The partner link worker: A vital but undervalued service for women who have been subjected to or at risk of domestic abuse
| Published date | 01 June 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/02645505221118082 |
| Author | Rebecca Jayne Woolford,Molly McCarthy |
| Date | 01 June 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
The partner link
worker: A vital but
undervalued service for
women who have been
subjected to or at risk of
domestic abuse
Rebecca Jayne Woolford
Interserve Division: Justice, Liverpool, UK
Molly McCarthy
Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Abstract
This study aims to explore the partner link worker (PLW) role in supporting women
who have been subjected to or at risk of domestic abuse. Prior research in a probation
setting tends to focus solely on the person on probation, failing to examine the experi-
ences of people subjected to crime and support services on offer. The PLW role pro-
vides an essential service that has been undervalued and overlooked. The study
begins to provide some evidence to counter the broader political rhetoric that people
subjected to crime are central to probation practice within the criminal justice system.
It draws on the findings from thirteen semi-structured interviews conducted across five
Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs). The findings suggest that PLWs demon-
strate a professional commitment to protecting and safeguarding vulnerable women
and addressing domestic abuse. However, PLWs face many challenges and obvious
gaps in provisions to provide a fully inclusive and accessible service to meet the indi-
vidual needs of women and their children. The recently reunified probation service
offers an optimum opportunity to review, resource and regenerate the PLW service
to protect and safeguard people who have been subjected to or at risk of domestic
abuse.
Corresponding Author:
Rebecca Jayne Woolford Interserve Division: Justice, Cunard Building, Liverpool L3 1DS, UK.
Email: Rebecca.Woolford@justice.gov.uk
Article The Journal of Communit
y
and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2023, Vol. 70(2) 160–178
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/02645505221118082
journals.sagepub.com/home/prb
Keywords
partner link worker, probation, domestic abuse, women, people subjected to crime
Introduction
The probation service plays a vital role in addressing domestic abuse. There has
been growing evidence of the importance of work with people who have been sub-
jected to crime in the criminal justice system, albeit questionable this has translated
into daily probation practice. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the
needs of people subjected to domestic abuse and the provisions available in the pro-
bation service. This exploratory study provides an in-depth insight into the partner
link worker (PLW) role. The literature review summarises definitions of domestic
abuse, the importance of work with women who have been subjected to domestic
abuse and outlines the PLW service. The findings discuss the importance of the
PLW role in providing safeguarding measures and support for women as well as
identifying potential gaps and areas for improvement in service delivery. This
study aims to fill the current gap in knowledge and provides some evidence to
counter the broader political rhetoric that people subjected to crime are central
to practice within the criminal justice system. It also presents a platform for PLWs
to voice their suggestions for improving policy and practice in the newly reunified
probation service.
A brief overview of domestic abuse
In 2020, approximately 2.3 million adults between the ages of 16 and 74 reported
a domestic abuse-related incident in the UK (ONS, 2020). However, it is generally
acknowledged to be a far more pervasive problem than indicated by police reports
or crime data (Gracia, 2004; Farrel & Pease, 2007; Wong & Mellor, 2014).
Nonetheless, it is widely accepted that domestic abuse is perpetrated in many
forms and within many types of relationships (World Health Organization,
2012). Domestic abuse encompasses, but is not limited to;
‘any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, or
violence between those aged 16 or over, who are or have been intimate partners or
family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not
limited to the following types of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial and
emotional’(Home Office, 2018).
We, Woolford and McCarthy, recognise that men and women can experience inci-
dents of domestic abuse. However, this article will specifically explore women who
have been subjected to or at risk of domestic abuse due to the criteria set by the PLW
role. The PLW role provides a specialist service for women and has been an integral
and mandatory component of accredited domestic abuse programmes in the proba-
tion service in England and Wales. The Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme
Woolford and McCarthy 161
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