MARAC
What is a MARAC?
A MARAC is a fortnightly multi-agency meeting that focuses on the safety of victims of domestic abuse identified as being at high risk (the name stands for “multi-agency risk assessment conference”).
A risk identification tool called DASH is used by all agencies to identify victims at high risk and refer them to a MARAC.
Once referred, the victim is discussed at the next MARAC meeting.
After sharing all relevant information they have about a victim, the representatives discuss options for increasing the safety of the victim and turn these into a co-ordinated action plan.
The primary focus of MARACs is to safeguard the adult victim.
A MARAC will also make links with other fora to safeguard children and manage the behaviour of the perpetrator.
At the heart of a MARAC is the working assumption that no single agency or individual can see the complete picture of the life of a victim, but all may have insights that are crucial to their safety.
The victim does not attend the meetings but is represented by an independent domestic violence advisor who speaks on their behalf.
Who Should Attend?
A MARAC is made up of a core group of agencies across the statutory and voluntary sectors, including the police, probation, children’s services, adult’s services, health, education, housing, substance misuse services, specialist domestic abuse services, and the independent domestic violence advisor (IDVA) service.
IDVAs represent the interests and views of the victim throughout the MARAC process.
Other agencies attend on an ad hoc basis when they have involvement in one of the cases being discussed.
MARAC Documents for Professionals
You can use the links below to download and view the files.