ITTN41: Domestic Abuse Accommodation Service

Domestic Abuse Accommodation (Refuge) for Women And Children of Black and South Asian Heritage

The service is for the care and support element of provision only. The Provider will be required to meet the requirements of and enter into a contractual agreement with the current refuge registered social landlord or source their own premises providing at least 25 bed spaces to 5 women (and 10 bed spaces for children). At no time shall the number of bed spaces for women fall below 25 units.

The service duration will cover a period of up to five years with a further two years available at the discretion of the Authority.

The service requirements have been designed to be flexible and responsive to changing needs, local intelligence, performance outcomes and legislation.

The aims of the service are to create a refuge service which:

Supports women and children from Black and South Asian heritage to develop their self-advocacy and achieve their potential.

 Addresses the needs of children and young people by providing them with a safe, continuous environment, which is conducive to their needs and ambitions, and protects them from experiencing harm and abuse.

 Addresses the specific cultural needs of women and children of Black and South Asian heritage using a trauma informed approach through a cultural lens.

 Enables women in the refuge to co-produce and participate in the ongoing development and monitoring of services and their effectiveness.

The primary objectives of the service are to:

Deliver a survivor focussed model of support which is trauma informed and culturally appropriate in a safe, secure and supportive space for women (and families) who have experienced significant domestic abuse.

 Provide support and advocacy for women to report abuse, seek legal redress via the criminal justice systems and family courts and access to appropriate legal advice recognising the specific challenges women of Black and South Asian heritage often face.

 Address intersectionality and offers a culturally informed approach to supporting women of Black and South Asian heritage

 Offer targeted support within a safe gendered space that reduces risk and supports women to achieve autonomy in their lives.

 Address the immediate and longer term physical, sexual health and mental health and wellbeing needs of service users.

 Offer a person-centred perspective supporting the individual to address multiple needs (including improving physical and mental health, addressing substance misuse needs, disability, improving educational and employment opportunities, accessing legal and immigration advice, specialist advocacy and therapeutic interventions).

 Develop individual's independent living skills to enable them to positively maintain a tenancy and live independently.

 Develop effective relationships with partnership stakeholders to maximise outcomes and achieve sustainable move on for women.

 Move individuals onto appropriate accommodation at the right time recognising that a refuge is not a substitute for long-term accommodation. Length of stays should not be longer than necessary (ideally not longer than 6-9 months).

 Refer to specialist services as required and develop wider support networks that will enable each individual to advocate for their own needs.