On 24th September 2025, Dr. Permala Sehmar held a Knowledge Exchange Event that successfully brought together 30 Childrens Social Care practitioners working with families affected by Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA), from all four South Yorkshire Local Authorities. This important collaboration was designed to identify and strengthen research and practice networks focussed on social work and DVA across the region.
Key Presentations and Discussions
The event featured insights from academics and practitioners:
Professor Anitha Sundari shared critical understanding of Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) and their relevance for social work practice.
Dr. Permala Sehmar presented on the challenges and opportunities of working restoratively with families in the context of DVA and child protection.
There was a panel discussion with Alicia Lee and Professor Brid Featherstone, reflecting on their involvement in the Rethinking Domestic Abuse in Child Protection: Responding Differently (RDAC) research project. Their discussion provided crucial lessons on the importance of work with fathers.
The day concluded with practice overviews from each Local Authority, detailing current opportunities and challenges in their respective areas.
Themes and Takeaways
Several persistent themes arose during the day's discussions:
Complexity: A consensus that DVA is a multi-dimensional social problem demanding a response that acknowledges the complexity of family life, complexity of system challenges and resource limitations.
Safety, Trauma, and Accountability: A key point was the challenge of balancing safety and support for those harmed, the need for trauma-informed practice, and holding those who harm accountable.
Innovation: Doncasters Domestic Abuse Navigator Service is using Johnsons Typology of DVA (2008) to inform practice responses to work with families and couples experiencing DVA.
Next Steps
There were requests to continue the research practice conversation. One feedback comment stated, Theres lots of expertise and experience in the room but what about the newly qualified social workers that are struggling with working with domestic violence and abuse? Next steps, we aim to continue the connections made and develop plans to provide resources and support to build resilience and expertise for NQSWs working in DVA.