Founded in 1972, Leeds Women’s Aid is the largest women’s charity in Leeds, and the safety of victim-survivors of domestic abuse has always been at the heart of our work.
The national DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Abuse) checklist, widely used by domestic abuse organisations, has recently drawn media attention. We want to be transparent about how DASH is used within our services as part of a wider system response to risk.
Leeds Women’s Aid, and our vital services provided through Leeds Domestic Violence Service, take a multi-agency approach, supported by effective staff training and secure data-sharing processes. We want to emphasise that the DASH is a checklist, not an assessment, and is always used as a starting point by our domestic abuse workers. Professional judgement is the assessment that is central to shaping the right response for each individual situation, as risk within a domestic abuse context is ever-changing.
Since its launch by SafeLives 15 years ago, DASH has provided a crucial safety net for victim-survivors. It has helped establish a level of consistency and shared approaches across services, saving countless lives. However, we recognise that it does need to be reviewed and developed. We fully support SafeLives’ call for a government-led, survivor co-created review and update of the entire risk response, alongside investment in appropriate training and support for professionals.
You can read SafeLives’ statement about the DASH checklist here: https://safelives.org.uk/news-views/risk-pathways-and-position-on-dash/
If you need support or advice, call our 24hr helpline on: 0113 246 0401 or use our online chat service.