Listening is a big step: Co-developing a multi-agency framework with Black and Minority Ethnic women for Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence'

Background:

Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence is a major issue with serious impacts to both health and well-being. Rates of abuse are higher among Black and Minority Ethnic women and there are many barriers that stop these women seeking help including: immigration status, fears of racism and distrust of services. Ethnic minority women experiencing abuse are more likely to receive unhelpful responses from services. There is a need for services to work together to meet the needs and experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic women.

Aim:

We will explore the needs and experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic women affected by Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence. These experiences will be used to co-develop a framework for different services to best work together with Black and Minority Ethnic Women.  

What we will do:

First, we will review existing knowledge and publications. We will then interview and run workshops with both service users and professionals to understand their experiences of different services, and the ways in which they would like services to work together to meet their needs. We will work together with service users and professionals to develop the framework, to create digital stories, which are short films about people’s experiences, and to write training and guidance. We will also produce and easy-read summary, briefings, and a final report to be shared with individuals, communities, professionals, services, and policy. 

Hope to discover:

A new framework for services to work together with Black and Minority Ethnic Women affected by abuse. 
It is a valuable opportunity to: 

• Increase knowledge and awareness among professionals and services. 
• Inform future service delivery. 
• Help protect people from violence. 
• Help support those people who are experiencing violence and abuse. 
• Improve the well-being of people who are receiving support because they have experienced violence and abuse.                                                            

Public Involvement:

We worked with Black and Minority Ethnic women affected by abuse on five separate occasions. Discussions stressed the importance of the topic. Discussions also helped develop the study design, outcomes, and outputs. We have designed the study so that service users’ voices, expertise, and lived experiences are central. We will employ two service users to work with us as peer-researchers. The study advisory group will be made-up of 50% service users. Ongoing training and support will be provided. Chaired by a service user, the advisory group will support with designing data collection tools, participant recruitment, provide feedback on developing findings, and help to share findings. We will hold six workshops with our advisory group and peer researchers to develop the framework with them. An in-person workshop at the end of the study will help to understand the impact on service users as co-researchers