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Edited: Mar 21

OT practitioners working in Domestic Abuse - making connections?

I'm new to studying an MSc OT in the UK. My background is in crisis work around domestic and sexual violence and abuse. I'm particularly interested in how OT can be used for recovery and support with survivors of DVA. I would love to connect with other students or practitioners working in, or interested in, this area and join (or develop) a professional network.

I am aware of a one local charity in Northampton (UK) that launched an OT led service for women survivors of DVA in a refuge setting, however I haven't been able to find any other services specifically offering OT for DVA survivors. Perhaps much of this is being done within LMHTs?

Update March 2024: I'm now qualified and working in mental health. I'm still keen to develop a professional network. Please see latest posts.

21 comments

21 Comments

Vic Notman

Mar 21

Hi Gill, I'm a first year MSc OT at Cumbria Uni. In my former life I was a lawyer for 20+ years. Career changing to make a real difference with women's wellbeing as my core value. I'm also an survivor of DV and have a strong interest and passion for justice in this field. OT has so much to offer and I would love to be part of a specialist OT community focusing on how we can utilise our unique skills for maximum impact in helping victims of DV live their authentic lives free from control and coercion. Can we connect somehow? Vic

Unknown member

Mar 21

Replying to

Not sure if it's okay, but thought of creating a WhatsApp group for OTs with interest in DV if anyone from this forum would like to join so we could organise a meeting? https://chat.whatsapp.com/K3X7yk01DGDLsF0S9QkuFy

Gill Court

Mar 21

Replying to

Great idea, thanks for setting this up.

Vic Notman

Apr 12

Replying to

Hi Gill, thank you so much for getting this OTDV conversation started. I've read the report from the Bevan Commission and the fantastic work being pioneered by Lucy Clarke and Kim Jones in Wales. Hopefully we can help to expand their ripples on the silent pond of DV.

I'm on a pre-reg Masters and planning my dissertation. Current thought was occupational disruption/marginalisation for post-partum women experiencing urinary incontinence. Important and overlooked but feel much more passionate about DV survivors and freeing occupational potential as part of recovery. Hopefully we can set up a call and get involved via WhatsApp group. Let me know when you're free to meet (virtually). Vic x

Unknown member

Jan 07

Hi everybody, I am currently a third year OT student and have always had an interest in women's health, as well as all marginalised populations. I am currently writing an assignment on emerging areas of practice and can see so much benefit to OT's working with DVA survivors, as well as in prevention within at-risk/ vulnerable commuities. There is a lot of research to suport this, especially in terms of intersectionality with black, LGBTQ+, and disabled people experiencing DVA but no specific role yet in the UK that I have found so far. This is an area I would love to work in and keep up to date with research.

Gill Court

Oct 03, 2023

Thanks to everyone who's commented. I will have a look into next steps for setting up some form of professional network. I thought this might be of interest https://bevancommission.org/domestic-abuse-occupational-therapy-a-project-in-response-to-covid-19/

Unknown member

Oct 03, 2023

Hi Gill my name is Beatriz. I've previously volunteered for LAWA in London and now I'm a final year OT student in Bournemouth. I'm very interested in OT practice work with this client group. I've proposed the development of OT services for DV survivors in Dorset as part of one of my course units and found that there is plenty of work to be done by OTs. So, I am very happy to be part of a network and perhaps develop great things for this population.

Update March 2024: I'm now about to finish my BSc Hons in OT. Still very interested in seeing more OTs working with domestic abuse/violence survivors. Feel free to join a WhatsApp group of OTs with interest in Domestic violence/abuse: https://chat.whatsapp.com/K3X7yk01DGDLsF0S9QkuFy

Edited

Unknown member

May 25, 2023

Hi Gill, this is an area of interest for me - I'm a second year OT student but previously volunteered in a Women's Aid shelter (many years ago now).

Jamie Hamilton

Apr 07, 2022

Thanks Gill, I'll have a look. Jamie

Jamie Hamilton

Apr 07, 2022

I am really interested in this subject and would like to know what sort of interventions I can use with a 16 yr old victim of DVA who has also experienced bereavement of a close family member through suicide

Gill Court

Apr 07, 2022

Replying to

Hi Jamie, I'm the original poster - I'm a student OT with no direct experience using OT techniques with DV survivors. However I do have experience as a DV practitioner, working for different DV charities/women's aid service.

There are some good resources developed by Equation (Nottinghamshire charity) that they sell for practitioners to use with young people to help facilitate conversations about DV - maybe worth checking out?

Gill

Rachel Mcmahon

Jan 23, 2022

Hello I'm an OT that currently works as a care coordinator...but I did my final year research project on dv and the role of OT. I used a lot of resources from America....

Gill Court

Jan 24, 2022

Replying to

Hi Rachel, thanks for replying. What was the title of your dissertation, I'm curious! I have listened to a few episodes of American OT podcasts where they have talked about working with domestic abuse survivors. I am interested in further reading about this area of work, for

Rachel Mcmahon

Jan 25, 2022

Replying to

@Gill Court "What impact does domestic violence have on carrying out meaningful and purposeful occupations for female survivors in the uk" I know there has been a covid 19 occupational therapy led project on domestic abuse recently carried out too....check RCOT?

Gill Court

Jan 25, 2022

Replying to

@Rachel Mcmahon Brilliant, thanks Rachel.

r.cowan

Jan 23, 2022

I am an OT who works in an A&E Mental Health Liaison Team and I do see both perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse and violence…I definitely think there is an identifiable need for OT interventions, I only really engage in safety planning with the person and information share with the local multi-agency safeguarding hub.

Gill Court

Jan 23, 2022

Replying to

Thanks for replying - that's really interesting. I would be really interested to further explore those additional areas of work that you have identified in practice as potentially useful.

Sarah Bird

Jan 22, 2022

Hi Gill

I would very much be interested! Im a little behind you hoping to go to uni this year to study OT.

I have a background working with dv victims and perpetrators, and very much see the value of OT within both these areas. Please let me know if anyone else reaches out as I would be definitely up for getting involved

Gill Court

Jan 23, 2022

Replying to

Hi Sarah. That's great! Good luck with you Uni applications. Hopefully we will be able to build a community of OTs and Students with an interest in DVA work.

Hub Team

Jan 20, 2022

Thanks for reaching out to the community @Gill! We'll bring your forum to the attention of Members via our social networks in the coming days, to prompt speedier responses.

OT practitioners working in Domestic Abuse - making connections?

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