This Assessment Tool is designed to support NSW service providers assessing and responding to strangulation in the context of domestic, family and sexual violence. The tool may also be used to assess experiences of smothering, suffocation, and other forms of breath restriction. The practice standards outlined within this tool are evidence-based and informed by the Women’s Health NSW Guidelines: Responding to non-fatal strangulation and sexual choking.
The Assessment Tool will be useful for service providers who see people who may have experienced strangulation. It is designed to be used in conjunction with pre-existing organisational and state resources; such as safety assessment tools, like the NSW Domestic Violence Safety Assessment Tool (DVSAT).
The Assessment Tool comprises of three steps:
- Know the signs: Be familiar with the signs and symptoms of strangulation and be prepared to revisit screening for strangulation across the client’s service interactions.
- Ask the questions: Ask questions to assess the client’s medical, safety and short- and long-term needs.
- Respond to needs: Act on the information.
The Assessment Tool is presented in PDF and WORD formats to make it easy to customise these documents for your service. It will work best in conjunction with a referral pathway for strangulation, a protocol for using the referral pathway, and regular staff training.
Downloads (Click on the images below)
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