Next Step Accommodation

Accommodation.

Where will I live - and live safely - if I decide to end my relationship with the perpetrator? is one of the most frequently asked questions and one of the things everyone who works in Domestic Abuse knows goes through the minds of those affected.

Next Step can help set up meetings with housing providers, they will help you to fill in application forms and they will attend meetings with you if you want them to.

You should also feel reassured that people who work in the field of housing services are very aware of the needs of people affected by domestic abuse and do lots of work to stay informed.

Housing Providers.

A senior representative from South Derbyshire District Council's Housing Services department is a member of the Domestic Abuse Action Team that brings together all the organisations that deal with domestic abuse and takes strategic decisions on how services to those affected in South Derbyshire will be run.

Refuge

Next Step can also help people to find places in refuges anywhere in the country if that is what the victim decides they would like to do.

Most people have an image of domestic abuse refuges in their mind of them as places where residents have to share facilities and have little or no privacy.

South Derbyshire is extremely fortunate to have a refuge or safe house, called Lemon Grove that provides those living there with a number of innovative features and services.

Lemon Grove.

The refuge is purpose built and offers self-contained accommodation with support workers on site 24 hours a day.

Support staff understand that coming to a refuge can be daunting but they are always on hand to support women through their time at the refuge and offer help and support with;

• Claiming Benefits
• Housing Applications
• Registering with GP/Dentist
• Accessing Legal Services
• Schools
• Counselling
• Children

Every women coming to the refuge has a support plan tailored to their individual needs and developed according to what they are aiming to achieve.

An interactive and extensive care-planning regime for all residents - including children (need to be able to click on word and access children page from this point) -is in place to make the purpose-built unit that is run on a day-to-day basis by Trident Housing Association a flagship facility.

Birmingham-based Trident spent six years working on feasibility studies, researching the subject and identifying the training and experience required by staff.

The unit offers self-development workshops, further education courses, holistic therapies, counselling, pet therapy and social events - in other words a whole package to help victims and their children move on.

Staff employed at the unit are qualified in a range of relevant areas including Drug and Alcohol abuse, childcare, Substance Misuse, youth work and counselling. Services provided are broad thanks to partnership working with organisations including Home Start, Citizens' Advice Bureau, Next Step and National Children's Homes.

The 10-flat facility is fitted out with the very latest high-tech security devices including CCTV, but is furnished to give it a homely feel.

Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary Scheme works by providing different levels of improved security in order to make the victim safe in their own home. It is designed to help those who want to stay in their original home do so in safety.

Additional security measures are introduced as part of it and vary from case to case. They can include reinforced doors and window locks.

The scheme is tailored to the needs of the individual and takes an all-round approach to provide specialist support across a wide range of issues for the person affected.

Domestic abuse - it can hit anyone