How early intervention improves outcomes for families experiencing domestic abuse during pregnancy and early childhood
How early intervention improves outcomes for families experiencing domestic abuse during pregnancy and early childhood
Contributing to safer, calmer, and more stable home environments for children
From 2018–2024, LEAP funded an Enhanced Casework (EC) Service: a specialist team within the Gaia Centre.
The Gaia Centre is a specialist support service run by Refuge and commissioned by Lambeth Council. It supports Lambeth residents impacted by gender-based violence.
The LEAP EC service was available to pregnant women or those with young children aged 0-3 who were experiencing, or could have been experiencing, domestic abuse, living in the area of Lambeth that LEAP was operating in. The service aimed to support the wellbeing and safety of its clients, while also contributing to safer, calmer, and more stable home environments for children. Ultimately, it strived to improve the mental health and overall wellbeing of both parents and children.
In this evaluation we looked at:
- how the LEAP EC service supported clients and their children;
- how it was different from mainstream domestic abuse services; and
- what the key factors were that helped create change.
Read the full evaluation (PDF).
Authors
Claire Dunne, Senior Research and Development Manager, National Children’s Bureau
Síofra Peeren, Research Associate, King’s College London
Dakota Langhals, Senior Data Analyst, Lambeth Early Action Partnership
Emily Hamblin, Public Health Officer, Lambeth Early Action Partnership
Gemma Luck, Public Health Intelligence Manager, Lambeth Early Action Partnership
Josefiina Valimaki, Data Analyst (Public Health), Lambeth Early Action Partnership
Rowan Ferguson, Senior Researcher, National Children’s Bureau
Sophie Woodhead, Assistant Director, Lambeth Early Action Partnership
Background
Domestic abuse is a public health problem and a form of gender-based violence that disproportionally impacts women and children. In the UK, an estimated one in five children have lived with an adult perpetrating abuse.
Domestic abuse has devastating consequences for children and families. It has long-term, adverse impacts on children’s health, development, and well-being, including mental health problems, behavioural problems and learning difficulties. Children who experience domestic abuse are also at high risk of experiencing additional forms of abuse and neglect within and outside of their families.
Evidence suggests that the perinatal period and early years are crucial times to intervene. Young women of childbearing age face the highest risk of domestic abuse. Approximately 20% of women report having been exposed to domestic abuse during pregnancy.
Research suggests that abuse can begin or intensify during pregnancy. Women exposed to domestic abuse during pregnancy may experience more severe and frequent violence, placing both mothers and children at heightened risk. At the same time, parenthood can motivate survivors to acknowledge and seek help for domestic abuse. The perinatal period has also been described as a “life course opportunity” for intervention, where parents can begin to process, and heal from trauma.
Key Findings
- Offering support that was not time-limited meant it could be tailored to clients needs
- On average, clients received support for 8.61 months (more than 3 months longer than mainstream services).
- Longer-term support facilitated deeper trust-building with caseworkers and sustained change
- Clients valued and benefited from flexible support that responded to their immediate and long-term needs.
- The service successfully supported clients earlier in the cycle of abuse.
- Working with early years settings meant Caseworkers were better placed to engage with isolated clients at a comfortable pace.
- Clients reported that their children’s wellbeing and safety was improved following the support they received.
- Parents were in a stronger position to create a safer and more stable environment for their children.
