Support Services

Refuge

Refuge is emergency accommodation which is available to women and their children experiencing violence in their own homes or in the community.

Refuge staff are on duty 24 hours a day; either in the refuge or on call.

Facilities and Services

Each woman and her children are offered their own bedroom and communal kitchen, bathroom, laundry and recreation facilities. Refuges have disabled access and enabling facilities are provided for families with particular challenges.

Regular house meetings ensure that the women can contribute to the service provided and can raise any concerns or share information.

Women can be supported by each other as well the trained staff and volunteers. Trained child workers provide a programme of activities for the children and young people individually or in a family setting.

Support is an integral component of refuge provision and is facilitated by a team of trained Women’s Aid workers. Each woman is allocated a key worker who will assess her individual needs and together with the woman devise a support plan in response to the identified needs. Practical support is given to access other agencies and services ranging from housing to legal advice.

 

Women can access support and information on a 24 hour basis.

 

 

Floating Support

Practical and emotional support is provided to families affected by domestic violence who choose to remain at home or in a community setting through a floating support service.

The aim of the service is to help those women with special and complex needs, specific to their domestic violence situation, to maintain and sustain their home through making informed choices about their accommodation needs.

 

The main areas of focus are:

Safety Planning

Addressing women’s safety and security needs

Housing Advice

General housing advice and, in the event of a ‘move-on’, ensuring appropriate resettlement services for women. Explaining terms and conditions of tenancy agreements

Money Management

Welfare benefi ts information, including housing benefits

 

Advocacy

Advocacy on behalf of women where domestic violence has decreased their ability to act on their own behalf.

Specialist Services

Informing women of available specialist services for example mental health / addiction, etc

 

Facilitating access

To other supports, particularly those which promote / develop empowerment and self-reliance and form the basis of an exit strategy from floating support services.

 

Court Support

Support is offered to women who need to attend court on any issue relating to domestic violence. The benefits include:

• Confidential support service
• Private waiting room
• Refreshments available
• Court support worker to clarify information during the process
• Someone who is familiar with court
• Pre-court visit if required
• Access to the Domestic Violence Officer to learn about their service
• Accompaniment to solicitors
• Refer women to other appropriate agencies for specialist support
• Link children and young people affected into appropriate Women’s Aid Services

 

Crisis Support

Drop-in or telephone support for women experiencing domestic wiolence.

 

Information And Signposting

Access is provided to a variety of agencies offering services to victims of domestic violence:

• NI Housing Executive
• Social Services Agency
• Independent Advice Agencies
• PSNI
• Health Services
• Legal Services

Women, children and young people are referred to relevant internal Women’s Aid services. Having the right information and support helps to overcome practical and emotional barriers which can lead to disadvantage and isolation.