Abstract:

The COVID – 19 pandemics has raised a series of additional challenges both to victims of domestic violence and to the service providers. To be able to offer the necessary support to victims of domestic violence, a special service has been built up within each of the General Directorates of Social Assistance and Child Protection which exists in every county of Romania. These services offer comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence through the social workers, psychologists and legal counsellors involved.

The aim of this paper is to make an analysis on how professionals are prepared to work with such a group (victims of domestic violence). Our research is of a qualitative type and was conducted based on the 10 semi-structured interviews with social workers, psychologists, educators and top managers from the General Directorates of Social Assistance and Child Protection in the western part of Romania.

The research questions are based on what type of trainings the professionals need and what type of needs has to be covered by these trainings?

Based on these trainings, professionals working at grass root level and decision makers from civil society organisations and state institutions could have the opportunity to assimilate, collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary manner the new tools, based on a European approach. Findings are discussed in relation with the international literature and implications for practice are proposed.

Keywords:

Domestic violence, service providers, trainings, professionals, COVID-19.