Tag: Support

Safety Planning and Support for Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Women experiencing domestic abuse do not have any control over their partner’s or ex-partners abuse, but they can have agency and choices about how to respond to situations and how they can act and develop a safety plan with the aim of keeping themselves (and their children) as safe as possible.

Whether or not women wish to leave the abuser or remain in the relationship– there are tools and techniques they can use to maintain a sense of control and work towards increasing their safety addressing risks the perpetrator may pose. The session will explore safety planning techniques women may find helpful, increasing workers knowledge of how to support women to develop and manage a safety plan and what additional tools and resources they can use to assess risk and help women feel safer.

The session will also explore approaches focussing on both Domestic Abuse Informed Practice and Trauma Informed Practice to help us to assess how we can adapt our practice and engage with, and support individuals impacted by domestic abuse in a sensitive and survivor centred manner.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understanding and awareness of safety planning techniques and how to support women to develop and manage a safety plan.
  • Understanding of risk assessment tools and frameworks that aim to increase safety and manage risk for women impacted by domestic abuse.
  • Understanding how to enhance their practice to ensure best and safe practice in working with people who may have been impacted by domestic abuse.

Trainer: Judy is the National Training Coordinator at Scottish Women’s Aid, a certified Safe & Together Trainer and a qualified IDAA Judy spent nearly 10 years working in a specialist domestic abuse service and 5 years serving on the board of Scottish Women’s Aid. Judy works widely across a arrange of settings and is passionate about improving the understanding of, and response to anyone experiencing domestic abuse.

Supporting Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse – Women’s Aid: Who We Are and What We Do

Please note, the date of this training was changed from 11 June to 16 July 24. If you  booked for 11 June your booking has been transferred to the new date. Please let us know if you wish to cancel your place: booking@womensaid.scot)

Men’s violence against women is an epidemic that still exists in every area of Scotland despite over 50 years of women’s’ aid activism, supporting and believing women, providing refuges, safety planning, recovery support and representation for women and children.  Even with new legislation, increased protection measures and dedicated strategies from the Scottish Government, domestic abuse still sees women unsafe, unprotected and often unsure where to go and who can help.

Across Scotland, from Shetland to Stranraer and everywhere in between, there is a network of dedicated Women’s Aid groups who provide a wide range of dedicated specialist services to support women and children who are or who have experienced domestic abuse.

In this session we will explore the services and support available from the women’s aid network, what happens when you call or visit women’s aid, how do you access support, what choices are available regarding safety planning, accommodation and refuge.  We will explore  what difference women’s aid have made to survivors and their children’s safety and recovery across Scotland and how your knowledge may help other women and children considering engaging with women’s aid.

Learning outcomes

  • Awareness of the range of online, in person and community-based services available to support women and children experiencing or impacted by domestic abuse.
  • Understanding of the lived experience for women and children seeking support and accessing safety through the range of Women’s Aid confidential one to one, group work, online, text and telephone-based services.
  • Exploring and understanding Survivors perspectives and how lived experience from the Scottish Women’s Aid Survivors Reference Group informs and influences policy and practice improve women and children’s safety and protection in Scotland.

 

Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator.

Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms.

We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.  We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us. Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.