Risky decision making: multi-agency working with victims experiencing high risk domestic abuse

This studentship seeks to explore how the issue of risk is understood and used to inform the practice of professionals seeking to safeguard and support victims of serious domestic abuse within a multi-agency working context. In doing so the study will help to improve multi-agency working, thereby strengthening safeguards in addressing domestic homicide in Scotland and other jurisdictions.

Research Question
The focus of this doctoral study will be on how risk is conceptualised within the MARAC process in Scotland, and the implications of this for the practice of assessing and managing this risk. The aim is to strengthen our understanding of how practitioners and their employing agencies might better ensure that adult and child victims of serious domestic abuse are most effectively supported and protected, especially individuals at risk of lethal violence. While the student will have flexibility in determining the specific research questions that the study will address, sample questions could include:
what are the factors influencing the threshold for a MARAC being held on an individual following referral?
whether some groups of victims are less likely to have a MARAC held due to assumptions about who is at greatest risk, and from whom, due to gender, sexual orientation or race?
how should children and their needs be considered within the MARAC?
whether there is a consistent link between how risk is assessed by professionals, and the safety plans which are derived?
whether the MARAC discussion and outcome is influenced by the particular individuals in attendance at any given meeting?

Research Design
This study, using a mixed methods design and drawing upon discursive psychology (Wiggins and Potter, 2015), will seek to explore how those involved in MARAC meetings assess the referrals made to the conference, contribute information and assess the information shared by participating agencies about the adult and child victims and perpetrator at the conference, and develop safety plans for the victim(s).