around this risk? 

What are the immediate 

risks to this victim? 

Risk Identified through 

Risk Assessment 

Risk Identification Checklist (if it has been possible to 

complete a CAADA-DASH RIC, attach it here) 

/ number of ticks out of 24 

Details of incident / information causing concern (include 

source of information) 

Legal Authority to Share 

Protocol relevant Y / N If yes, please detail 

Legal grounds (If yes, please tick one or more grounds below) 

Y / N 

Prevention and detection of crime 

Prevention / detection or crime and/or apprehension or prosecution of offenders (DPA, sch 29) 

To protect vital interests of the data subject; serious harm or matter of life or death (DPS, sch 2 & 3) 

For the administration of justice (usually bringing perpetrators to justice (DPA, sch 2 & 3) 

For the exercise of functions conferred on any person by or under any enactment (police / Social Services) (DPA, sch 

2 & 3) 

In accordance with a court order 

Overriding public interest (common law) 

Child protection – disclosure to social services or police for the exercise of functions under the children act, where the 

public interest in safeguarding the child’s welfare overrides the need to keep the information confidential (DPA, sch 2 & 

3) 

Right to life (Human Rights Act, art. 2 & 3) 

Right to be free from torture, of inhuman or degrading treatment (HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, ART. 2 & 3) 



Balancing Considerations (please tick) 

Pressing need 

Respective risks to those affected 

Public interest of disclosure 

Duty of confidentiality 

Risk of not disclosing 

Interest of other agency / person in receiving it. 

Human rights 

Other 

Comments 

Internal consultations 

(Names / Dates / Advice / Decisions) 

External consultations 

(Home Office, Information Sharing Helpline) 

Client Notification 

Client notified Y / N Date notified 

If not, why not? 

Review 

Date for review of situation (review to include feedback from the agencies informed as to 

their response) 

Name of person responsible for ensuring the situation is reviewed by this date 

Record the following information-sharing in Case File: 

Date information shared 

Agency & named person informed 

Method of contact 

Legal authority for each agency 

Signature of caseworker 

Date (as signed by caseworker) 

Signature of manager 

Date (as signed by manager) 



Appendix G – Confirmation of Actions 

Confirmation of Actions 

Completed for MARAC meeting 

MARAC name (date of previous 

meeting) 

Agency representatives signing this document agree that all actions 

pertaining to the MARAC meeting above have been completed by the 

agency they represent 

Signed date of today’s meeting 

Name (please print) Agency Signature 

Police 

IDVA 

Woman’s Aid 

Health 

Mental Health 

Housing 

CAYA 

Adult Social Care 

Probation 

Community Drug Team 

Alcohol Team 

CAFCASS 

Victim Support 

Community Safety 

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue 



*please note it is very important that all actions are completed in a timely 

manner pertaining to its urgency. 

Name of MARAC Confirmation of actions date of previous meeting. 27 

The responsibility to take appropriate actions rests with individual agencies; it is not 


effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public 

safety.

MARAC Operating Protocol 2013 - Safer Derbyshire

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