MARAC and SARAC – advice for practitioners
MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
Across Greater Manchester services are working together to stop domestic abuse and help anyone concerned about abuse to find out about help for themselves or for friends and family. These services include Helplines, Women’s Aid, Police, Victim Support, Housing Services, Education, NHS, Independent Domestic Abuse Advisers, Relate and Probation.
There are twelve Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) in Greater Manchester (one per police division). If you are concerned that an individual or family you are working with is suffering domestic abuse, you can make a referral to MARAC. Visit the End the Fear website for further information www.endthefear.co.uk/practitioners
If you identify a case that you consider is high risk, you should first discuss this with your manager, or MARAC representative, and they will assist you in completion of the referral process.
MARAC Referrals
MARAC referrals can only be made by uploading them onto the SharePoint site and cannot be sent by email. The twelve MARAC sites are on the secure AGMA (Association of Greater Manchester Authorities) server – the referral form for each individual MARAC is available for download from the SharePoint site.
Please contact your agency’s MARAC representative to do this. If your agency isn’t currently represented on MARAC, contact the Greater Manchester Police at marac@gmp.pnn.police.uk or tele: 0161 856 3569
For more information visit the end the fear website www.endthefear.co.uk/marac-referrals
The MARAC referral form provides all the personal details needed to enter a referral, along with guidance on the information necessary to complete the referral into the MARAC – this is the section that tells the MARAC why a case is being referred and outlines the risks, concerns and actions needed.
The MSB has adopted the GMSP procedures in relation to MARAC and these can be found in the relevant sections of the greatermanchesterscb.proceduresonline.com
SARAC (Sexual Abuse Risk Assessment Conference)
A SARAC is a meeting where agencies share information about the risk of serious harm to people who have experienced sexual abuse or rape.
Multi-agency safety plans are developed to support those in need. The aim is to increase the safety and well-being of the adults and children involved and to reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation.
Cases referred into SARAC can be historic, as long as the thresholds of the risk assessment tool are reached (including professional judgement).
The MSB has adopted the GMSP procedures in relation to SARAC and these can be found in the relevant sections of the greatermanchesterscb.proceduresonline.com
The Survivors Trust has 135 member organisations based in the UK & Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men and children who have survived rape, sexual violence or rape or other sexual abuse as children. A list of local helplines and useful websites can be found on their website thesurvivorstrust.org/find-support
