8.5 Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

1. Introduction

A Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a local multi-agency victim focused meeting where professionals share information on the highest risk cases of domestic abuse. It provides a coordinated response to domestic abuse, incorporating representatives from statutory, community and voluntary agencies working with adult victims, children and alleged perpetrators, and recognises that no single agency can see the complete of the life of a victim.

Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are discussed, and used to create a risk management plan.

The four key aims of a MARAC are to:

• safeguard adult victims and children;
• make links with other public protection arrangements in relation to perpetrators and adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect;
• safeguard staff;
• address the behaviour of the perpetrator.

It also aims to:

• share information to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of victims / survivors and their children;
• determine whether the alleged perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular individual or to the general community;
• to evaluate effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public safety;
• construct and jointly implement 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; and
• improve support for staff involved in high risk domestic abuse cases.

At the heart of a MARAC is a working assumption that no single agency or individual can see the complete picture of the life of a person who is at risk, but all may have insights that are crucial to their safety, as part of the coordinated community response to domestic abuse.

2. Assessing Risk and Making a Referral to MARAC

Referrals to MARAC can be made by staff in any agency who identify a victim of domestic abuse as being high risk. The DASH Risk Checklist can be used to assess the level of risk posed to a victim. If the MARAC threshold for high risk is met, the local MARAC coordinator should be contacted about making a referral. The case will be submitted for the next available MARAC.  A referral to the IDVA service should also be made.

2.1 DASH Risk Checklist and MARAC Referral Criteria

See DASH Risk Checklist and MARAC Referral Criteria (SafeLives)

The DASH Checklist is for all practitioners working with victims of domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based abuse and provides a tool for identifying those who are at high risk of harm.

If a practitioner identifies an individual they are, or have been, working wit, is a victim of domestic abuse, they should complete the checklist

The DASH checklist gathers relevant information about the person’s circumstances in order to assess the risks posed to them.

SafeLives advise that 14 ‘yes’ answers on the DASH Checklist suggests very high risk and a referral to MARAC is recommended. However, professional judgement is important, and cases which fall below 14 ‘yes’ answers can still be referred. If support is needed by the lead agency in completing the DASH Checklist, then a referral can be made to Freeva (see Freeva).

For more information, see MARAC Referral Criteria.

3. Independent Domestic Violence Advisors

Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) provide independent support to victims / survivors of domestic abuse.

They provide this support regardless of whether a victim / survivor has chosen to report an offence to the police, whether they have ended the relationship with the perpetrator or whether they are victims of multiple offences.

IDVAs can help victims / survivors to understand the systems and processes relating to areas such as victims’ / survivors’ rights, health and wellbeing, reporting to the police, criminal and family justice processes and accessing support services.

The IDVA will attempt to make contact with the referrer and the victim following receipt of a MARAC referral. The IDVA’s job is to be a bridge between victims and the MARAC meeting. The IDVA will try and meet the victim beforehand, or at least talk to them on the phone, and explain how the meeting works, what it can do, and what the options are.

The IDVA will also ask the victim if there is anything they would like to be discussed at the meeting.

Children and Young Persons IDVAs (CHIDVAs) support children and young people experiencing domestic abuse between adults in their household or within their own intimate relationships.

Young Persons Violence Advisers (YPVAs) work with young people experiencing domestic abuse in their own intimate relationships.

Court IDVAs provide dedicated support for victims / survivors navigating courts by offering practical and emotional support throughout both public and private law proceedings. Their role includes explaining the court process and the different options that are available, supporting with any arrangements required (such as travelling to court or childcare), attending court with victims/survivors and liaising with court officials.

Health-based IDVAs (HIDVA) provide support to victims / survivors of domestic abuse who are accessing healthcare, alongside providing training and case consultation assistance for health professionals to understand and respond to domestic abuse.

A victim / survivor can be referred into the IDVA service at any time, by any professional engaging with them. Some IDVA services accept self-referrals by victims themselves.

See also Independent Domestic Violence Adviser Statutory Guidance (Ministry of Justice)

4. MARAC Attendance

The MARAC consists of a core group of professionals, representing the statutory and voluntary sectors in the local area, including the police, probation, children’s social care, adult social care (mental health, safeguarding adults), health, education, housing, substance misuse services, and specialist domestic abuse services. Other agencies can attend as required, when they have involvement in a case which is being discussed.

Representatives who attend the meeting will bring information about the household that might help assess the risks and the development of the safety / risk management plan. This includes information on any disclosures of domestic abuse, current support being provided, the needs of the adult, and details of other people living in or visiting the house (including other family members, carers etc.) Any information on mental capacity issues in relation to the victim and the perpetrator should also be shared, as well as any history of mental illness, any previous history of domestic abuse and whether the perpetrator is the main carer.

The victim does not attend the MARAC meeting, but their views will be represented by an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) who will speak on their behalf.

5. Interface with Safeguarding Adults

In common with safeguarding adult enquiries under the Care Act, the MARAC process is a way of sharing information about risks of harm and identifying actions needed to increase safety.

Although a number of cases discussed at MARAC will include adults experiencing or at risk of abuse and neglect, it does not replace safeguarding adults meetings or processes. MARAC does not discuss cases in the same level of detail as at a safeguarding meeting, the adult victim does not attend the meeting, nor is there any ongoing case management. Cases are only discussed at MARAC once unless there is a new incident in the next 12 months.

The MARAC is a multi-agency hub and can help ensure that all relevant agencies are involved with working with and safeguarding the person; however unless there is another high risk incident, the MARAC is not usually a longer term intervention which is why it may be appropriate for both the MARAC process and Safeguarding to be used together. If both the Safeguarding and MARAC routes are being used, then effective communication between agencies is essential and the MARAC should be made aware that there is an on-going safeguarding enquiry and who is the point of contact for this. The main priority is always the safety and wellbeing of the adult (and any other adults at risk / children involved). Multi-agency safeguarding planning will be key in whatever process is used.

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) may also need to be considered in relation to an offender (see Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements chapter). Again, consideration needs to be given by all professionals as the most appropriate process.