Who should make a MARAC referral?
Any practitioner who believes someone is at high risk of harm as a result of domestic abuse must make a MARAC referral.
Referral Criteria
To make a MARAC referral the person experiencing domestic abuse must be based in Kent and Medway and the abuse must be believed to be high-risk. There are four ways to meet the high-risk threshold:
- Visible High Risk: This is determined by 14 or more ‘yes’ answers on the DASH. Professional judgement shouldn’t be used to ‘downgrade’ a risk assessment.
- Professional Judgement: If you aren’t able to complete a DASH or have fewer than 14 ticks, you might still feel the case is high risk. Sometimes the context concerns us or standalone high risk indicators like use of weapons,
multiple perpetrators, strangulation or extreme fear indicate high risk to you.
- Escalation: an increase in the frequency or severity of abuse. Services should consider that there is a potential for serious harm or homicide when three domestic abuse events have been identified in a 6-month period.
- Suicide or self-harm: Where domestic abuse is current and there is high risk of harm from the perpetrator or suicide/self-harm because of the ongoing impact of abuse a MARAC Referral should be made.
Discussing MARAC referral with the victim
MARAC works best when the victim of abuse feels part of the process, is aware of the referral and what it means.
Discussing MARAC referral with the victim
Read more about Discussing MARAC referral with the victimYou should:
- Explain the process and why a MARAC referral is being made
- Ask for consent to make referral, but explain that as you are concerned about the level of risk you are obligated to make the referral
- Tell them that an IDVA will contact them. The IDVA represents the victims wishes at the meeting and is not linked to the police or children’s services
- Clarify that the person using abusive behaviour will not be informed, the MARAC referral is confidential
How should I make a referral?
Read more about How should I make a referral?- You don’t need a license to the Case Management System to make a referral
- There are mandatory fields, but you should input as much information as you can and aim to complete all fields on the form
- Outline the risk factors, relevant background and reason for referral. This could include;
• Details of the first, the worst and the last incident
• Any threats made to the victim or others
• The client’s housing or family situation
• What current support is in place for the family
• Why you believe the case is high risk - If the referral is accepted, the MARAC process begins,
What happens if my referral is rejected?
Read more about What happens if my referral is rejected?Incomplete, poor quality or referrals that don’t meet MARAC criteria will be returned to you.
Liaise with your Safeguarding Lead to safeguard the person experiencing abuse. This may be resubmitting a referral more clearly identifying the risk factors, arranging a Professionals Meeting or making referrals to appropriate domestic abuse support if you have consent from the client.
What should I do the abuse doesn’t meet the high risk threshold?
Read more about What should I do the abuse doesn’t meet the high risk threshold?There is support in Kent & Medway for anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse. Use the Referral Pathway to identify the right provider in your area.
What about high risk stalking?
Read more about What about high risk stalking?Stalking is defined as a pattern of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour that causes fear, alarm, or distress. Stalking can happen in the context of domestic abuse or, if the perpetrator is not ‘personally connected’ to the victim, as a separate crime type.
If you believe high risk stalking is happening as part of domestic abuse please make a MARAC & IDVA referral.
If stalking is occurring without domestic abuse make a referral to a stalking advocacy service with the consent of the person who is experiencing the stalking.
What do I do if I’m worried about an adult with care and support needs?
Read more about What do I do if I’m worried about an adult with care and support needs?If there are adults with care and support needs affected by the abuse you should also make an adult safeguarding referral.
What should I do if there are children linked to the victim or perpetrator?
Read more about What should I do if there are children linked to the victim or perpetrator?If you are making a MARAC referral and there are children connected to the victim or perpetrator you must also complete ‘Request for Support’ form and submit to Front Door Service.
Kent – Worried about a child – Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership
Medway – Concerned about a child | Concerned about a child | Medway Council
How can I access the MARAC process charts?
Read more about How can I access the MARAC process charts?Download the MARAC Process Charts here:
Can I access the MARAC Operating Protocol?
Read more about Can I access the MARAC Operating Protocol?This MARAC Hub MARAC Hub Operating Protocol and Guidelines provides multi-agency partners with a consistent framework, governing how we operate MARAC in Kent and Medway.
Is there training on the MARAC Case Management System?
Read more about Is there training on the MARAC Case Management System?Yes, you can access the recorded training sessions (all cover the same topics) that were provided in April 2025 here:
Who should I contact?
Read more about Who should I contact?If you need to contact the MARAC Hub team for information, licence queries or password resets email them at marac.coordinators@kent.police.uk.
Can you hold a closed MARAC?
Read more about Can you hold a closed MARAC?A closed MARAC can be requested by the victim or referrer and may be appropriate where more privacy is needed, for instance because of the job held by either victim or perpetrator.
A request for a Closed MARAC should be made clear on the MARAC referral so that this can be managed by the MARAC Coordinators.
How do I access the Case Management System?
Read more about How do I access the Case Management System?There are a limited number of licences to access the Case Management System, these can be given to agencies attending MARAC each month or on a temporary basis to those accessing the system for a particular case.
To discuss please contact: marac.coordinators@kent.police.uk