DASH Risk Assessment Training for Frontline Professionals

To equip frontline practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively conduct DASH risk assessments, identify high-risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking, and honour-based abuse, and take appropriate next steps to ensure the safety and support of victim-survivors.

Description

This course provides frontline practitioners with the skills and confidence to effectively conduct a Domestic Abuse, Stalking, and Honour-Based Abuse (DASH) Risk Assessment. Participants will learn to identify high-risk cases, apply professional judgement, and take appropriate next steps, including safety planning and referrals. Through real-world case studies and interactive discussions, the session will explore best practices for domestic abuse conversations, intersectionality and barriers to support, and the importance of accurate risk assessment and recording.

 

This course will cover:

  • Why the DASH risk assessment is essential in identifying serious harm and homicide risk
  • How to complete a DASH effectively and avoid common pitfalls
  • The role of professional judgement in risk assessment
  • How to identify and respond to high-risk clusters and escalation
  • Best practices for trauma-informed conversations and active listening
  • How to record risk information accurately and use it for safety planning
  • What happens after a DASH assessment – referral pathways, MARAC, and multi-agency working
  • Intersectionality and barriers that impact survivor responses and risk levels

Learning objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Identify high-risk factors and assess risk using the DASH framework
  • Apply professional judgement in domestic abuse cases
  • Recognise the dynamic nature of risk and escalation indicators
  • Conduct trauma-informed and survivor-centred risk assessments
  • Record and document accurate and effective case notes
  • Understand next steps, including safety planning, MARAC referrals, and specialist support

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for frontline practitioners who work directly with victim-survivors of domestic abuse, including:

  • Domestic abuse specialists
  • Housing professionals – including tenancy support officers and homelessness services
  • Health and social care professionals – such as safeguarding teams, mental health workers, and social workers
  • Law enforcement and criminal justice professionals – including police officers, caseworkers, and probation officers
  • Charity and third-sector workers – supporting victim-survivors in community organisations and advocacy roles

Before you book

Prerequisite:

Before attending delegates must have completed higher-level domestic abuse awareness training prior to attending this session to ensure they have a strong foundational understanding of domestic abuse dynamics and risk factors.

Level

Skills course

Location

  • Live online training delivered via Zoom using Mentimeter

  • In-Person at your venue (or a venue arranged by yourselves)

Course Timings

This course is a full day of delivery and is 7 hours long

This includes comfort breaks, space for questions and time for the delegates to evaluate and reflect after the delivery.

What will delegates receive as part of this course?

  • STADA Delegate Pack (Includes activity workbook, key messages from training, links to films shown in the course, domestic abuse directory and toolkits)

  • CPD Certificate

  • A copy of the slides

Costs and Cancellations

Group Bookings Online

£2000   

DAHA Member (Housing) Discount: £1800

This fee is for up to 20 delegates (minimum 6 delegates to run a course).

We prefer to cap attendance at 20 to ensure all delegates feel able to fully engage. However, we can accommodate a maximum of 5 additional delegates upon request. Each additional delegate will incur a fee of £100pp

Group Bookings In Person

£2300   

DAHA Member (Housing) Discount: £2070

This fee is for up to 25 delegates (minimum 8 delegates to run a course).

How does this fit with DAHA Accreditation?

Are you a DAHA member?

DAHA membership discount on Group Bookings = 10% Accredited/Accreditation Members and 5% Affiliated Members

This course supports DAHA Members to meet the Staff Development & Support Priority Area

Standard 2: Relevant staff receive domestic abuse training that enables early identification of domestic abuse

Find out more about DAHA membership HERE

Similar courses

Course Aim: Neighbourhood and Community housing officers can identify survivors/victims at the earliest opportunity and meet their needs as part of a safe and coordinated multi-agency response to domestic abuse.

More Information

Course Aim: Contact Centre teams can identify survivors/victims at the earliest opportunity over the phone and meet their needs as part of a safe and coordinated multi-agency response to domestic abuse.

More Information

This course enables Champions to come together and reflect on their role in embedding culture change through raising awareness about domestic abuse. The training will ask Champions to consider what actions they will take to promote a coordinated response to domestic abuse.

More Information

This course aims to enable individuals to identify coercive and controlling behaviours in abusive relationships to increase the early identification of domestic abuse

More Information

Professionals and workers can empower their customers/clients to understand what legal tools and powers are available to survivor/victims of domestic abuse. Those supporting should ensure that all actions are survivor-led and part of a coordinated response that includes the specialist domestic abuse services.

More Information

Aim: Housing teams have the skills, knowledge and tools to write case notes that support an effective response to domestic abuse.

More Information

Aim – Housing Options teams consistently give all survivor/victims a trauma-informed and safe response.

More Information

Upskill Contact Centre teams to identify survivors/victims at the earliest opportunity over the phone and meet their needs as part of a safe and coordinated multi-agency response to domestic abuse

More Information

Through understanding the stages of change and recognising the intersecting barriers faced by victim-survivors, this course aims to teach delegates how to tailor support effectively. Equipping delegates with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to understand what and how to apply the key principles of motivational interviewing.

More Information

Equipping teams and individuals with the skills, knowledge and tools to share information confidently and proportionately in a way that increases victim/survivor safety and holds perpetrators to account.

More Information

This course aims to deepen your understanding of domestic abuse, coercive control, and early identification of abusive behaviours, while also addressing the homicide timeline and how to support after disclosure from patients facing multiple disadvantages.

More Information

This course aims to equip managers with the confidence, knowledge, and practical skills to support staff experiencing domestic abuse, ensure safe workplace practices, and respond to team members raising concerns about their customers. The training promotes a survivor-led, intersectional, and legally informed approach.

More Information

This course aims to provide healthcare professionals and carers with insight into the impact of domestic abuse on the emotional and physical wellbeing of individuals with cancer, offering early intervention strategies and an overview of the Cancer and Domestic Abuse toolkit to enhance support and safety for victim-survivors.

More Information

To enhance healthcare professionals' knowledge, confidence, and practical skills in recognising and responding to victim-survivors of domestic abuse who may be at increased risk of suicide. The course includes trauma-informed approaches, safety planning, and effective multi-agency collaboration to prevent harm and improve professional awareness.

More Information

This course aims to equip delegates with the knowledge to recognise victims who do not fit common domestic abuse stereotypes, identify those most at risk in abusive relationships, and understand the dynamics of abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour. Delegates will also learn the impact of a perpetrator’s tactics on victims and apply the AVAA model, as well as create effective safety plans.

More Information