The Open2Change team focus on intervention and prevention services to those who recognise their harmful behaviours in relationships.
The Open2Change team provide early intervention and prevention services to support those who recognise, and want to change, their harmful behaviours in relationships.
By exploring current or historic behaviour, Behaviour Change Workers enable positive change in people who use abusive or unhealthy behaviours to a partner, former partner or family member.
The Open2Change programme is available for anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation from 16 years+.
What are unhealthy behaviours?
Is there:
- physical and/or sexual violence?
- bullying and intimidation?
- enforced isolation from family and friends?
- coercive or financial control?
- emotional and psychological abuse?
- stalking and harassment?
Unhealthy, harmful and abusive behaviours can easily escalate but through the use of confidential, structured support, tailored to each individual, change is possible.
The Open2Change programme is delivered as part of a whole system where partners, ex-partners and/or other family members are also offered access to our Partner Link Workers (PLW).
How is the programme delivered?
After the initial assessment phase, the programme consists of six objectives worked through over a number of weeks. The behaviour change journey will include various sessions relating to domestic abuse, the impact of domestic abuse and how we can change our behaviours.
Confidential advice, guidance and safety can be provided to partners, ex-partners and family members. The protection of victims, children and vulnerable adults is paramount.
How to work with the Open2Change Team?
Referrals can be made by agencies or you can self-refer. You can contact us via email to: O2C@swindonwomensaid.org or complete our referral form.
For a referral to be successful, the individual must recognise that their behaviour requires change. Once accepted, a referral will be assigned to a Behaviour Change Worker and, if appropriate, a Partner Link Worker to work with the victim.
All referrals will be assessed by the Open2Change Team, which will review all relevant information regarding risk. They will then complete an initial risk assessment including the individual’s suitability for the programme; identification of their most immediate needs; and any action needed to safeguard the victim from further harm.
Independent Evaluation of Open2Change by the University of Worcester
Last year, the University of Worcester commenced an initial evaluation of the programme, led by the Senior Lecturer within the Violence Prevention, Trauma and Criminology Department, Dr Beverley Gilbert. Dr Gilbert is an internationally renowned expert in domestic abuse, having spent 30 years working as a police officer and probation officer, including specialising as a Detective Family Protection Officer and in the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme.
The final report highlighted the significant and sustained improvements in participants’ wellbeing as a direct result of participation in the programme, and the resulting impact on their ability to reduce conflict and abuse within their relationships, both intimate and in wider community life.
Dr Gilbert said: “Open2Change offers something so valuable in communities; working one-to-one to address the root cause of domestic abuse as well as protecting the victims. It’s uniquely positioned to contribute to more flexible, culturally responsive interventions in both community and custodial contexts.
One size fits all does not work when working with prevention of abuse, it has to be bespoke to the individual and this one-to-one approach achieves that. There’s a gap in support for people who want to change but don’t have anywhere to go for help to unpick the harm and make changes. Open2Change allows people to do this and address the whole self, including wider aspects too such as mental health, finances, addiction and housing issues.”
Louisa Wrighton, Open2Change Manager, added: “If we are to one day see a society where abuse doesn’t exist, then we need an integrated, whole family approach that doesn’t just support victims but tackles the behaviour at the root cause of the abuse. Right from the start of the programme five years ago we saw the changes people could make in their behaviour and the knock-on effect on their victims but we felt it was important to have an evidence-based approach so asked the experts at University of Worcester to formally review. “
“The Open2Change programme is forever developing and we continue to make changes according to the needs of our clients and team. This evaluation has not only confirmed that what we are doing is contributing to the prevention of domestic abuse but also changing lives for the better. It’s given us a direction and focus to continue improving the programme so that we can continue widening our reach and the potential to put an end to domestic abuse.”
Read the Plans for the next stage of development of the O2C programme here.
