Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: Effective Risk Management with Male Perpetrators
Abstract
This research aimed to identify the competencies required of intimate partner violence (IPV) specialists to effectively manage risk posed by male perpetrators of violence. Two methods were utilized– a scoping review of existing literature, and semi-structured interviews with 19 experts in the field. Researchers analyzed 140 documents and the transcribed interviews, extracting and compiling excerpts relating to competencies for assessing and managing risk and safety. Reflexive thematic analysis and methodological data triangulation were used to identify and compare competencies derived from literature and practice-based knowledge. Triangulation revealed overlap for themes of knowledge about IPV, promoting safety, assessing risk, collaborating with others, and creating a safe space. Self-regulation competencies were limited to the literature. Interviews captured greater detail, and identified competencies regarding the IPV specialist’s role, addressing identified safety concerns, working with male perpetrators, and effective risk assessment. Results support the value experiential knowledge can provide to our understanding of IPV competencies.