Participation Integrity Working Group

Membership & Eligibility Criteria

The Winchester Participation Integrity Working Group is a structured, invitation-led professional forum.

Membership is limited to ensure focused dialogue, professional integrity, and measurable output.

Participation is not automatic and is not open to the general public.

Purpose of the Working Group

The Working Group exists to:

• Examine participation impairment in domestic abuse contexts
• Advance safeguarding implementation standards
• Improve cross-sector documentation continuity
• Support procedural fairness alignment
• Develop structured, non-partisan policy reflections

The forum is implementation-focused, not advocacy-led.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following baseline criteria:

1. Professional Standing

Applicants must hold a senior or decision-adjacent role in one of the following sectors:

• Family law or public law (5+ years PQE preferred)
• Barrister specialising in family/public law
• Local authority safeguarding leadership
• Housing strategy or compliance role
• Senior HR or workplace safeguarding lead
• Domestic abuse service director (governance-level)
• University law lecturer or policy researcher
• Elected official or policy advisor (by invitation)

Early-career professionals and students are not eligible for the inaugural year.

2. Institutional Affiliation

Applicants must be affiliated with a recognised organisation, firm, institution, or statutory body.

Independent practitioners may be considered subject to review.

3. Commitment to Professional Conduct

Members must agree to:

• Non-partisan engagement
• Confidentiality regarding discussion content
• No discussion of live identifiable cases
• Respectful, implementation-focused dialogue
• Evidence-based contributions

The Working Group is not a forum for personal grievance, public campaigning, or litigation strategy.

4. Safeguarding Alignment

Members must demonstrate:

• Commitment to safeguarding principles
• Respect for trauma-informed practice
• Understanding of participation integrity risks
• Professional responsibility toward vulnerable individuals

5. Time Commitment

Members are expected to:

• Attend quarterly 90-minute sessions
• Review structured briefing materials in advance
• Contribute constructively to dialogue
• Support development of annual policy reflection summary

Consistent absence may result in review of membership.

Application & Selection Process

For the inaugural year:

• Membership is primarily by invitation
• Expressions of interest are reviewed by SAFECHAIN™
• Selection is based on professional relevance and sector balance
• Final membership is capped at 15 individuals

Submission of interest does not guarantee membership.

Application

Term Structure

• Membership term: 12 months
• Renewable subject to review
• Governance principles apply

Governance Disclaimer

The Winchester Participation Integrity Working Group:

• Is not a statutory body
• Does not provide legal advice
• Does not intervene in active cases
• Does not replace regulatory or safeguarding authorities

It operates as a structured professional forum for policy and implementation dialogue.

© 2026 Samantha Avril-Andreassen. All rights reserved.