Nottinghamshire Women's Aid - Floating Support

Nottinghamshire Women's Aid Ltd

Offering Choices, Improving Lives

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Confidential Support and Information For Women by Women

What is Floating Support
Sanctuary Scheme
Making a Referral
What Happens Next?
Drop in sessions
Telephone Helpline

What is Floating Support?
The Floating Support Service provides housing related support to women who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic abuse.

The female domestic violence floating support workers offer emotional and practical support and information on a wide range of issues to women who have experienced physical, emotional, sexual or economic abuse.

Support is offered to women through weekly one to one sessions with a named support worker. We can support women with issues including looking at legal options, housing issues, welfare benefits, budgeting and money issues, safety planning and dealing with other agencies.

What is Sanctuary?
The Sanctuary Scheme is a package of security measures fitted to homes to enable survivor's of domestic abuse to remain in their own home so long as the violent partner no longer lives in the home. The scheme aims to offer an alternative to temporary accommodation and prevent homelessness. Support is provided to complement the practical security measures. Nottinghamshire Women's Aid Ltd provides the support element of the Sanctuary Scheme offering emotional and practical support on a range of issues including safety planning, housing, legal options, benefits, budgeting and finances, independent living and access to other services. Support workers are all female.
The security measures are provided by the local Community Safety Partnership via the District Council.

Making a Referral
Women can self refer or be referred by an agency eg health visitor, counsellors, police, housing departments etc. An agency must have a woman's consent to make the referral to the Outreach Service.

Any woman who feels that she may need support can telephone or attend a drop in session at The Farr Centre. A friend or family member may support her with making the referral, if she prefers.

At the point of referral women will be asked for relevant information which will be recorded on the Referral Form. If an agency is making the referral we will always contact the woman to take any additional information.

What happens next?
All referrals are discussed at an allocations meeting on Wednesday mornings. We will look at each referral individually and a decision will be made on what level of support is required based on the information given.

Women may be offered regular one to one support, the option of attending the drop-in sessions or telephone support depending on the level of identified need.

If a referral does not meet our service criteria we will endeavour to signpost to other more appropriate services. We aim to contact all women with a decision within three working days.

Drop in Sessions
At a drop-in session you can receive information and support with domestic violence issues.
They are held twice a week on:

Monday and Thursday - 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
at:
The Farr Centre, Chapel Walk
Westgate, Worksop S80 1LR

There is also a drop in session on Friday mornings in Retford
10.00 am to 12.00 noon. Please phone 01909 533610 for further details.

No appointment is needed to attend a drop in sessions.

Telephone Helpline
Also:
Domestic Violence Telephone Helpline
01909 500522

There is an answerphone out of office hours.
Leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible

Nottinghamshire Women's Aid Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales number 1822489 and a Registered Charity Number 513843
© nottswa last updated on 23 September 2009