Draft Practice Guide for Generalist Service Providers

This draft practice guide is being tested by selected generalist service providers.

Have you seen possible signs of family violence, but don't know what to do? This guide will help you.

This draft practice guide is for generalist service providers (like lawyers, teachers, childcare providers, and church-based services). While dealing with family violence isn't your core business, you may need to support victims and perpetrators of family violence while providing your usual services. 

Use this guide to help you recognise family violence, support people to ask for help, and support them to get it.

It is a practical tool to accompany the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework [PDF, 1.7 MB], which provides a common approach to screening, assessing and managing family violence risk.

You can help ensure there's no 'wrong door' for victims, perpetrators, family and whānau to get the help they need.

• What's expected of you

  Learn the boundaries of your role as a generalist who is supporting someone affected by family violence.

• How to recognise family violence

  Learn about some of the forms family violence can take, common signs of family violence, and some indicators of child abuse and neglect.

• How to talk about family violence

  Learn some things to say and questions to ask people who are experiencing family violence or who are using violence against family members.

• Find a specialist family violence provider

  Once you've identified a family violence concern, you'll need to refer to a specialist family violence service provider. Find a service that best meets the needs of the person you're supporting.