Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic
Victoria Collins

Victoria Collins

Middleton,United Kingdom

Summary

Greater Manchester police are one of the first police forces in the UK to trial new innovative orders which promise to provide a more effective route to providing tailored protection to victims of domestic abuse. I currently play a pivotal role in the implementation and management of GMP’s pilot of DAPOs as supervisor of the Domestic abuse protection order team. To date we have successfully obtained over 250 DAPOs via police led applications, whilst also working closely with partner agencies, service providers and Courts to provide better outcomes for both perpetrators and victims with the use of this new domestic abuse legislation across Greater Manchester. Through 16 years of experience in public service, I have dedicated my career to reducing risk of harm to individuals through working collaboratively with partner agencies to achieve better outcomes. My passion is delivering training to police and agencies to ensure they can deliver a high level of service to those affected by domestic abuse.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Domestic Abuse protection order Supervisor

Greater Manchester Police
Manchester, Greater Manchester
02.2024 - Current
  • Supervise the DVPO/DAPO team who prepare and present all GMP DVPO/DAPO applications to HM Court & Tribunals (HMCTS)
  • Maintain liaison with Home office as well as other key stakeholders such as GMCA, HMCTS, family courts, CPS, DRIVE project and DAPO triage team with the Implementation of domestic abuse protection abuse orders pilot within Greater Manchester
  • Consistently drive improvements across the force to improve service delivery and outcomes for the most vulnerable members of Greater Manchester’s communities.
  • Identify organisational risk, maintain Force Policy/Procedures in respect of Domestic Violence Prevention Orders (DVPOs) and domestic abuse protection order (DAPOs) challenging senior stakeholders in relation to legal and policy decisions, supporting the force agenda in tackling violence against women and girls.
  • Prepare and present research reports for Force Leadership, Partners, HM Coroners and National Leads.
  • Respond to and complete national requests for data, information, benchmarking and surveys.
  • Oversee Freedom of Information requests in relation to protective orders
  • Represent GMP by attending and contributing to meetings and other multi-agency task groups at a strategic level as required, including DPIA, Task and Finish groups and DAPO Home office pilot evaluation meetings.
  • Manage daily demand, ensuring resources are available to support effective delivery of DVPO/DAPO, escalating at chief officer level to reduce risk and enforce high standards of safeguarding methods
  • Work with internal staff, external partners and force areas assisting in the development and implementation of new technologies to help protect victims and survivors of abuse.
  • Adjust working processes and implement change to adhere to changes in legislation and policy, for example, DAPO pilot and subsequent review and forecasts of staffing and budget for successful rollout of DAPO pilot across Greater Manchester
  • Create and deliver comprehensive training packages using digital and in person platforms across the force to Chief Superintendent rank and external agencies and stakeholders.
  • Train GMP trainers as DAPO/DVPO protective order subject matter expert, for both Policing degree at University of Salford as well GMP Training school for all operational staff.
  • Identify good and best practice to ensure a high-quality service to victims, disseminating learning and good practice both within the team and to the wider organisation to achieve excellent standards in the delivery of safeguarding.
  • Provide tactical advice and guidance to District staff ensuring compliance with Domestic abuse protection orders and other protective orders available to safeguard individuals
  • Work closely with policing districts and service providers, including DRIVE project in improving consistency and quality in relation to the DAPO pilot across Greater Manchester.


Domestic Violence Protection Order Officer

Greater Manchester Police
Manchester, Greater Manchester
04.2023 - 02.2024
  • Retrieve data from relevant computer based sources including Police National Computer and GMP systems
  • Review and record Police information under the Domestic Violence Protection Notices Scheme.
  • Attend designated Magistrates Courts and present case fact in the Courtroom and apply for Domestic Violence Protection Orders on behalf of GMP.
  • Liaise with the GMP Legal Team and Magistrates Court regarding both un-contested and contested Domestic Violence Protection Order applications.
  • Conduct initial and on-going risk assessments around the safety of a ‘person potentially a risk’, making decisions individually and together with partners.
  • Liaison with and working in conjunction with a variety of internal departments and external agencies.
  • Identify and progress cases suitable for consideration under the Domestic Violence Protection Notices/Orders Scheme.
  • Offer support and feedback to Officers regarding the protocols for the Domestic Violence Protection Notices/Orders scheme.
  • Comply with Data Protection Act procedures in dealing with Magistrates, Legal Advisors, administrative staff and members of the public.
  • Provide a range of generic administrative and clerical support for the core functions of the role.

Domestic Violence Safeguarding Officer

Lancashire Constabulary
Preston, Lancashire
07.2020 - 04.2023
  • Provide advice and guidance to officers up to Chief Superintendent rank in respect of DVPO Applications, ensuring legal test has been satisfied.
  • Research and prepare DVPO applications for Lancashire Constabulary and presenting both contested and non contested applications at magistrates court.
  • Liaise with legal, court staff,local safeguarding teams, protected parties and respondents during DVPO process.
  • Create and deliver training in respect of DVPN/DVPOs to officers of all ranks up to Chief Supt Level as subject matter expert.
  • Triage, research and complete Lancashire police applications under DVDS (also known as Clare's Law)
  • Record decision on proportionality of disclosure and risk assess urgency of disclosure.
  • Utilise a range of technologies to offer most appropriate route for disclosure, including online and face to face visits
  • Complete safety planning with potential person's at risk using nationally recognised SAFENET DASH model identifying opportunities for referrals to support agencies where appropriate.
  • Create and deliver bespoke training in relation to DVDS for officers, police staff and external agencies to increase knowledge and confidence in the legislation around disclosures, including common law, Sarah's Law and Clare's Law and how this tool can be used to safeguard from domestic abuse.

Safeguarding Support Officer

Lancashire Constabulary
Preston, Lancashire
05.2016 - 07.2020
  • Research and prepare detailed police reports for the purpose of an initial child protection conferences.
  • Interrogation of multiple police systems with clear understanding of data protection and child safeguarding.
  • Attend initial child protection conferences as a police representative sharing information to professionals and families
  • Assess both police and third party information to make decision whether the threshold for significant harm to a child has been met, providing justification and rationale in a multi agency arena.
  • Research and prepare reports as a police representative for high risk domestic abuse cases at monthly MARAC meetings, collaborating with numerous agencies and partners to reduce risk of significant harm in domestic abuse cases.
  • Chair MARAC meeting, as an experienced safeguarding officer, identifying risk and set clear actions to police and partners with a strict timescales. Challenge agencies where failure in process have occurred.

High Intensive User Complex Caseworker

Lancashire Constabulary
Blackpool/Morecambe, Lancashire
07.2015 - 05.2016
  • Collaboration as part of a joint NWAS and GMP pilot to reduce high intensive users to 999 service, identifying persistent callers, assess risk and implement a problem solving approach to assist police districts to reduce demand on resources.
  • Conduct vulnerability risk assessment, identifying gaps in support and liaise with partner agencies to review support/care plans that could be a contributing factor to contacting 999
  • Advocate for service users at complex multi agency meeting resulting in highlighting gaps in support for their mental and physical health, as well as lack of support offered in respect of support to address substance or alcohol misuse.
  • Liaise with local community PCSOs and police response officers by creating a vulnerability case, detailing background of vulnerability/needs, educating officers on the service users complex needs, providing key contact for support/case workers to reduce impact on local policing resources
  • Monitor and evaluate caseloads, supporting colleagues in team by sharing best practice and key support network contacts.
  • Working towards addressing any safeguarding actions before providing an exit review and closing case on successful reduction of calls to 999 service.

Early Intervention Support Worker

Lancashire Constabulary
Chorley, Lancashire
09.2013 - 07.2015
  • Work with local police, youth offending team and Children's social care and Early help, identifying children and young people at risk of criminality through criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation, or other identified vulnerabilities.
  • Receive, triage and allocate case requests, visiting young people and families to offer support.
  • Liaise with agencies such as Lancashire children's safeguarding board to complete professional accredited training such a youth mental health first aid, Assist suicide prevention, Solihull, toxic trio- enabling meaningful work to be completed with individual young people on case load.
  • On consent being given by family, completing STAR risk assessment with child and family to identify risks or gaps in support.
  • Engage and conduct referrals with appropriate agencies to support child's wellbeing, reduce risk of harm to them as well as to others.
  • Work as allocated caseworker with families, providing guidance and support to discourage young person from early contact with criminal justice system.

Education

GCSEs -

Prestwich Community High School
Manchester
09.1997 - 07.2002

Skills

  • 18 years of multi agency working within safeguarding from early intervention to high risk
  • Experienced in developing and delivering training package/inputs for police and external agencies as subject matter expert in Domestic Violence disclosure scheme and protective orders
  • Confidence in delivering input to delegates of any size
  • Experienced "Train the trainer" contact for GMP for both police officer Training team and University of Salford Policing Degree course in domestic civil orders and safeguarding
  • Subject matter expert in DAPO legislation providing guidance in policy for Home office pilot rollout across Greater Manchester-operational experience of working with Positive Requirements Triage Team
  • Supervisor experience in leading operational team dealing with high risk domestic abuse perpetrators and high risk vulnerable victims of abuse within critical timescales
  • Confidence in risk based decision making involving emergency protective orders and disclosure of police information
  • Experience in HR policies from managing diverse team of staff, with varying support needs, including neurodiversity, complex health conditions and disability
  • Ability to work remotely and travel across with clean full UK driving licence
  • 18 years of extensive multi agency working within safeguarding from early intervention to high risk


Accomplishments

The Chief Constable's Annual Awards 2024 -Winner of Innovation Award


Guest Speaker at The International Women In Policing International Conference in Glasgow -September 2025- DAPO legislation and Strengthening Civil protective orders for Victims of Domestic Abuse

Timeline

Domestic Abuse protection order Supervisor

Greater Manchester Police
02.2024 - Current

Domestic Violence Protection Order Officer

Greater Manchester Police
04.2023 - 02.2024

Domestic Violence Safeguarding Officer

Lancashire Constabulary
07.2020 - 04.2023

Safeguarding Support Officer

Lancashire Constabulary
05.2016 - 07.2020

High Intensive User Complex Caseworker

Lancashire Constabulary
07.2015 - 05.2016

Early Intervention Support Worker

Lancashire Constabulary
09.2013 - 07.2015

GCSEs -

Prestwich Community High School
09.1997 - 07.2002

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Victoria Collins