Healthcare Based Services

IRIS ADViSE

The ADViSE (Assessing for Domestic Violence and Abuse in Sexual Health Environments) programme supports sexual health clinicians to identify and respond to patients affected by domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and provides them with a simple referral pathway to specialist services.

Core areas of the programme include ongoing training, education and consultancy for the sexual health team and administrative staff, care pathways for sexual health care practitioners and an enhanced referral pathway to specialist domestic violence services for individuals with experience of DVA.

GP Based IDVAs

More information coming soon

Hospital Based IDVAs

Victims of domestic abuse who are in hospital are often in the immediate aftermath of a crisis or attending for pregnancy related care, increasing risks and vulnerabilities. The risk of immediate harm must be reduced; particularly when hospital release is imminent (half of the clients in hospital are still in a relationship with the perpetrator which means they face additional risk).

Our Hospital IDVAs provide ongoing training, education and consultancy for the relevant hospital teams, care pathways for practitioners and an enhanced referral pathway to specialist domestic violence services for individuals with experience of DVA.

For patients, Hospital IDVAs provide practical support, empathy and understanding. The safety needs of the client are paramount, as well as ensuring there are links into longer term support.

The IDVA may: liaise with the police regarding bail conditions/remand, engage with housing and refuge providers, work with community and hospital-based mental health/drug/alcohol services, organise applications for civil remedies, refer to adult and/or children’s social care (both within and outside of the hospital). The aim of the hospital Idva is to reduce the risk of further harm and homicide, and to ensure that specialist community-based support is sustained.