Deliverable 2.2: Case Study Report on Key Factors for Successful Organisational Change

Hospitals and clinics are important first points of contact for victims of domestic violence, and medical staff, therefore, often engage with victims in their role as front-line responders. Although this is the case, the implementation of victim protection measures, such as staff trainings or the professional care for, and support of, victims, is often based solely on the commitment of individuals with a high degree of intrinsic motivation. In contrast, the organisational framework for domestic violence interventions is often lacking. A solid organisational framework would not only relieve some of the burden on employees involved in victim protection, but also contribute to the sustainable implementation of victim protection measures. After all, measures that are borne solely by a small circle of individuals are at risk of ending with the withdrawal of these individuals.

The VIPROM project addresses this issue in task 2.3 by identifying the key factors contributing to the sustainable organisational uptake of good DV training and intervention practices in the medical sector. This Deliverable (D2.2) summarises the factors and practices that contribute to the sustainable implementation of victim protection measures within medical organisations. To this end, the VIPROM project conducted 9 case studies of medical organisations (hospitals and medical training centres) across three countries (Austria, Germany and Sweden). A total of 21 interviews were conducted with employees at various levels (from management to ground-level practitioners), all of whom are involved in one way or another in victim protection within these organisations. Based on the national analyses of these case studies, a country comparison was undertaken, revealing some of the factors that reinforce the sustainable implementation of victim protection measures.