Responding to Domestic Abuse - Guidelines for Health Care Workers in NHSScotland

RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE - GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN NHSSCOTLAND

PART 5: SOURCES OF SUPPORT AND INFORMATION

This section discusses sources of advice and support for health care workers who are responding to domestic abuse cases. It provides information on other agencies and bodies which play a role in tackling the issues and which provide services.

VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND HELPLINES FOR WOMEN;

DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE

A National Helpline is available for anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse, or knows someone who is. Run by North Ayrshire Women's Aid, it operates between 10am and 10pm, 7 days a week and currently averages 50 calls per week.

Tel: 0800 027 1234.

SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AID

If a woman needs to leave her home because of abuse, Scottish Women's Aid can help her find somewhere else to stay. They may offer a place in a Women's Aid refuge, which provide safe temporary accommodation run by women for women. Refuges are usually ordinary houses where women and their children have their own room and share the rest of the house with other families, or self contained flats with common areas. Women's Aid has refuges throughout Britain if a woman is afraid to stay in her own area. They can provide women with information about the options available to them, and offer someone to listen if they need to talk.

A woman does not commit herself to anything by contacting Scottish Women's Aid and the service is completely confidential. They would only pass information on to anybody else is if the woman asks them to do so, or if not doing so would place a child at risk. Scottish Women's Aid also has children's workers.

Telephone numbers for local groups can be found in the telephone directory or from Scottish Women's Aid:

Tel. 0131 475 2372

What Scottish Women's Aid offers?

• Someone to talk to confidentially.

• Time to decide what to do.

• Support to carry out decisions.

• Residential refuge for a short time for a break or time to think, or longer term, or for more than one occasion.

• A place to be safe - refuge addresses are not made public and are not accessible to male visitors. The local Scottish Women's Aid group can put women in touch with groups in other areas.

• The opportunity to stay in a refuge for as long as needed.

• Somewhere to come back to if things don't work out.

• Support from other women living in the refuge.

• Support from Refuge workers.

• Support for children and young people - a space for them to have fun, be listened to, etc.

• Help with school places.

• Children and young people's workers.

• Helplines, information, training and resources.

WOMEN'S AID NATIONAL HELPLINE

Tel: 08457 023 468 (referrals nation-wide)

REFUGE

24 hour national crisis line providing information, support and practical help to women experiencing domestic abuse. It can refer women and their children to refuges throughout the UK.

Tel: 0990 995 443

HEMAT-GRYFFE WOMEN'S AID

Hemat-Gryffe Women's Aid aims to provide safe temporary accommodation to women and their children primarily of Asian, black and ethnic minority background who have experienced abuse. They provide information and support on housing and help with arranging permanent re-housing. They also provide information on immigration, social security payments and other necessary help as needed.

Open 9am- 4pm, Mon-Fri.

Tel: 0141 353 0859 (24 hour answering machine service)

SHAKTI WOMEN'S AID

Shakti provides a service for Black and Asian women and children. They can help with immigration issues and laws concerning separation and divorce, and can give advice on what benefits are available. If the woman is still with her partner, they can give practical advice.

Tel: 0131 475 2399 (09.00-17.00)

RAPE CRISIS NETWORK

The Rape Crisis Network provides counselling and support to women who have been raped or sexually assaulted, or who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The phone number of the local Rape Crisis Centre is listed in the telephone directory and under 'Helplines' in the Yellow Pages, or is available from the police, Social Work Department or Citizen's Advice Bureau.

RAPE AND ABUSE LINE

Free helpline for men and women seeking help, advice and support as victims of rape and abuse.

Tel: 0808 800 0123

AGE CONCERN SCOTLAND

Abuse of the elderly is about more than violence and is not gender specific. Besides physical, emotional and sexual abuse it can include financial exploitation and neglect. There is however a gender dimension to ageing in that there are many more women than men in the age groups over 75. Advocacy services, such as Age Concern Scotland and Alzheimer's Scotland Action on Dementia offer one to one support and help to older people.

Tel: 0808 808 8141 (Mon-Fri 10.00-16.30)

WE'RE NO EXCEPTION

This is a campaign organisation raising awareness about and campaigning against violence against disabled women. They provide a service for young people to adults aged 16-65. They can give advice on rehabilitation services.

Tel. 0141 945 5662 (Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00)

LESBIAN AND GAY LINE

Provides support, practical help, and information on health issues, counselling and referral to specialist agencies.

Tel: 01387 261818

CARELINE

A national confidential counselling line for children, young people and adults on any issue including family, marital and relationship problems, child abuse, rape and sexual assault, depression and anxiety.

Tel: 0208 514 1177

SHELTERLINE

Shelter is a campaign organisation for homeless people and provides a freephone service offering information about emergency access to refuge services and general housing matters.

Tel: Shelterline 0808 800 4444

SAMARITANS

The Samaritans offer 24-hour confidential emotional support for anyone in crisis. Their number links up all their branches; or the number of a local branch, can be found in the local phonebook.

Tel: 08457 90 90 90

VICTIM SUPPORT

Victim Support provides emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crimes: time to talk, confidential help, practical help, information about compensation, crime prevention and criminal justice procedures. They also provide help with attending court. Victim Support Scotland can be contacted 09.00-17.00 Monday to Friday. Outwith these hours, calls to any of their offices will be offered a helpline number to contact. Local numbers are in the phonebook and on their website www.victimsupportsco.demon.co.uk

ALZHEIMER'S SCOTLAND

Tel: 0808 808 3000 (24hours)

CITIZENS' ADVICE BUREAUX

Citizens' Advice Bureau, the local number for which can be found in the telephone directory and under 'Helplines' in the Yellow Pages, can offer advice and help on a whole range of matters and can refer women where appropriate to specialist services.

VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND HELPLINES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE;

CHILDLINE

Childline is the free national helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. It is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Tel: (free) 0800 1111.

CHILDREN 1st

Children 1st supports families under stress, protects children from harm and neglect, helps children recover from abuse and promotes children's rights and interests.

Tel: 0131 337 8539

PARENTLINE

A confidential helpline for parents.

Tel: 0808 800 2222

SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Domestic abuse is an emotive issue and any member of NHS staff can experience distress in working with abused women. It may be difficult or painful for individual health care workers to confront the issue of abuse and to support others experiencing abuse. Staff expect, and should receive, assistance from their NHS employers. Counselling services are available from the Occupational Health Service and also in some areas from trained contact officers. Independent counselling support is available from several professional organisations, as outlined below.

Doctors

The British Medical Association (BMA) can be contacted for advice on legal issues and provides a Stress Service.

British Medical Association Tel: 0131 247 3000

BMA Counselling Services Tel: 08459 200169

Medical Defence Union (MDU) Tel: 0800 71 66 46

Medical and Dental Defence Union (MDDUs) Tel: 0141 221 5858

Medical Protection Society (MPS) Tel: 0113 241 0500

and 0207 399 1301 + 0845 605 4000

Midwives

A midwife should inform her/his supervisor of any complicated cases or instances where she is finding it difficult to deal with the situation. The supervisor can act as an independent advisor to the midwife but may also assist the midwife in accessing the appropriate support networks. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) provides a helpline counselling service for its members.

Tel: 0845 605 0044

Nurses

Welfare advice and support is available to Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members on the RCN Nurseline and confidential support for members experiencing emotional distress is provided through the RCN Counselling Service.

Tel: 0845 769 7064 (local rate in the UK).

RCN Direct (24 hour helpline) Tel. 08457 726100 or their local representative

Union members

The trade union Unison has a helpline for members.

Tel: 0800 597 9750