The DASH RIC checklist

The domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and honour-based abuse risk identification checklist (DASH RIC):

• helps front line practitioners identify high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and honour- based violence
• decides which cases should be referred to the multi agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) and what other support might be required. A completed form becomes an active record that can be referred to in future for case management
• offers a common tool to agencies that are part of the MARAC process and provides a shared understanding of risk in relation to domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence
• enables agencies to make defensible decisions based on the evidence from extensive research of cases, including domestic homicides and ‘near misses’, which underpins most recognised models of risk assessment.

Anyone can complete a DASH RIC, but training is available for anyone who feels they need more understanding of the checklist.

Completing the DASH RIC

The checklist is a series of questions that are scored, enabling a level of risk to the victim to be determined.

All questions on the DASH RIC need to be asked in order to identify the level of risk. Having asked all questions, the number of ‘Yes’ responses should be added up to gain a score.

Practitioners should then add their professional judgement in the relevant box – this is important as the DASH RIC score could come out as standard or medium risk when the answers to one or two questions may indicate to there is actually a high risk.

On completion of a DASH RIC:

• a score of 14, or more, means there are identifiable indicators of risk and a referral to MARAC must be made with or without consent of the victim.

Multi agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) - more information

Practitioners should never downgrade a score of 14 or more to being a standard or medium risk level without the case being referred to MARAC.

• where standard (score of 1-9) or medium (Score of 10 – 13) risk is identified, and a practitioner does not judge it to be high risk, then the practitioner should discuss with the victim if they would like to be referred to DVAP, for specialist DA support.

Completed DASH forms should be emailed to opsdvap@eastriding.gov.uk.

Practitioner referral form

If you are a professional wishing to make a referral on behalf of your client, and you have completed and emailed the DASH RIC, you will then need to complete the online referral form:

Primary Care Network staff

For staff employed within Primary Care Networks, we have a dedicated health independent domestic abuse advisor (IDVA).

If you wish to make a referral on behalf of your patient, please complete the referral form:

Completed forms should be emailed to healthidva@eastriding.gov.uk

Advice on domestic abuse issues

Practitioners can always contact DVAP for advice on any issues related to domestic abuse: