Recommissioned domestic abuse victim service extends offer to support all who have been affected
Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service (SDAS) have been successfully recommissioned by Shropshire Council to provide domestic abuse victim services across Shropshire.
From Saturday 1 April 2023 the service will offer a dedicated point of contact for both professionals and anyone who is subjected to domestic violence.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and communities, said:-
“We are really pleased to announce the recommissioning of Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service. Domestic abuse in any form is unacceptable, and we are committed to ensure all victims and survivors are given the right support at the right time.
“SDAS will continue to support all victim/survivors of domestic abuse in a newly designed structure with a single point of entry being launched on Saturday, where all professional and self-referrals will be processed and responded to via triage officers to ensure a timely response is provided.
“The service will work alongside other specialists in these areas to ensure the best possible support is provided at the right time.”
Other new areas of support include a webchat service (also to be launched in April) and peer support to all victim/survivors across the county, whether they have had access to the support of SDAS or other specialist support services such as West Mercia Women’s Aid, PEGS or Axis Counselling or not. The council plan to work with SDAS on building this area to ensure true co-production of commissioning and service provision over the coming years.
Nicki Wilkinson, Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service and Prevention Service Manager, added:-
“Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service look forward to continuing to provide safe accommodation and community-based services, with advice, support and recovery tools to people experiencing all forms of domestic abuse. We also look forward to expanding our role facilitating peer support to adults, children and young people in the community and expanding our presence throughout the county.”
If you or someone you know is in a relationship that may be abusive then please contact Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service direct on 0300 303 1191 or via email refuge@shropsdas.org.uk
If you are or feel at risk of imminent danger, then call 999.
For more information about the domestic abuse support visit Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service | (shropsdas.org.uk)
Further information
The commissioning process was informed by the Needs Assessment completed by Standing Together in August 2022.
SDAS, part of Connexus Homes, will continue to provide safe accommodation across the county, with a dedicated children and young people service embedded into the provision. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 saw children connected to those who use abusive behaviour as direct victims, and the council has used the New Burden funding received from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ensure those children who have had to flee their own homes are offered direct trauma informed support from specialist support officers.
