SANCTUARY
over the phone with residents – the
team got creative. They introduced
ways for residents to connect
with professionals and loved ones
virtually, created online recovery
groups and set up online quizzes
and games to help boost morale.
With the lockdown also came a
devastating rise in domestic abuse
incidents, in the UK and beyond.
More than ever, this highlighted
the need to find other ways to
reach victims who were not safe
at home. The team introduced a
new online chat service via their
website to enable victims to safely
access advice and support during
periods of isolation or when they
were confined at home with a
perpetrator and unable to use
previous routes to safety, manned
by trained support workers.
WHAT NEXT?
So what next for Jane’s Place? No
one knows how long restrictions
will be in place or what the ‘new
normal’ will look like, so the team
are always thinking ahead and
looking at new ways to engage
with residents. This includes ‘walk
‘n’ talk’ sessions, encouraging
communal gardening as a
soothing way to pass the time
and, most importantly, continuing
to listen to what residents want
via their ‘finding our voice’
consultations.
Miranda Hawtrey is a support
worker at Jane’s Place
CASE STUDIES: SARAH AND KERRY
FLEEING TRAUMA:
SARAH, AGED 34
Sarah had begun taking prescription
medication and drinking alcohol at 14
years old as a way to numb the trauma
of being gang raped. Both Sarah’s
parents had issues with addiction and
she felt unsupported in dealing with
this horrific trauma. Growing up, she
said she always felt ‘unloved’. During
her adult life, Sarah was repeatedly
subjected to sexual abuse by various
males, and her drug use escalated to
using heroin and crack daily.
Sarah then was in an abusive
relationship and gave birth to two
children. The children were subsequently
removed by social care due to domestic
abuse and substance abuse by both
parents. Sarah became street homeless
and soon got involved with another
abusive male who forced her into sex
work to fund substances for them both.
Using heroin and crack daily, Sarah’s
mental health and physical health
dramatically deteriorated and she
was also regularly shoplifting to fund
substances. Things became too much for
Sarah and she attempted to take her own
life after a serious assault by her partner.
She was then referred to SafeNet and
accepted at Jane’s Place Recovery Refuge.
Sarah’s life dramatically changed once
admitted to Jane’s Place. Her self-esteem
and confidence returned as staff supported
her to address health issues and receive
support with her mental health. Jane’s
Place referred Sarah to Inspire Wellbeing
and she was allocated a key worker to help
support her with substance use.
Sarah is now abstinent from all
substances and back in contact with
her children who live with family. She
is no longer shoplifting or sex working
and wants to start volunteer work
after lockdown. Staff referred Sarah for
specialist sexual trauma counselling
and she also is supported by attending a
trauma recovery group.
Sarah has said her drug use was
spiralling out of control but she has
dramatically changed her life with the
support of staff. Sarah says the support
she has received to reconnect with her
children has been very important to
her recovery and motivation. ‘Without
Jane’s Place I would be dead,’ she says.
‘You saved my life,’
ESCAPING VIOLENCE:
KERRY, AGED 39
Upon referral, Kerry had been in a
physically violent relationship for the past
seven years. She had been threatened
with a knife and her children had been
removed for their own safety, as a result
of her addiction and domestic abuse in
the family home. Kerry referred herself
into SafeNet’s services after trying several
refuges who would not accept her as she
was using alcohol and substances daily.
Kerry was drinking heavily, using
crack and heroin, was on a methadone
script, and was also having physical
withdrawal symptoms – such as
seizures – when she didn’t have alcohol.
She was also a prolific shoplifter to fund
her addictions, and had spent time in
prison as a result.
Kerry was still having regular
phone contact with the perpetrator
when she arrived, who would often
try to manipulate her, use controlling
and coercive behaviour, give verbal
abuse and threaten self-harm if she
didn’t return home. SafeNet supported
Kerry to stop contact and she attended
domestic abuse groups at Jane’s Place.
Extensive safety planning work was
done as part of her support plan and as
her mental health improved, Kerry was
able to focus on her recovery.
While at Jane’s Place, Kerry’s anxiety
reduced and she was no longer having
suicidal ideation. Kerry completed RAMP
(reduction and motivation programme)
as part of her recovery support plan
and, with the support of Jane’s Place
and Inspire Wellbeing, she reduced her
methadone and alcohol intake.
Kerry’s physical health greatly
improved too – she gained weight,
began to take pride in her appearance
and was focused on getting fitter and
healthier. She also began to rebuild
relationships with her family and was
then accepted for detox and rehab to
complete her journey.
WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM JULY/AUGUST 2020 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 13