In this episode we were joined by Dr. Lou Newbury, Named Doctor for Child Safeguarding from Somerset Foundation Trust who talks to us about the importance of understanding non-fatal strangulation for both adults and children and how crucial it is that we understand the signs, symptoms and risks associated with it, as well as how this is communicated to others when we have concerns that non-fatal strangulation may have taken place.
If you’d like to get in touch with Lou to find out more she can be contacted at Louise.Newbury@SomersetFT.nhs.uk
Takeaways:
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 expanded the definition of domestic abuse to include coercive behaviour:
- Children witnessing domestic abuse are classified as victims.
- Non-fatal strangulation is a significant risk factor for future homicide.
- Strangulation can cause severe internal injuries without visible signs.
- Victims often do not use the term ‘strangulation’ to describe their experience.
- The pressure required to occlude blood vessels in the neck is surprisingly low.
- Medical professionals must be vigilant in assessing potential strangulation cases.
- Multi-agency collaboration is crucial for effective response to strangulation incidents.
- Training and resources are available to help professionals recognize signs of strangulation.
- Long-term psychological effects can result from strangulation incidents.
Reflective Questions for Professionals Based on this Episode:
Recognition and Response:
How confident are we in our ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of non-fatal strangulation in both adults and children, and what steps can we take to improve our vigilance and response?
Impact and Support:
What long-term psychological and physical effects of non-fatal strangulation should we be aware of, what may this look like for those we work with and how can we better support victims in accessing the necessary medical and psychological care?
Collaboration and Communication:
How effectively are we collaborating with other agencies (e.g., healthcare, police, social services) to address concerns of non-fatal strangulation, and what can we do to enhance our multi-agency communication and cooperation?
Policy and Practice:
How well do our current policies and practices address the issue of non-fatal strangulation, and what improvements can we make to ensure a comprehensive and effective approach?
Please note – due to the nature of this podcast, themes relating to the abuse and neglect of children are discussed with the content being designed for an adult audience for educational purposes, in order to protect children from harm.
To access the transcript for this episode go to The P Pod (somersetsafeguardingchildren.org.uk) and click on the episode for details.
Further details of topics discussed can be found on the SSCP Website: somersetsafeguardingchildren.org.uk
If you have any comments or questions from this podcast, or would like to be involved in a future episode please get in touch at ThePPod@somerset.gov.uk
