MARAC - multi-agency risk assessment conference

MARAC is a multi agency risk assessment conference for victims of high risk domestic abuse.

It facilitates, monitors and evaluates effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public safety. Sheffield has a monthly MARAC meeting.

MARAC aims to:

• share information to increase the safety, health and well being of victims – adults and their children
• determine whether the perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular individual or to the general community
• identify outstanding aspects of risk assessment in regard to the victim, children or perpetrator that need referral or progress
• pull together a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm
• reduce repeat victimisation
• improve agency accountability
• improve support for staff involved in high risk domestic violence cases

In a single meeting, a domestic violence MARAC combines up to date risk information with a timely assessment of a victim’s needs and links those directly to the provision of appropriate services for all those involved in a domestic abuse case: victim, children and perpetrator.

Who attends a MARAC?

The agencies invited have a role to play in the victim and children’s safety, so it is crucial to have non-criminal justice system groups there as referrals can be made to a MARAC from any agency. It is helpful if there is a consistent person who is nominated to represent their agency.

Permanent attendees include police (officer to report on cases and other public protection officers as necessary), children’s social care, independent domestic violence advocates, specialist domestic violence services including local Women’s Aid or other refuge providers, health representatives (midwifery, health visitors, child protection nurse and hospital staff as appropriate), housing, probation, education, mental health, homelessness team, local drug and alochol services, children and family court advisory and support service (CAFCASS).

Other agencies may attend depending on the case, for example, community based and voluntary perpetrator programmes, national association of child contact centres,  children’s support organisations and county or local authority domestic abuse co-ordinator.

The victim does not attend the meeting, nor does the perpetrator, or the Crown Prosecution Service.

Referral types

Cases submitted to MARAC should be:

• assessed as high risk or complex medium risk
• giving cause for significant concern (may include repeat victim cases)

Who refers?

The agency that receives the initial report / referral of the domestic abuse incident should conduct a formal risk assessment and refer the case to a MARAC if high risk. In most cases this is the police, given that they receive the vast majority of crisis referrals, although many different agencies may identify a client as suffering domestic abuse including the A&E department, social services and health visitors, for example.

How do I refer?

Once the case has been assessed as high risk (or if it fits any of the other referral categories above) a MARAC referral form should be completed and submitted to the local MARAC co-ordinator. The case must then be submitted for the next available MARAC meeting.

Contact details

For more information, please contact Sheffield Homes on 0114 293 0000 or 205 3333 and ask for the MALT Team.