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This case study describes a multidisciplinary practice (MDP) approach that supported *Adam and *Zoe, young parents of 26-week-old twins who were living in a youth refuge. Zoe was being subjected to family violence. Initial assessments by case workers and police did not accurately identify the family violence risk. A specialist family violence lens helped to rectify the assessment and create a safety plan for the family. An MDP approach enabled collaboration between family violence and child wellbeing specialists that ensured that the needs of each family member were addressed.
Adam and Zoe were struggling as young parents living in a youth refuge. Adam had been increasingly violent toward Zoe, creating a challenging and unsafe environment for both her and their twins. The initial assessments of the situation failed to accurately identify the risk, leaving Zoe and the children without a proper safety plan. It was only after involving specialist family violence practitioners that the true nature of the violence was recognised and a more suitable approach was implemented.
The case involved escalating family violence from Adam toward Zoe. Specialised family violence intervention was crucial to ensuring safety, particularly considering the wellbeing of their 26-week-old twins, who were living in a potentially unsafe environment.
Together, family violence practitioners and child wellbeing practitioners developed a detailed, tailored case plan for each of the family members. They worked at Zoe’s pace to develop a safety plan for her and her children, maintaining focus on the safety of the young children. Adam remained in view of practitioners, with his needs as a young person identified whilst being held accountable for his actions as the user of violence.
The MDP team of family violence and child wellbeing specialists worked closely to manage risk and safety for each family member. Their collaboration allowed them to share information across services, ensuring that the case plan was client centred and comprehensive. The children were supported to remain in the care of Zoe whilst Adam was supported to engage in a work program, with the aim of supporting Adam as the user of violence, to break the intergenerational cycle of family violence and to work towards reuniting the family.
An MDP approach enabled the children to remain in Zoe’s care, and Adam began engaging in a program to take responsibility for his actions and work toward family reunification. The collaborative effort across specialties ensured that risks were appropriately assessed and mitigated, leading to a safer environment for the entire family. The integration of expertise from various fields proved essential in achieving these positive outcomes, highlighting the importance of early intervention, strong relationships and open communication within an MDP team.
Key features critical to the success of the MDP and outcomes achieved in this case study include:
Centring the voices, interests and choices of victim–survivors across every aspect of service provision.
In this case example, practitioners maintained a non-judgmental, client-centred approach by working at Zoe’s pace, focusing on her safety and that of her children. Because of this, Zoe felt supported and remained engaged in the process, leading to a safety plan that met her needs and kept the children in her care
Valuing specialist knowledge enhances family safety and wellbeing, while respecting role boundaries improves practitioner satisfaction and retention.
In this case example, family violence and child wellbeing specialists collaborated to develop a tailored case plan, utilising their specific expertise to assess risks and address the needs of each family member. This resulted in the development of accurate assessments and safety plans and Adam received tailored support to address his use of violence while also meeting his needs as a young person, improving the safety and wellbeing of the entire family.
Engaging respectfully with fellow practitioners, valuing diverse professional backgrounds and being open to learning from different perspectives.
In this case example, practitioners from different specialisations engaged respectfully, valuing each other’s expertise and working together to share knowledge and make collaborative decisions. The collaborative environment improved decision-making, ensuring comprehensive risk assessments and coordinated support for the family
Clear governance structure, appropriate resources and a shared understanding of roles and processes create a platform for MDP.
In this case example, practitioners worked within a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities, with appropriate processes guiding their collaboration. These clear role boundaries and coordinated processes ensured that each practitioner contributed effectively, enabling a more integrated and client-centred case plan.
Timely and effective exchange of relevant data, insights and knowledge across different professionals involved in supporting the client.
In this case example, timely and effective exchange of information between practitioners allowed for comprehensive risk assessments and client-centred planning. Information-sharing led to a well-informed and integrated case plan, ensuring both Zoe and Adam received appropriate support while keeping the children’s safety in focus.
This case study demonstrates the importance of an MDP in addressing family violence. By leveraging a client-centred approach, specialist knowledge, fostering respectful collaboration and ensuring timely information sharing, the team accurately assessed risks, developed an effective safety plan and supported both Zoe and Adam.
