Summary of support

Women’s Aid and Stonham Support Workers can assist you by…..

• Listening
• Empathising
• Supporting you
• Providing advice
• Being an advocate on your behalf
• Offering guidance
• Impartial knowledge
• Empowering you
• Directing you for example to other agencies (GP’s, Children’s Services, CAB, Solicitors, Schools, Police, Probation and Further Education providers)
• Accessing knowledge and resources from other agencies
• Assisting with and attending appointments with you

Police and the Domestic Abuse Unit can assist you by…..

• Being an advocate on your behalf
• Supporting you
• Enabling you to make informed decisions
• Explaining the criminal justice processes and procedures
• Discussing options
• Providing security measures such as personal alarms, additional lighting and alarms to your property
• General security
• Informing child protection matters
• Solicitors can assist with….
• General advice and guidance
• Child protection issues
• Housing/rent/mortgage issues
• Non-molestation/occupation orders, harassment and restraining orders
• Guidance about residency and contact and parental rights and responsibilities
• Immigration
• Personal identification documents
• Legal aid

Social Care Services can assist with…

• Child protection. Report, listen, advise and advocate (speak up on your behalf)
• Contact issues
• Care plans
• Assessments of the situation

Housing can assist with…

• Providing temporary emergency accommodation
• Providing permanent accommodation if a duty has been agreed to house you as part of the homelessness application process
• Assessment of eligibility for the installation of a ‘Sanctuary’ (which is additional security measures and a safe room in your house, to wait for the Police to attend) as a potential housing option

Probation

• Link / liaise
• Attend meetings
• Support through court process if necessary

Drugs & Alcohol Organisations

• Access support in relation to drugs and alcohol issues for example safety planning in terms of harm reduction, needle exchange, treatment programmes
• Counselling via Turning Point
• Liaise with local pharmacists

Schools

• Can liaise with and offer support through the health visitor, school nurse, Children Services, Women’s Aid and Stonham
• Assist in maintaining the safety of your children, for example collection from school

Health Visitor

• Support for the family as access to children in their own home
• Assist with child protection issues
• Liaise with school and nurseries
• Direct you to Centres like Homestart, Surestart and Asha

Citizen’s Advice Bureau

• Provide benefits advice
• Advice on debt matters
• Direct on housing issues
• Provide an advocacy service for you