MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference)

The risk assessment process, MARAC procedures (including referral) and standards for operating MARAC meetings have been developed by Coordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) which is a national organisation supported by the Home Office.

Issues relating to children such as conflict over child contact, pregnancy and perception of harm to children are key indicators of risk in the CAADA risk assessment process. Thus a substantial number of victims who become MARAC cases have children (although many do not).

There are MARACs for Bournemouth, Dorset County and Poole. These meet every three weeks and are currently chaired by the Police. Agencies including children's and adults services, health, mental health, probation, local authority housing departments, drug and alcohol services, Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) and specialist domestic violence service providers such as refuges and outreach projects all attend.

The MARAC is victim focussed and information is shared on victims identified as being at highest risk of harm.

The aim of the MARAC is to:

1. Share information to increase the safety, health and well-being of victims and their children

2. Determine whether the perpetrator poses a significant risk to any particular individual or the general community

3. Construct and implement a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm

4. Reduce repeat victimisation

5. Improve agency accountability

6. Improve support for staff involved in high risk domestic violence cases

The responsibility to take appropriate action rests with the individual agencies - the MARAC is the process through which information is shared. Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) will represent the victim at the MARAC if the victim chooses to engage with the service.  IDVA services are currently provided by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA).

Risk assessment and how to refer to the MARAC

Any agency can refer a victim's case to the MARAC by following the procedure below:

1. Complete the CAADA risk assessment form (pdf, 316kb) (opens in a new window) ; 14 ticks or more meets the MARAC threshold and the case should be referred.  Cases which do not make the 14 tick threshold but where, in the professional judgment of the person undertaking the assessment, the risk is still high should also be referred. Victims in intimate partner relationship aged 16+ can be referred.  Referrals can also be made for adult victims where the perpetrator is aged under 18.

2. Before making the referral discuss the case with your line manager or supervisor and consider what actions you and your agency need to undertake to support the victim and increase their safety.

3. Complete the MARAC referral form (pdf, 19kb) (opens in a new window)  as fully as possible.  If there are no children please state this clearly on the form.  A Word version of the form is available from the Domestic Violence Strategic Coordinator

4. Send the MARAC referral form only (not the risk indicator checklist) by secure E mail to the MARAC administrator at marac@dorset.pnn.police.uk.cjsm.net.  (If you do not have secure E mail, please send an E mail to the MARAC administrator to arrange an alternative means of making your referral).  To use secure E mail you will need to send the E mail from your own secure E mail address.

5. You will receive an acknowledgement of your referral and be advised of the date when the case will be heard at the MARAC.  Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole MARAC Dates 2012 (pdf, 15kb) (opens in a new window)  can be found on this link. You are welcome to attend the MARAC meeting to present your case and this can be arranged with the MARAC administrator.

6. Make sure you keep any records of the MARAC referral secure by following local information sharing processes in place in your agency.

If, on completion of the risk indicator checklist, the case does not meet the MARAC threshold consider other support you may need to give the victim and signpost to other specialist services available locally and nationally.

General information about the MARAC and risk assessment

CAADA is a national charity which aims to create a consistent, professional and effective response to high risk survivors of domestic violence. CAADA achieves this through the creation of a strong infrastructure for the domestic violence advocacy sector and other domestic violence professionals generally.

CAADA has produced a very good toolkit (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window) which contains more detailed information on the MARAC.

For more information please visit the CAADA website (opens in a new window)

MARAC training

A half day training course on the MARAC is available. For those who have completed the training the MARAC training slides (pdf, 97kb) (opens in a new window) are available.