Rethinking Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a notoriously sensitive area of social work practice, and social workers have been scapegoated by the media for their handling of certain cases. This handbook aims to help social workers to understand the seriousness of domestic violence and to rethink their typical responses. It outlines and clarifies the available legal measures, housing and benefit rights for women, and existing community based resources, and pays particular attention to the role of the social worker in relation to domestic violence. This text should be of use to social work pracitioners, teachers and students.