Respect launches new training: Introduction to CAPVA

October 14 2023 will mark the second annual CPA Awareness Day, which raises awareness of families experiencing child or adolescent to parent violence or abuse. Led by parent-focused organisation PEGS, the day gives us an opportunity to raise awareness both with professionals and more widely. 

Child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse (known as CAPVA, or CPA) is used to describe the dynamic where a young person (8 years -18 years) engages in repeated abusive behaviour towards a parent or adult carer. It is known as a hidden harm: 40% of those experiencing CAPVA refuse to report it, often due to shame or out of fear their child will be criminalised. This, combined with a lack of agreed legal definition for CAPVA, means it can be hard to get the full picture of its prevalence. What we do know, is that prevalence is high, with CAPVA-related offences representing 21-27% of cases within youth offending services.

Limited reporting and a lack of prevalence data can mean that awareness amongst professionals is low, so signs of CAPVA are often missed, or practitioners simply don’t know where to signpost parents who are experiencing this form of abuse. 

To address this issue, we are launching a brand new, online, self-paced Introduction to CAPVA course. Designed to give learners a basic knowledge of CAPVA, this training comes from the team of experts behind the Respect Young People’s Programme, a specialist programme for families experiencing CAPVA, endorsed by the Youth Justice Board. 

Our Introduction to CAPVA is a 3-hour long, self-paced, online training course giving learners an increased understanding of the causes, effects and risks associated with CAPVA, enabling them to identify CAPVA in families and signpost for support. It’s suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about CAPVA, but it would be particularly relevant for professionals working with families e.g. early help services, domestic abuse agencies, education support staff, youth offending, targeted family support and those working in children’s social care. The course costs £75 +VAT per person, and you can book via our website. Discounts are available for larger group bookings.