Module 8 Portfolio Project: Interventions for Victim of Domestic Violence

Interventions for victim of domestic violence
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Interventions for victim of domestic violence
Nobody deserves to be threatened, battered, beaten or victimized in any way by domestic violence by his or her intimate partner in a former or current cohabiting, married or dating relationships. This paper describes the case management needs of the victim of domestic violence. The case management needs of the selected population are identified and the assessment procedures that would be utilized are described. Furthermore, a list of interventions and strategies are developed based on research that would be helpful in treating the case management needs of the victim of domestic violence. This paper also describes the distinction between direct interventions and care coordination/advocacy that would be utilized in treatment of this case management client. Lastly, this essay describes and addresses ethical and cultural considerations applied in the treatment of this client.
Population in need – victim of domestic violence
Domestic violence could occur to anybody, old or young, male or female, married or single, notwithstanding income level, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or race. Also referred to as battering, domestic violence is unlawful (Sugg, Thompson & Thompson, 2010). Domestic violence is not about a single disagreement or fight in a relationship. In essence, it refers to a pattern of coercive behaviours in which one of the partners is attempting to gain control and power over the other partner. Campbell, Jones and Dienemann (2011) pointed out that domestic violence occurs when a person bullies or hurts someone who they are in a relationship with or another member of his or her family.
The coercive behaviours could include the following: isolation, medical deprivation, intimidation, forced sexual activity, physical abuse or threat of physical abuse, economic manipulation, and repeated psychological abuse. Some of the warning signs such as possessiveness, name-calling, and jealousy are red flags for a relationship that is abusive (Campbell, Jones & Dienemann, 2011). A lot of the victims of domestic violence usually report that the crazy-making behaviour of psychological abuse by the abusers is in fact more devastating compared to the physical violence. Domestic violence could also harm young people and children, even if these individuals are only witnessing the crime of domestic violence. Hearing or seeing someone in their family hurt another member of their family whom they love could make them feel extremely crazy (Thompson, Rivara & Thompson, 2010).
Case management needs of the client
Case management refers to a process in which a health professional assesses the needs of the client, and then organizes access to relevant health and welfare services for the client (Sugg, Thompson & Thompson, 2010). In the case of the client who is a victim of domestic violence, the case management needs include immediate safety in order to avoid risk of being harmed by his/her abusive partner in domestic violence; relationship difficulties; physical health needs/medical requirements for treating the injuries inflicted on her by the perpetrator; and longer term needs with regard to recovery from an abusive relationship and life management. Moreover, the health professional will monitor the client’s utilization of these health and welfare services. It is notable that this model of assistance to a client offers the continuity of care which is associated with management over time and in a number of life domains (Nelson, Nygren & McInerney, 2013).
Assessment procedures: two tools would be used in the assessment process: (i) the Domestic Violence Survivor Assessment tool; and (ii) the Non-Offending Parent/Adult Victim Domestic Violence Assessment Tool. The Domestic Violence Survivor Assessment instrument aids healthcare providers and victims of domestic violence to identify feelings and issues brought about by domestic violence and helps in guiding counselling. Domestic Violence Survivor Assessment tool is quick to complete, easy to understand, and it provides an important holistic perspective (Nelson, Nygren & McInerney, 2013). This tool can help social workers and health care providers to identify areas in which the victim was stuck and needed counselling so that he or she could move forward. Campbell, Jones and Dienemann (2011) reported that this tool has been accepted as an outcome measure for counselling in various counselling programs. This tool helps in guiding interventions and measuring outcomes. It is founded on the Landenburger’s Theory of Domestic Violence Recovery and the Transtheoretical Model of Change. The Domestic Violence Survivor Assessment tool measures where a victim of domestic violence sees herself or himself with regard to eleven issues that are often experienced by domestic violence survivors. Six of these issues concern the victim as a person and include the following: mental health; self-identity; accessing help; medical care for injuries and stress as a result of domestic violence; self-efficacy – capacity to be on his or her own; and feelings. Moreover, 5 of these issues pertain to the victim’s relationship with the abusive partner. They include opinions on the relationship and options; triggers of abusive incidents; managing loyalty to norms and his or her own beliefs; attachment to the abusive partner; and managing partner abuse (Dienemann, Campbell & Landenburger, 2010).
Basing on interviews with this client, the clinician will then identify the state in which the client is in as regards to resolving the eleven issues. For instance, when the client excuses and denies the abuse or ignores his/her injuries, the client would still be in a state of being committed to continuing the relationship (Dienemann, Campbell & Landenburger, 2010). As soon as the client is capable of rejecting self-blame and gets to realize that she or he cannot prevent the abuse from her or his partner, then this client would be considering change and starts to look at the abuse and his/her options, though the client might delay getting medical care for his or her injuries. Lastly, the client, makes the decision to not put up with the abuses and either leaves that relationship and the abusive partner or, if the client chooses to stay, becomes mindful of the need for his/her partner to change and tries to obtain medical treatment as necessary (Thompson, Rivara & Thompson, 2010).
The Non-Offending Parent/Adult Victim Domestic Violence Assessment Tool: this tool helps in assessing safety, needs and strengths of the victim. This tool can only be used with Non-offending Parent/Adult Victim. The answers provided by the client would give valuable information with regard to the control and power in the relationship. If the answers demonstrate that there is violence within the family, then continued evaluation of severity as well as potential lethality would be carried out (Thompson, Rivara & Thompson, 2010). Evaluating the dangerousness of the abuser is vital as it will help in reducing the risk for victim and the children.
Strategies and interventions for treating this client’s case management needs
There are several strategies and interventions appropriate to treating the case management needs of the client. These include providing emergency assistance, safety, advocacy, counselling, housing and support. Two of the main interventions are counselling and increasing victim safety (Woodside & McClam, 2014). Counselling: the client will receive individual counselling and she will work closely with the case manager to attain self-sufficiency and safety goals. Through individual counselling, the client may also be provided with assistance in developing life skills and enhancement of self-esteem (Woodside & McClam, 2014). Increase victim safety: it is important to increase the safety of this client in order to prevent her from continuing being battered and being abused by her partner. Increasing victim safety would help prevent ...