We offer a range of bespoke packages of support to help you to live safely and to move on from abuse. The packages of support are tailored around you and the support needs you have identified. We work with both women and men who are experiencing domestic abuse.
Helpdesk
We run a Helpdesk service that operates Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
It is managed by support workers who are able to offer immediate support and advice and take referrals for the GDASS support packages.
The Helpdesk is available to those experiencing or are directly affected by domestic abuse and for professionals who are working with those who are experiencing or are directly affected by it.
The Helpdesk is able to offer advice around:
- Immediate advice and support for those currently experiencing domestic abuse
- Agency referrals
- Those seeking places of safety
- Anyone who is seeking advice around the dynamics of abuse
- Anyone seeking longer-term support packages around domestic abuse issues
- Assessing risks posed to individuals through domestic abuse
- Anyone wanting information about the GDASS service or Group Work programmes
- Signposting.
Phone: 01452 726 570 or Email: support@gdass.org.uk.
Floating support
The GDASS Floating Support Team offers a 12-week package of support, completely tailored around you and the support needs you have/may identify. This can be done face-to-face, over the phone or by email, or any mixture of these to best suit your needs and lifestyle.
Throughout your support, your floating support worker will work with you to increase your understanding around the dynamics of domestic abuse and help you to develop a safety plan to help keep you and your family safe.
You will create a support plan with your Floating Support Worker at your first appointment, and your support package will be based around this.
Your Floating Support Worker will work with you and support you to access support through other agencies if needed, for example housing, solicitors, or social care.
Our Floating Support Workers have specialist Domestic Abuse training around issues faced by people from within the LGB&T (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans) communities and those experiencing or at risk of so called ‘Honour-based’ violence, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation.
We have staff who can speak a range of languages and have access to interpreters if needed.
Floating Support Workers can provide support around:
- Safety Planning
- Increasing awareness of domestic abuse
- Confidence building
- Advocacy between you and agencies
- Finances
- Housing
- Signposting
If you feel that you, or someone you know, or who you are working with, is in need of a Floating Support Worker, please call our helpdesk on 01452 726 570 and they will discuss this with you.
Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs)
Our IDVAs are members of staff who have been trained to work with women and men who have been assessed as being at high risk of serious harm through Domestic Abuse.
IDVAs specialise in assessing and reducing risk of harm. They work very closely with partner agencies (such as the police, social services, probation, and housing etc) to create safety plans that support their clients to keep them safe. IDVAs are an integral part of the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) process.
The GDASS IDVA team has additional training in BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) issues (for example, so called ‘Honour-based’ violence, forced marriage, or female genital mutilation), sexual abuse, stalking and harassment, the Criminal Justice System, and issues relating directly to young people (16-18 year olds).
If you feel that you, or someone you know, or who you are working with, is in need of an IDVA, please call our helpdesk on 01452 726 570 and they will discuss this with you.
Health Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (HIDVAs)
GDASS employs two full-time Health Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (HIDVAs) based across Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) and Cheltenham General Hospital (CGH). They cover Monday to Saturday and work 9am – 5pm.
The objective of the HIDVA project is to provide effective intervention to those experiencing domestic abuse at the earliest opportunity. The vast majority of domestic abuse victims will attend a hospital at some point during the period that they are being abused.
A large part of the HIDVA role is up-skilling hospital staff to identify domestic abuse and to create effective discharge and safety plans. The HIDVAs offer training to individuals, wards and departments around domestic abuse and the referral pathways for further support.
Young Persons Violence Advocate (YPVA)
GDASS has a member of staff who is specifically trained and accredited to support young people at high risk of serious harm from domestic abuse. The GDASS YPVA will work, on a one-to-one basis, on issues experienced by our younger clients and liaise with schools and other agencies to create a multi-agency plan to reduce the risk to the young person.
Court IDVAs
We have two specialist Court IDVAs who work exclusively with people who are going through the Criminal Justice System.
They work very closely with the court staff, police, the Crown Prosecution Service and Magistrates/Judges to ensure that your voice is heard within the Criminal Justice System, and that any requests you make to the court are heard and recorded.
The Court IDVAs will make sure that you are aware of upcoming court dates and outcomes. They will offer you support and advice around your next steps and make sure that any court appearance(s) you are required to make are done in a safe way.
If you feel that you, or someone you know, or who you are working with, is in need of a Court IDVA please call our helpdesk on 01452 726 570 and they will discuss this with you.
Group work programmes
We offer a number of group work programmes. All of our programmes are completely free of charge.
Click here for more information about our group work programmes.