Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) is a meeting where information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives of local police, probation, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors. After sharing all relevant information they have about a victim, the representatives discuss options for increasing the safety of the victim and turn these into a co-ordinated action plan. The primary focus of the MARAC is to safeguard the adult victim and any children living in their care. It is a quick paced meeting, with 10 minutes to discuss each case; therefore input from each agency is brief and to the point.
Any agency can refer into the MARAC. Agencies should always endeavour to inform the victim they are being discussed. In some cases, it is not appropriate/safe to inform the victim so on rare occasions, they will not be aware. Due to this, if you are being asked to complete this report, it is not appropriate to make contact with the victim or any children involved regarding the request for information. The victim does not attend the meeting and an IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) speaks on their behalf.
Please be aware that you may be asked for information for a child/family where the victim is not known to you, but the child may have significant contact with the parties involved. In these circumstances we will make it clear in the ‘Family Composition’ section what the relationship is of the child to the parties involved.
If you, as a school, have regular contact with the family and feel that you would have a lot to contribute to the meeting, please feel free to attend, but please be aware that we are not always running on time so there may be some waiting around involved.
After the meeting, you will be sent a copy of the minutes through the Safeguarding in Education Team. If you have any queries, please contact them at safeguardingineducationteam@bristol.gov.uk or call on 0117 9222710.
What is a MARAC - This is a page created by SafeLives, a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, on what a MARAC do and Making Referrals to MARAC