Understanding Animal Welfare in Violent Homes

This course will be of interest to professionals working with families with pets and will help them to recognise those at risk of physical and mental abuse.

Overview
This course has been developed as a result of significant research findings, which show that “When animals are abused, people are at risk; when people are abused, animals are at risk.”

This free safeguarding course has been designed to help frontline staff understand the link between family abuse and animal abuse, and is aimed at all professionals who have a responsibility to safeguard vulnerable children, young people and adults at risk.

Why take this course?
The course provides a basic understanding of what animal abuse is, how to spot the signs, as well as to understand the recognised link between family abuse and animal abuse, and understand what to do if you have suspicions of abuse.

The content of this e-learning course includes:

• Welcome and learning outcomes
• Introduction: the links
• The law and animal abuse
• Recognising animal welfare needs
• Action to take

Training outcomes

Having completed this module, learners will:

• Have developed a basic understanding and appreciation of the important role pets can play within families.
• Be aware that owners have a legal responsibility to provide for the welfare needs of their pets.
• Understand that there is a recognised link between family abuse and animal abuse.
• Recognise what good animal welfare looks like, but also what might be a cause for concern, through developing a basic understanding of the five welfare needs of common pets.
• Recognise some aspects of dog behaviour and what this might indicate.
• Be aware of what action to take if you have any concerns about animal welfare in a home.

Accreditation
This course is accredited by CPD and the certificate, awarded upon successful completion, can be used the log your hours against.

Course duration
Approximately one hour to complete. As an e-learning course, you can complete this training in convenient stages. The system will record your progress throughout.

Target audience
This course is particularly appropriate to anyone involved with child protection services, children’s social care, adult social care and housing authorities. It is aimed at health professionals, police officers, teachers and education experts.

Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this course.

Test and certificate
The end of course test consists of 15 multiple-choice questions. Learners are required to achieve a 75% pass mark, and, if necessary, may attempt the test three times at no extra cost. If learners do not achieve the 75% pass mark, further attempts may be given by contacting our support team.

Learners will be able to download a digital certificate on completion.