Suggested Scripts to ENGAGE

 
 
 

1. Establishing privacy to ask

It’s unsafe to ask screening questions with other adults or children aged three years and over present in the room. Asking an attentive partner or other family member to simply leave and or directing women to attend appointments alone can both raise suspicion, where a controlling relationship exists, or be experienced as not family friendly.

It is suggested that where women attend with a partner, that time is also offered to the partner alone as well to ask questions.

The following words may be useful to establish privacy in instances where women attend with partners or other family members:

“Part of our visit today will involve some one on one time. We do this with all our patients, as we find that many women and also their partners have questions for us they might not feel comfortable asking in front of others.”

Midwives have told us that establishing private time also provides space to ask about other issues which women may not have told partners or family members, such as about previous pregnancies/terminations or mental health issues. Some midwives ask partners to book the next appointment during this period to make this private space easier to establish.

By offering partners time alone as well, midwives can provide a useful service, for example, promote the partner supporting breast-feeding, or answer questions about sexual activity during/after pregnancy. Where midwives have concerns about a very present (velcro) partner, they may invite the woman to the bathroom to complete a urine test to gain time alone.

 
 

2. Asking about abuse

Screening relies on women feeling attended to, and not judged. Your attitude, presence in the space and non-verbal communication will be the most important tools you have, which will shape women’s responses. It is important to face the woman while you ask these questions, not type/write responses down at the time and give her your whole attention. At the same time, it is useful to think carefully about WHAT you ask. The evidence suggests that direct questions that ask explicitly about abuse are best and women have also told us this. It is also suggested that more than one question be used, rather than a single question such as ‘Do you feel safe at home?’

Over eighteen different tools for asking about domestic violence have been developed and validated against longer more comprehensive surveys such as the Composite Abuse Scale or Conflict Tactics Scale. The idea is to find a short number of questions that can help identify domestic violence, if the woman is ready to disclose.