School of Social Sciences and Law

This course has been developed in consultation with police and professional practitioners to provide an informed background for those whose work includes responding to domestic violence. It will be of particular benefit to practitioners, professionals and voluntary sector workers in law, social work, housing, medicine, health, refuges, domestic violence forums and policing as well as to magistrates, judges and court personnel.

• provide an up-to-date background to domestic violence tailored to meet the needs of professionals and practitioners.
• promote good practice across the range of agencies which have a remit to respond to domestic violence.

• have developed an understanding of domestic violence, its nature, extent and impact

• have knowledge of key and contemporary research findings relating to domestic violence
• be familiar with the remits and work of a range of local and national agencies working around this issue
• be able to facilitate discussions on domestic violence
• be able to apply their knowledge within a professional context.

The course involves five full days of study at the University. It runs three times a year, March, May and September. It is delivered through a mixture of private study, lectures, seminars and workshops using a range of teaching methods appropriate to mature students studying in a small group context. As well as drawing on the growing body of research and theoretical understanding relevant to domestic violence, the course looks at realistic case studies and is responsive to students’ experience of domestic violence interventions.

Led by Prof Jill Radford, Professor of Criminology and Women’s Studies, the course is staffed by a specialist team of tutors who are experienced in working and researching in the area of domestic violence.

Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded the University Certificate in Professional Development (Domestic Violence). The certificate attracts 30 credits within the University’s Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) and so can count towards a degree.

To achieve the certificate award, candidates must complete and pass all parts of the assessment. This includes:

• a written knowledge check based on preparatory readings
• a presentation and facilitation of a short group discussion, with a written report relating to a relevant aspect of domestic violence intervention
• a written report based on a real or hypothetical case study.