Award of Domestic Abuse Support Services (Excluding Accommodation) to IDAS by Sheffield City Council

About

Sheffield City Council awarded a contract to IDAS for a citywide Domestic Abuse Support service (excluding accommodation or floating support) for all victims of domestic abuse aged 16 upwards.

The contract, valued at £5,000,000, covers a five-year period with an annual budget of approximately £1 million.

The service implements a new model of domestic abuse support in Sheffield, moving from two separate services providing high risk IDVA support and an outreach medium and standard risk service to one streamlined end to end service for all victims of all forms of domestic abuse.

The provider will work closely with the commissioner to produce and implement a two-year action plan addressing service delivery areas including: IDVA representation at MARAC for high risk victims, advocacy and case management; outreach support including structured one-to-one and group support using a recognised model; a citywide domestic abuse helpline for victims, concerned family and friends, and professionals, and contacting victims of reported police incidents to offer support and safety advice; a programme of domestic abuse training courses for professionals; briefings at GP surgeries and other targeted health referrers, working with GP practices to implement routine enquiry and provide a delivery model for working with health care providers; support through the Criminal Justice System including to victims at the Sheffield Domestic Abuse Cluster Court; a citywide Sanctuary Scheme; representation in the Children's Safeguarding hub and work with children's services to offer support to the whole family including identifying the needs of the children; support to victims where the perpetrator is attending a perpetrator programme; and enabling service users to access support longer term through a range of options which may include a drop-in facility, advice services, peer support groups and formal step down.