Influences that affect health visitors' ability to work with fathers who are perpetrators of domestic abuse

Abstract

This article outlines a study that explored the factors influencing health visitors' engagement with fathers known to be domestic abuse perpetrators. This qualitative study recruited seven health visitors who participated in semi-structured interviews. Collection of data was between February and March 2018. Findings showed that the health visiting service mainly focused on the mother and children without including fathers who were often ‘invisible’ to services. Other professional groups, alongside the ‘gatekeeping of mothers’, appeared to influence health visitors' perceptions of the perpetrators' ability to be effective fathers. Due to feelings of anxiety and a lack of confidence, health visitors often avoided contact with fathers. This reduced the opportunity for health visitors to promote healthy relationships with fathers and their children.