How to use the toolkit?

This pathway targets different profiles:

1. Field workers who are already involved in the topic or field workers who are new to the topic and who may encounter women facing domestic violence in the course of their work. By field workers, we mean people who are in contact with women who are confronted with domestic violence in their socio-professional (re)integration process, i.e. social workers, people working in shelter organisations, NGOs, socio-professional integration organisations, etc.

2. Companies that are already aware of the issue and wish to go further in their commitment or companies that do not have tools at their disposal and wish to engage with their employees.

Within companies, we specifically address human resources, inclusion and diversity units, and social action departments for companies that have one, but also colleagues who wish to be informed and made aware of the issue.

The aim is to guarantee the return to employment of women facing domestic violence by promoting collaboration between field workers – trained to work with this particular public – and companies – which have become a safe place to keep these women in employment.

Domestic violence and the need for a better network and infrastructure to improve the socio-professional (re)integration of women who have experienced this type of violence should be a public concern, and the ACTIV project aims to contribute to this issue.

We have developed this toolkit to draw on the knowledge and expertise of field workers and companies in the fields of domestic violence and socio professional (re)integration. It aims to guide field workers and enterprises by giving them tools to raise awareness and improve their involvement in this field. It also aims to create synergies between the different actors involved in the process. The guidebook provides recommendations for research and practice. We encourage field workers and businesses to use the information in the guide to support their daily work with the women victims of domestic violence they serve.

The main objectives of the ACTIV project and this toolkit are:

• To increase synergies between stakeholders and improve their collaborations.
• To provide learning tools to improve the services provided by stakeholders, so that they can develop a caring environment.
• To leverage the knowledge and expertise of stakeholders and companies by involving them in the socio-professional (re)integration of women facing domestic violence.

Many different pathways are depending on the country, the person, the situation, etc. However, based on the experience of the partners, we have identified five main challenges in the process of socio- professional (re)integration of women facing domestic violence.

This toolkit will help companies to better understand these challenges and get involved in their professional (re)integration. It also aims to help NGOs, shelters and field workers to offer better support.

The interactive tool is built in five steps, each responding to a challenge. However, it should not be followed as a linear pathway but, depending on the life experience of each woman facing domestic violence, the route may be different.

The toolkit consists of five steps necessary for the successful socio-professional (re)integration of women who have experienced domestic violence. These steps were defined based on the indicators identified by the field workers themselves. They are aimed at both field workers and companies, the aim being to strengthen synergies and collaboration between these actors. Resources dedicated to these two target audiences were developed at each stage.