DOMESTIC ABUSE
SAFEGUARDING
The lockdown has forced services providing domestic
abuse support to become even more resourceful and
innovative, says Miranda Hawtrey
Working in
a setting
supporting
those with
addiction
issues
and complex needs is always a
delicate balancing act. But when
the coronavirus outbreak swept
through the UK in March 2020, the
team at Jane’s Place in Burnley had
an extra challenge on their hands.
Jane’s Place is a somewhat
unique service established in 2017
by SafeNet Domestic Abuse Support
Services, who provide domestic
abuse support to women, men
and children. They are also the lead
providers for Lancashire Refuges.
Jane’s Place is the only one of
its kind in the North West – not
only does it help to support women
who are fleeing from all forms
of domestic abuse, but it also
breaks down barriers often posed
by traditional refuge. A lack of
appropriate accommodation and
support for women and families
with complex needs who need
to escape from domestic abuse
often results in outcomes such as
women returning or staying with
the perpetrator, escalating risk and
coping strategies such as increased
substance use, a lack of trust in
services and sofa surfing, which
often results in rough sleeping.
A MAMMOTH TASK
The challenge of implementing
safety measures and managing
the extra risk posed by lockdown in
this kind of specialist environment
has been a mammoth task, and the
team knew they had to adapt the
service fast to ensure they could
keep everyone involved safe and
continue to support their residents.
They started by expanding and
increasing their safehouse provision
to provide safe spaces for those
residents who were shielding,
showing symptoms and needing
to self-isolate. Those with serious
drug and alcohol use issues and/
or sex working women who found
it impossible to adhere to the
government guidelines had to be
kept safe regardless of whether or
not they were able to comply, and
the team achieved this by use of
separate safehouse facilities with
specialist intensive floating support.
Each individual resident had an
emergency COVID plan created and
tailored to meet their needs. Along
with various other measures, such
as extra cleaning, PPE and updating
residents and checking in to make
sure they knew what the guidelines
‘Jane’s Place is the
only one of its
kind in the North
West – not only
does it help to
support women
who are fleeing
from all forms of
domestic abuse,
but it also breaks
down barriers
often posed by
traditional refuge.’
were, the team quickly pivoted the
service to offer as much flexibility
and support as possible.
This hasn’t come without its
setbacks. The team have faced
difficulties accessing help from
outside agencies that would
usually support residents, and
accessing healthcare has been
made much more difficult by
skeleton staff in other agencies
and lack of GP appointments. The
residents also voiced that they
were missing group work; the need
for connection during their journey
plays a big part in recovery.
Jane’s Place is named in memory of
Jane Clough, who was killed by her
ex-partner in 2010. Jane’s parents,
John and Penny Clough (pictured),
are now SafeNet patrons.
GETTING CREATIVE
Alongside the practical solutions
– with staff members collecting
methadone for residents daily and
assisting with non-molestation
orders received via court sessions
12 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • JULY/AUGUST 2020
WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM