What is a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)?

A Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (also known as MARAC), is a confidential meeting between representatives from different organisations in Shropshire to discuss the safety, health and wellbeing of people who are at significant risk of serious harm or homicide because of domestic abuse. The aim of the discussion is for key agencies coming together to share relevant information and to put together a multi-agency action plan to reduce the risk of serious harm to the person at risk and their dependents (children and/or adults who may need care and support); as well as for anyone else who may be identified as being at risk.

SafeLives have also produced a What is a MARAC? Video which explains further. You can also refer to the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Operating Protocol in the Related documents section on this page.

Who is referred?

Any organisation who is an agreed Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference member can and should identify and refer any person who is a victim of domestic abuse ( as defined by Part 1 Domestic Abuse Act 2021) and is assessed as meeting the Shropshire MARAC criteria. Please refer to the Shropshire Multi-Agency Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment and MARAC Referral Form in the related documents section on this page. The person who is experiencing the domestic abuse (also known as the victim) should be involved with and give consent to the assessment and referral; unless it is unsafe to do so (because for example talking to them places them or others at greater risk). Organisations still have a legal duty to act and work together where there is a significant risk of serious harm to the person at risk of domestic abuse and/or their dependants (children and/or adults with care and support needs).

Who attends?

A number of different organisations are signed up to the Shropshire Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Operating Protocol and attend regularly:

• West Mercia Police (Chair): Domestic Abuse Unit (DAU) and Local Policing Team
• Domestic Abuse support organisations: Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service and West Mercia Women’s Aid (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, IDVA).
• The Probation Service
• West Mercia Youth Justice Service (where appropriate)
• Shropshire Council: Housing Options Team, Adult and Children’s Services
• Housing Associations
• Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (including maternity services)
• Shropshire Community Health Trust (including health visiting services)
• Community Mental Health Team (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust MPFT)
• Robert Jones Agnes Hunt NHS trust (where appropriate)
• Community Substance Misuse Team (Shropshire Recovery Partnership SRP)
• Armed Services Welfare Services (where appropriate)

Confidentiality

All information shared and discussed at a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference is confidential. Every organisation who attends these multi-agency conferences is required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Please refer to the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Information Sharing Protocol in the related documents section on this page for more information.