Attachment 1: A Guide for workers conducting risk assessments and referrals

Appropriate environment

• Create a space where the person at risk will feel safe and there is privacy.
• Talk with the person without the perpetrator or any children present (use an interpreter where needed).

When talking to the person at risk about their experiences of domestic violence…

• Familiarise yourself with the Domestic Violence Risk Assessment (DVRA) so you can ‘talk’ through assessment in appropriate language.
• Listen, validate, and believe.
• A good starting point may be to establish the level of fear that the person is experiencing and their own prediction of what they think the perpetrator might do. Conduct a thorough assessment of risk if they are very fearful for their safety or their children’s safety. Evidence shows that in many cases the victim survivor is the best judge of their level of risk, because they are most familiar with the patterns of behaviour of the person committing DFV against them.
• Make efforts so that they feel supported and explain that you are asking for information because you are concerned for their safety. Emphasise the unacceptability of violence.

Filling out the Domestic Violence Risk Assessment

• The worker must complete the DVRA. This is to be completed either during or after discussions with the person at risk. Do not ask the person at risk to fill out the form.
• If the assessment indicates that the person is not at high risk with a score lower than 45, use professional judgement to further assess the level of threat to determine an appropriate risk level (see Professional Judgement).

Filling out the referral

• Referrals should include as much information as possible.

Submitting the risk assessment and referral online

Registered Portal User

Click submit at the end of the referral and it will be submitted to the Chair of the FSM for consideration. You will receive an email confirming your submission.

You may receive an email request to provide additional information to support SAPOL’s assessment of the referral.

You will be notified of the outcome of your referral via your registered email address.

Guest User

You will need to make sure you have verified your email address. Once verified you will be able to click Submit, and your referral will be submitted to the Chair of the Family Safety Meeting for consideration. You will receive an email confirming your submission.

You may receive an email request to provide additional information to support SAPOL’s assessment of the referral.

You will be notified of the outcome of your referral via the email address provided.