Members of the Safer Communities Partnership
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC)
What is a MARAC?
A domestic abuse Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a meeting that brings together representatives from a number of agencies in East Sussex to discuss the safety, health and well-being of people experiencing domestic abuse (and their children).
There is local guidance on the MARAC process for practitioners:
MARAC resources:
The following resources should be used to identify risk, make a referral or complete research:
- Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment Risk Identification Checklist (DASH RIC)
- MARAC Referral Form
- MARAC Research Form
There is also a MARAC Victim Leaflet which professionals can use to explain the MARAC process and what will happen when they are making a referral. If it is safe to do so, someone being referred to the MARAC may want a printed copy of this leaflet or they could access it online.
In some cases a victim may be referred to the MARAC without their knowledge. In these cases, practitioners must assess whether it is proportionate and defensible to share information, depending on the level of risk which the victim is facing.
Safe Lives provide a useful summary of sharing information for MARAC.
Safe Lives provide a useful summary of sharing information for MARAC.
MARAC documentation:
The following documents include information on the local MARAC process, including guidance on information sharing and the MARAC process itself:
Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme forms:
There are a number of documents related to the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, sometimes known as ‘Clare’s Law’. Please refer to the Practitioners Guide for more information.
Training
The Safer East Sussex Team offers training to statutory, voluntary and community sector partners to help ensure that frontline professionals are able to undertake risk identification and refer to the MARAC.
To discuss your training requirements, please email: Natasha.gamble@eastsussex.gov.uk
MARAC Hub Pilot evaluation
Pilot evaluation helps share learning and shape future design of local MARAC system
Fulfilling Lives South East has collaborated with East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council to evaluate the impact of a pilot trailing a new approach to the local MARAC systems.
The Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (‘MARAC’) is a regular weekly local meeting to discuss how to help victims of domestic abuse at high risk of murder or serious harm. It brings together Representatives from a number of agencies in the local area to discuss the safety, health and wellbeing of people experiencing domestic abuse (and their children) and to agree actions and safety plans in order to reduce risk and keep individuals safe.
In 2019, the Joint Domestic, Sexual Violence & Abuse and VAWG Unit for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex reviewed the MARAC structures and referral pathways. The review highlighted the increasing numbers of referrals into the MARAC locally across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, as well as highlighting the increasing challenges of safety planning for victims of complex and repeat cases. The MARAC Support Team worked with agencies to shape a new ‘Hub’ model in response to challenges identified in the review. A three-month pilot was launched in January 2020 to trial a new approach and was rolled out across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
This report shares the learning of the Brighton & Hove and East Sussex MARAC pilot with a view to informing the future design of the MARAC structures locally. We also hope that these findings and reflections can support other areas in the country who are interested in developing their own local MARAC structures and systems to improve outcomes for high risk victims of domestic abuse.
From this evaluation, the data supports that the MARAC meeting now feels safer and more effective than before. Meeting conversations have moved away from having an update-focus to allow for more discussion about safety and planning. The changes that have been made have created strong foundations to continue to develop this important space. The evaluation has shown that this is dependent on effective preparation, smaller number of meeting attendees, productive relationships between agencies, and effective chairing.
You can read the full evaluation report to learn more about the evaluation findings and recommendations for the future.
Fulfilling Lives South East has a particular interest in the experiences of people with Multiple and Complex Needs (‘MCN’). 93% of women who work with us have experienced domestic abuse and many are heard at MARAC. Our client-facing work has previously highlighted to us the challenges of discussing complex cases in detail within the previous MARAC structure and we are pleased to see that conversations appear to now be more focussed on risk planning, exploring agency involvement and ensuring accountability of actions. We are also very interested in how the evaluation highlights that complex cases require clearer definition and pathways within future MARAC systems in order to ensure safety planning is completed in the most effective way possible. This is an area that we hope will be included for further consideration and development in the future.
Fulfilling Lives is committed to continue working with partners across the public and voluntary sectors to support in finding new ways of working and testing new ideas to help improve the situation for women who have multiple complex needs and experience domestic abuse and violence. Should you wish to discuss the report further, please contact Rebecca Rieley, Systems Change Lead for FLSE: rebecca.rieley@sefulfillinglives.org.uk
Contacts
For further information on the MARAC process, or to discuss a referral to the MARAC, contact the MARAC Coordinator:
Email: MARAC.ESBH@eastsussex.gov.uk
Telephone: 07724701166 / 07500 224829
Anyone referred to the MARAC will be offered support by a Domestic Violence Caseworker from the East Sussex community- based Domestic Violence and Abuse Service, Change Grow Live.
Change Grow Live offer support to anyone aged 16+ who has been affected by domestic abuse and violence.
People affected by domestic or sexual abuse or violence in East Sussex can contact Change Grow Live to find out more about the help, advice and support available. Advice and support is also available for professionals, including consultancy support if they are working with a client who has been referred to the MARAC.
Phone: 0300 323 9985
Email: ESDomesticAbuse.Info@cgl.org.uk
Our Eastbourne office number: 01323 417 598
Our Hastings office number: 01424 716 629
Referral Link for professionals and Self Referrals www.changegrowlive.org/domestic-abuse-service-east-sussex/referrals
In an emergency call the police on 999.
You can also use 101 to give information to the police or make an enquiry.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of any document on this page in a more accessible format, please email: MARAC.ESBH@eastsussex.gov.uk
Page last updated: June 2022