MARAC

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC):

A MARAC is a meeting where information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives of local police, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), probation 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. The MARAC will also make links with other forums to safeguard children and manage the behaviour of the perpetrator.

At the heart of a MARAC is the working assumption that no single agency or individual can see the complete picture of the life of a victim, but all may have insights that are crucial to their safety. The victim does not attend the meeting but is represented by an IDVA who speaks on their behalf.

The aims of MARAC are to safeguard victims of domestic abuse, manage perpetrators’ behaviour, safeguard professionals, and make links with all other safeguarding processes.

How does a MARAC Work?

Each agency has a representative that prepares for and attends the meeting. The MARAC is a multi-agency forum where actions are agreed between the professionals involved. Every victim heard at the MARAC is allocated an IDVA to represent them at the meeting.

Identifying High Risk

There are identifiable indicators of risk of serious harm. The potential event could happen at any time and the impact would be serious.

‘A risk which is life threatening and/or traumatic, and from which recovery, whether physical or psychological, can be expected to be difficult or impossible’

Therefore, risk of serious harm/murder

• Visible High Risk: If there are 14 or more ‘yes’ responses to the questions on the DASH - RIC a referral to MARAC should be made.
• Escalation of abuse
• Repeat cases
• Professional Judgement: If a professional has serious concerns about a victim’s safety, they should refer the case to MARAC. There will be occasions where the particular context of a case gives rise to serious concerns, even if the victim has been unable to disclose the information that might highlight their risk more clearly. This could reflect extreme levels of fear, cultural barriers to disclosure, immigration issues of language barriers particularly in the case of so-called “honour-based violence”. This judgement would be based on the professional’s experience and /or the victim’s perception of their risk of significant harm or risk of homicide. (Remember to provide supporting rationale!)

How do I refer?

Referrals should be sent by secure email or other secure method to:

NAMailbox-.CommunityMaracSouth@met.police.uk

https://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/haringey_community_safety_marac_referral_form.pdf

Further Information

For further information on MARAC access the link to Safelives

November 2023

Review Date: December 2024