Recognising Domestic Violence In young people.

Understanding Both Victim and Perpetrator Behaviours 1 Day Course Overview Course Purpose The course equips staff with the knowledge and practical skills to recognise domestic violence in young people—whether they are experiencing harm or causing it. It exists because domestic abuse among young people is often minimised, misunderstood, or hidden behind behaviour that is mislabelled as “typical teenage conflict.” When staff understand the dynamics, risks, and early warning signs, they can intervene sooner, safeguard more effectively, and support healthier relationships. This strengthens placement stability, reduces harm, and improves long-term outcomes. Who This Course Is For • Residential children’s home staff • Foster carers and supervising social workers • Youth workers and outreach teams • Support workers and senior support workers • Managers and deputy managers • Anyone supporting young people in care or community settings Key Risks or Gaps the Course Addresses • Domestic violence is being misinterpreted as normal adolescent behaviour • Young people minimising or hiding abusive experiences • Perpetrator behaviours are going unnoticed due to trauma histories or unmet needs • Staff lacking confidence to identify coercive control in teenage relationships • Safeguarding blind spots linked to gender, culture, identity, or neurodiversity • Poor documentation that fails to capture risk patterns or early indicators • Gaps in understanding around consent, power imbalance, and healthy relationships Core Learning Outcomes Participants will be able to: • Recognise early signs of domestic violence in young people • Understand the dynamics of abuse when the perpetrator is also a vulnerable young person • Identify coercive control, emotional manipulation, and digital abuse • Respond confidently and safely to disclosures or concerns • Support young people to understand healthy vs. unhealthy relationship behaviours • Document concerns clearly and defensibly • Strengthen safeguarding responses through informed, trauma-aware practice Course Content Breakdown • Understanding Domestic Violence in Young People: How abuse presents differently in teenage relationships and why it is often overlooked. • Victim and Perpetrator Dynamics: Exploring how trauma, identity, attachment, and unmet needs influence both roles. • Coercive Control & Digital Abuse: Recognising manipulation, monitoring, online harassment, and technology-facilitated harm. • Gender, Culture & Identity Factors: How stereotypes and cultural norms can mask or distort risk. • Trauma Informed Responses Supporting young people without blame, shame, or minimising their experiences. • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships Practical tools to help young people understand boundaries, respect, and consent. • Risk Indicators & Escalation Patterns What to look for, what not to ignore, and when to act. • Safeguarding & Multi Agency Working: How to escalate concerns, share information, and work collaboratively. Practical Application After the course, staff will be able to: • Spot early warning signs of abuse in teenage relationships • Identify when a young person is using harmful behaviours themselves • Have confident, sensitive conversations about relationships and safety • Challenge harmful attitudes or normalisation of abuse • Support young people to build healthier relationship patterns • Document concerns in a clear, evidence-based way • Apply trauma-informed strategies to reduce shame and increase engagement Safeguarding & Compliance Relevance Domestic violence is a major safeguarding concern. This course strengthens staff understanding of how abuse manifests in young people and how to respond in line with safeguarding duties. It supports compliance by embedding legal and ethical responsibilities into everyday practice—without turning the training into a policy lecture. Staff learn how to recognise risk, act proportionately, and evidence decisions that protect young people effectively. Delivery Format • 1 day course • Online or in person • Includes case studies, reflective exercises, real-life scenarios, and facilitated discussion Why This Course Is Different It blends professional expertise with the lived experience of supporting young people affected by domestic violence. The course goes beyond theory, offering real-world insight into how abuse develops, how it hides, and how to intervene safely. Staff leave with practical tools they can use immediately to protect young people—whether they are victims, perpetrators, or both. Course content is accessible for both Neurodivergent and Learning disabilites offering Equality to our learners. Price is per person