We call on the Government to ensure mandatory trauma-informed training and standards for all professionals whose assessments influence decisions in the family courts, including judges, CAFCASS officers, social workers, and court-instructed medical experts.

Trauma responses should not be labelled as mental health issues or illness; they should be recognised as symptoms of abuse – so, if a victim develops PTSD from domestic violence, it should be recorded and understood as a trauma response caused by harm, not a standalone mental health problem. Current guidance is inconsistently applied; there are huge gaps in professionals’ understanding abuse and mental health. We seek mandatory national standards, and a total reform on all current guidance and training.