An investigation into the experiences of domestic abuse helpline staff and service users during COVID-19 lockdown

自2020年3月新型冠状病毒疫情爆发以来，英国政府实施行动限制，导致易受家庭虐待的人士与施虐者隔离，被剥夺安全空间或获得帮助或支持的机会。在过去一年中，特别是在“封锁”期间，家庭虐待受害者所需的服务大幅增加。英国慈善机构Refuge报告称，与去年相比，其支持网站的流量增加了700%，2020年4月收到的电话增加了120%。虽然开始出现关于COVID-19封锁措施对家庭虐待率影响的研究，但尚未有研究深入了解与虐待伴侣生活在一起的人或需要提供支持的家庭虐待工作人员的经历。这两个因素对于了解COVID-19封锁对家庭虐待受害者、家中其他人和医院工作人员的真正影响至关重要。通过了解这些影响，英国政府和支持组织可以制定一项行动计划，在我们进入和离开大流行期间适当地支持那些生活在家庭虐待中的人。该项目将分三个阶段收集数据，以填补这一知识空白。第一阶段将涉及与15名家庭虐待调查工作人员进行远程访谈。访谈记录将进行分析naradically和主题，确定收到的电话的性质，需求增加对家庭虐待的福利的影响，以及新出现的支持需求的模式。同时，将进行数据收集阶段2。第二阶段将涉及向200名家庭虐待在线服务用户分发的调查，调查封锁对虐待事件和严重程度的影响，对家庭中其他人的影响以及心理健康和福祉结果。结果将使用频率分析，推理统计和内容分析进行分析。在第三阶段，将邀请15名服务用户参加最后一波远程访谈，以便更深入地阐述对调查的答复，并征求对持续支助需求的意见。我们已经确认了5名家庭虐待受害者的参与，他们将促进参与者的招募。本研究中的三个数据收集阶段对于了解封锁对家庭虐待工作人员和服务用户的影响至关重要。这对于联合王国制定和完善长期战略以改善对受害者的支助并确保支助人员拥有提供充分支助所需的工具至关重要。调查结果将通过各种产出，包括政策简报文件、在线研讨会、期刊文章和公开信息图表文件，传播给政策制定者、实践组织、学术界和服务用户。这些报告将作为关于艾滋病及其后出现的支助需求的政策决策的重要指南。

Mobility restrictions enforced by the UK Government in since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 have resulted in those vulnerable to domestic abuse being confined in isolation with their abusers, deprived of safe spaces or opportunities for help or support. Domestic abuse helplines saw a substantial increase in the service provision required to support victims of domestic abuse during the last year, in particular, during episodes of 'lockdown'. UK charity Refuge reported a 700% increase in traffic to their support website and a 120% in calls received in April 2020, compared to the previous year. While research begins to emerge on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on rates of domestic abuse, no studies have yet provided insight into the experiences of those living with abusive partners or of the domestic abuse helpline staff required to provide support. Together, these two elements are crucial to understanding the true impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on domestic abuse victims, others within their home, and helpline staff. Through developing an understanding of these impacts, the UK government and support organisations can establish a plan of action to support those living with domestic abuse appropriately as we move in and out of the pandemic. This project will collect data in three phases to address this gap in knowledge. Phase 1 will involve remote interviews with 15 domestic abuse helpline staff. Interview transcripts will be analysed narratively and thematically, identifying patterns in the nature of calls received, impact of increased demand on the wellbeing of domestic abuse helpline staff, and emerging support needs. Simultaneously, data collection phase 2 will occur. Phase 2 will involve a survey distributed to 200 domestic abuse helpline service users investigating the impact of lockdown on the instance and severity of abuse, the impact of/on others in the home and mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Results will be analysed using frequency analysis, inferential statistics and content analysis. In phase 3, 15 service users will be invited to engage in a final wave of remote interviews to provide more in-depth elaboration on survey responses and elicit views regarding ongoing support requirements. We have confirmed involvement from 5 domestic abuse helplines who will facilitate participant recruitment. The three data collection phases in this research are critical to understanding the lived impact of lockdown on domestic abuse helpline staff and service users. This will be vital in the development and refinement of long-term strategies in the UK for improving support provision for victims and ensuring support staff have the tools required to provide adequate support. Findings will be disseminated to policy-makers, practice organisations, academics, and service users through a variety of outputs including policy briefing papers, online workshops, journal articles, and publicly available infographic documents. these will act as a crucial guide for policy decision-making regarding support needs emerging from the pandemic and beyond.