Domestic Abuse Support Service for Adult Victims of Medium and High Risk Abuse

Domestic Abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional, controlling behaviour, coercive behaviour, so called 'honour' based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

Victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group. Blackpool Council is seeking to establish a Domestic Abuse Support Service to deliver a response that facilitates engagement between services and service users and can flex to fit with both local provision and service users' needs.

The service will be delivered by a specialist team of experts, linking in with partner agencies and work together with service users to utilise their personal strengths to improve safety and wellbeing. The service will deliver the following key elements: • A service provided by a specialist team of expert practitioners who provide direct support to people who are one or more of the following: - At medium or high risk of harm - Remaining in their relationships - Have complex needs - Rebuilding or recovering from abuse • A framework and principles that links voluntary and statutory services with the needs of adults experiencing any or all of the above to provide a truly collaborative multi-agency response. • A range of programmes to support direct work with service users and links group work and peer support; service user led groups to inform and influence service delivery.

The workforce will be suitably qualified in order to undertake their roles and will have opportunities to further enhance their skills. The service will have achieved formally recognised accreditation, for example Safelives Leading Lights or Women's Aid National Service Standards for Domestic and Sexual Violence (NSSDSV) or be willing to work towards. The service will be based in Blackpool.