Domestic abuse hurts everyoneDomestic abuse hurts everyone

Picture found in Refuge domestic violence resource manual for employers

About About 75,00075,000 children witness children witness domestic abuse domestic abuse

every yearevery year

In In 50% 50% of known of known domestic abuse domestic abuse

cases, children were cases, children were also directly abused also directly abused

by the same by the same perpetratorperpetrator

In In 90% 90% of cases of of cases of domestic abuse, domestic abuse,

children are in the children are in the same or next roomsame or next room

In the 12 months to In the 12 months to September 2014, there were September 2014, there were a total of a total of 591 591 children living children living

in the households of the in the households of the cases discussed at Multi-cases discussed at Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Agency Risk Assessment

Conferences (MARACs) in Conferences (MARACs) in East SussexEast Sussex

“I can’t really remember a time when mum and dad haven’t been arguing. I feel like the arguments just keep running inside my head, when I’m at school and when I

go to bed at night”

“I just wish the fighting would stop. When it suddenly goes quite, I lie in bed wondering how mum is, but I’m too scared to go down. If only I wasn’t so scared I could do something to

help. It makes me feel so bad”

“Dad and me are okay together some of the time. He bought me a games console last year. But when it’s time to go home after school I feel my stomach getting tight. I

know I’ll be in big trouble if I’m late but sometimes anything seems better than going home”

Easily startledEasily startled

Complaints of physical Complaints of physical symptoms such as tummy symptoms such as tummy

achesaches

Temper tantrumsTemper tantrums

Behaving much younger Behaving much younger than they arethan they are

Withdrawn Withdrawn from other from other

peoplepeople

Lowered sense of self-Lowered sense of self-worthworth

Playing truant or Playing truant or bullying othersbullying others

Eating disordersEating disorders

Domestic abuse hurts everyoneDomestic abuse hurts everyone

Changes in the way that an employee dresses i.e. excessive clothing in

Summer

Depressed or Suicidal

Unexplained injuries

Persistently late without explanation

High absenteeism rate without explanation

Regularly needing to leave work early

Withdrawn

Low self-esteem

Panicky or anxious

Injuries which seem inconsistent with explanation given

Uncharacteristic behaviours i.e. distracted, unable to concentrate

Increased hours for no apparent reason

Receipt of repeated upsetting calls, emails or faxes

Secretive regarding home life

Flowers or gifts sent by partner for no apparent reason

Change in the pattern or the amount of make up worn

Avoids lunch breaks or socialising at end of

working day

Seems frightened of partner

Changes in behaviour

Obsessed with time

Needing regular time off for ‘appointments’

Changes in quality of work performance for unexplained reasons

Embarrassed about injuries or home

situation

Repeated injuries such as bruises that are

explained away

Sleeping or eating disorders

Substance use or dependence

Frequent, sudden or unexpected medical problems or sickness

absences