Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Policy

 1. Policy Statement 

In accordance with the strategic plan, and in alignment with best practice recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Responding to Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Against Women: Clinical and Policy Guidelines, health care professionals at the Women’s will: 
•	be trained in first-line support for women who are identified as experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence
•	offer first-line support to women who are identified as experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence 
•	will sensitively inquire about exposure to violence when assessing patients with conditions that may be caused or complicated by intimate partner violence (pregnancy, reproductive health and mental health), in order to improve care. 
Guiding Principle 

This policy has been developed to support the Royal Women’s Hospital (the Women’s) commitment to providing high quality care, support and referrals for women who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing violence. 

At least one in two women in Australia have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence, yet few will voluntarily disclose to a health professional. Violence against women is the leading contributor to ill health and preventable death in women aged 15–44. 

A central element of the experience of violence is the loss of control and feeling of powerlessness, therefore the governing principle is to give women as much sense of control over their health care as possible. 

Healthcare professionals are ideally placed to identify, assess, offer referral and advocate for people who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence. Health professionals require training to ensure they are equipped and competent to provide the appropriate interventions. 

Best practice at the Women’s recognises the impact of violence on women’s health and their access to health care, whether or not there are any indicators of violence. 

2. Definitions 
The Women’s uses the following operational definition of Violence Against Women: 

Family violence is defined by the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) as behaviour by a person towards a family member that is: 
•	physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically or economically abusive, threatening, coercive or in any other way controls or dominates the family member and causes that family member to feel fear for the safety or wellbeing of themselves or another family member or 
•	behaviour by a person that causes a child to hear or witness, or otherwise be exposed to the effects of the behaviour

3. Responsibility 

It is the responsibility of the Executive Director of Strategy and Planning to ensure compliance with this policy. 

It is the responsibility of all Women’s employees in clinical settings to adhere to this policy. 

4. Key Guidelines and Procedures related to this policy 

The requirements for implementation of the policy are detailed with the following guidelines and procedures; 
•	Identifying and Responding to Violence against Women Procedure 
•	Sexual Assault - Victim/ Survivors of Assault Presenting to Emergency 

The following Policies, Guidelines and Procedures (PGP) should be used in conjunction with those listed above, if applicable; 

•	Child at Risk Guideline
•	Female Genital Mutilation – Women’s Health. 
•	Family Violence – Workplace Support Policy
•	Family Violence – Workplace Support Procedure
5. Evaluation, monitoring and reporting of compliance to this policy 

Compliance to this policy will be monitored, evaluated and reported annually through the number of staff trained to sensitively inquire about family violence, training records, training feedback surveys, and monitoring of Victorian Health Incident Management System (VHIMS) reports.

6. References

1. The Royal Women’s Hospital. (2016). Strategic Plan, 2016 - 2020.
2. The Royal Women’s Hospital. (2012). Violence Against Women: Management and Referral Options.
3. World Health Organisation. (2013). Responding to Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Against Women Clinical and Policy Guidelines.

7. Legislation related to this policy

Family Violence Protection Act 2008 
Child Youth and Families Act 2005
Child Safe Standards, 2015

8. Appendices
Not applicable.