Reading List

A curated Reading List to support awareness of domestic abuse and coercive control for first-contact roles in general practice.

The sources below cover domestic abuse definitions, coercive control, safeguarding standards, digital safety and four-nations guidance. Follow local safeguarding and domestic abuse pathways alongside national guidance.

1. Core Domestic Abuse Sources

• GOV.UK - Domestic Abuse: statutory guidance
  Official guidance on the Domestic Abuse Act definition, forms of abuse and multi-agency response. Explains physical, sexual, emotional, economic, controlling and coercive abuse.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-act-2021/domestic-abuse-statutory-guidance-accessible-version

• GOV.UK - Controlling or coercive behaviour statutory guidance
  Guidance on recognising controlling or coercive behaviour and the legal context. Describes patterns such as monitoring, isolation, fear and control.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/controlling-or-coercive-behaviour-statutory-guidance-framework/controlling-or-coercive-behaviour-statutory-guidance-framework-accessible

• NICE - Domestic violence and abuse quality standard
  Quality standard on identifying and supporting people experiencing domestic violence or abuse. Places reception and first-contact actions within the whole-practice safeguarding response.
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs116

• NHS Safeguarding Guide - Domestic abuse
  NHS safeguarding guidance on domestic abuse, including how to consider safety before asking and principles for a safe response.
  https://safeguarding-guide.nhs.uk/types-of-abuse-exploitation-and-neglect/s3-05/

2. General Practice and Digital Safety

• RCGP - Safeguarding standards for general practice
  UK-wide safeguarding standards for staff working in general practice. Covers whole-practice systems, staff roles and escalation expectations.
  https://www.rcgp.org.uk/learning-resources/safeguarding-standards

• NHS England Digital - Supporting victims and survivors of domestic or sexual abuse
  Guidance on safeguarding risks related to online record access and the NHS App. Explains why routine digital access and messaging can create safety risks and how to reduce them.
  https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-app/clinical-safety-and-safeguarding/safeguarding-vulnerable-people/supporting-victims-and-survivors-of-domestic-or-sexual-abuse

3. Four-Nations Sources

• GOV.WALES - Ask and Act guidance addendum
  Welsh Government guidance on identifying and responding to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
  https://www.gov.wales/ask-and-act-guidance-addendum-html

• mygov.scot - Domestic abuse
  Scotland-facing public information on domestic abuse, support and safety options.
  https://www.mygov.scot/domestic-abuse

• Health NI - Guidance for identifying and responding to domestic abuse
  Northern Ireland guidance for health and social care professionals on identifying and responding to domestic abuse.
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/guidance-published-nurses-midwives-help-identify-domestic-abuse

Use these sources to inform staff training, local safe-contact procedures, online-access safeguards and reflection on domestic abuse response in general practice.