Support and advice:
Slough
It is important that if you feel threatened or in danger at any time you call 999 immediately.
Slough takes domestic abuse very seriously. Nobody should live their life in fear of physical, sexual or emotional abuse. The Council is committed to tackling all types of Violence against Women & Girls (VAWG) as defined by the Home Office who have released a strategy in relation to VAWG. Slough Borough Council as a key partner of the multi-agency Safer Slough Partnership Board (SSPB) has adopted this strategy.
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.
This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:
- Psychological
- Physical
- Sexual
- Financial
- Emotional
A recent change in UK law recognises stalking and coercive control (a pattern of behaviour which seeks to take away the victim’s liberty or freedom, to strip away their sense of self) as domestic abuse and is liable to prosecution.
There are no cultural or religious reasons for anyone to suffer domestic abuse and help is available through a wide range of local and national groups. Karma Nirvana is a British human rights charity which supports all victims of so-called ‘Honour’ based abuse and forced marriage. They can be reached via telephone on 0800 5999 247 or via email through their website.
To find out more about domestic abuse or how to get support, Women’s Aid offers a Survivors’ Handbook in English or in a range of different languages (Polish, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Guajarati, Turkish, Bengali, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish & Urdu) for those seeking advice & guidance.
What you can do
For help and support, Hestia provides a specialist domestic abuse service in Slough, including outreach support for individuals across East Berkshire. This service will provide practical and emotional support to women, men and children who are victims of domestic abuse via:
- Adult 16+ Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (IDVA)
- Outreach support (including specialist provision for BAMER groups)
- Group-based support
Phone: 01753 477352
Email: Slough.IDVA@hestia.org
If you are not in immediate danger but would like support for domestic abuse you can call the police on 101 or contact the council’s Housing Team on 01753 475111 or, your GP, your local children’s centre, your health visitor, your pastoral lead at your school, district nurse, housing officer or any other key worker who will assess your situation and help you plan your next steps. It is important that you tell somebody you trust who can help get the support you need.
In addition, the 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (freephone 0808 2000 247) also offers telephone translation services for callers whose first language is not English and BT Type talk for callers with hearing difficulties. This helpline provides support and the opportunity to access refuge services.
Children affected by domestic abuse may suffer long term psychological effects and may require specialist support.
If you suspect a child is experiencing domestic abuse at home, this should be immediately reported to Slough Children’s Trust.
Phone: 01753 875362
Website: https://www.scstrust.co.uk/
Further information can be found on the NSPCC website including tools and guidance for parents and families.
Read more below about the services available in Slough. For National helplines, services and specialist support, click here.
Hestia
Website: www.hestia.org
Email: slough.idva@hestia.org
Phone: 01753 477352
Slough Children’s Trust
Website: www.scstrust.co.uk
Phone: 01753 875362
Slough Services Guide
Website: www.servicesguide.slough.gov.uk/kb5/slough/services/home.page
Slough Drug Services (Turning Point)
Phone: 01753 692548
BRAVE Project
A service providing therapeutic support for victims of domestic abuse with additional emotional or psychological difficulties in East Berkshire.
Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB)
Email: SLSCB@scstrust.co.uk
Slough Sexual Violence Service (ISVA)
Phone: 0800 221 8186
Email: isvathamesvalley@refuge.org.uk
Thames Valley Police
Website: www.thamesvalley.police.uk
Non-emergency phone: 101
NCDV (24-hr Injunction Service)
Website: www.ncdv.org.uk
Phone: 0800 970 2070
Slough Borough Council Housing Team
Phone: 01753 475111
The Female Genital Mutilation Helpline
Website: www.forwarduk.org.uk
Phone: 0208 960 4000 (Ext 1)
Slough Advice Centre
Website: www.sloughadvicecentre.co.uk
Phone: 0344 515 1380
NSPCC Adult Helpline
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Phone: 0808 800 5000
ChildLine
Website: www.childline.org.uk
Phone: 0800 11 11
IMKAAN
Website: www.imkaan.org.uk
It is important that if you feel threatened or in danger at any time you call 999 immediately.
For Practitioners Requiring information/guidance
There is an expectation that all Slough practitioners can respond and provide basic safety advice to anyone suffering with domestic abuse. Please refer to your organisation safeguarding policy for support and guidance.
Hestia provide support for domestic abuse locally: 01753 477352 or email.
For information about children, please view the Slough LSCB Procedures Manual.
Slough Borough Council have also developed a useful DA Pathway which signposts practitioners to local processes.
For information about adults with care and support needs please view the Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Policy & Procedures.
MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
Slough holds monthly MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) meetings to provide risk assessment for people living with domestic abuse. At this meeting, information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives of local police, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), probation and other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors.
If a client is identified as being as high risk the case should be referred to the MARAC via your agency’s Designated MARAC Officer (DMO) If you do not have a DMO within your organisation, please contact our Domestic Abuse Partnership Co-ordinator Rachel Axtell on rachel.axtell@slough.gov.uk or 01753 477352.
MARAC training is run three times a year for experienced practitioners in Slough. For training dates or to book a course please email training@scstrust.co.uk or call 01753 875771.
Slough Domestic Abuse Champions Practitioner Network
Slough is currently recruiting an initial sixty Domestic Abuse Champions from all professional backgrounds. In addition to their substantive role, they will provide a network of expertise around supporting Slough agencies, practitioners and clients suffering with domestic abuse.
These DA Champions, once trained, will be a source of reference to their organisation and peers by cascading learning and awareness; a point of contact between agencies to ensure a stronger multi-agency approach and also a means of identifying best practice, issues, problems or hurdles facing victims of domestic abuse within our local strategy.
This is not just about the initial training; it is an ongoing role with regular updates and offers further opportunities to learn and network with partner agencies to develop better communication between agencies at a practitioner level.
We are specifically seeking practitioners or professionals from:
- Health — community HCPs, hospitals, mental health teams
- Education — early years, primary, secondary and tertiary/higher
- Care and support staff
- Probation
- Social care — adult and child
- Police and security
- Court services (civil and criminal)
- Voluntary sector practitioners
- Community organisations such as youth or faith groups
Training details
The two-day practitioner training will be held at The Curve, Slough on the following dates:
- Dates are pending
If you are from Slough and have already registered to be a DA Champion, but want to book a place on a specific a course, then please just email us to reserve your place. If you have not yet registered, but meet the description above, then go to the Champions page on this website and apply online.
For further information please contact Rachel Axtell on Rachel.Axtell@slough.gov.uk or 01753 477352.
Slough Domestic Abuse Contact
Domestic abuse is a specific focus for the Safer Slough Partnership Board under the ‘Violence – Protecting People’ theme which forms part of the key priorities for 2016-19.
For more information please email the Community Safety Team.
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