support options
Duty Team
The Duty Team was established in response to the long waiting lists that DWA had, the Duty Team are the first point of contact for service users. During initial meetings the duty team will risk assess the service user and then create a safety and support plan with them. They will then work with them for around 6 weeks and during this time any immediate safety measures will be put in place, consideration of a referral to MARAC will be made, possibly exploring refuge if this is necessary. They can also discuss with the service users whether they feel they will benefit from longer outreach support and refer them in or, if only short term work is needed to help explore domestic abuse issues they will also do this. They can also suggest other services that might be more suitable in addition to ourselves.
Outreach
Our outreach service is designed to provide support to women in the community who do not wish to enter refuge accommodation. Referrals can be made either from the woman directly or from workers from other agencies. However, before making a referral on behalf of someone, please be sure that this is a service that the woman wishes to engage in. The Outreach service is available to women regardless of whether they are with the perpetrator of abuse or not. This service is generally delivered in our office base but if necessary we can arrange to meet a woman elsewhere when it is safe to do so.
What happens when we receive a referral?
Once we receive a referral we undertake an initial assessment, which includes a specialist Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment (Caada DASH). This process can take up to an hour to complete, and may require further follow up to manage safety / support needs of the woman. We will inform women of the outcome of their assessment and they will be offered support or placed on our waiting list if necessary. If women are on a waiting list we will keep in regular contact to let them know when they will be at the top of the list.
Housing First
The Housing First model prescribes safe and permanent housing as the first priority for people experiencing homelessness. Our support workers work with the woman to help address complex needs in partnership with other agencies such as DDARS, We Are With You, and our own service ASPEN. The aim is to provide intensive support to help them maintain their tenancies. Each individual is assisted in sustaining their housing as they work towards recovery and reintegration within the community at their own pace. The referrals that come to DWA for Housing First also identify either current or historic Domestic Abuse.
Responsive
For women accessing our service when they are in crisis to obtain information and advice on their rights and responsibilities, the services we offer and refuge. DWA has a support line which is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm. Thursdays, 9:30pm-12:30pm. Although we offer an appointment system, women can drop in to the office if necessary and someone will be available to see them. We also recognise that some women find it difficult to work with the appointment system and responsive support provides a more flexible option.
Refuge
We have refuge spaces scattered throughout the City of Dundee. DWA has a mix of one and two bedroom properties and none of the properties is shared accommodation.
Click here to visit our refuge section.
The Duty Team was established in response to the long waiting lists that DWA had, the Duty Team are the first point of contact for service users. During initial meetings the duty team will risk assess the service user and then create a safety and support plan with them. They will then work with them for around 6 weeks and during this time any immediate safety measures will be put in place, consideration of a referral to MARAC will be made, possibly exploring refuge if this is necessary. They can also discuss with the service users whether they feel they will benefit from longer outreach support and refer them in or, if only short term work is needed to help explore domestic abuse issues they will also do this. They can also suggest other services that might be more suitable in addition to ourselves.
Outreach
Our outreach service is designed to provide support to women in the community who do not wish to enter refuge accommodation. Referrals can be made either from the woman directly or from workers from other agencies. However, before making a referral on behalf of someone, please be sure that this is a service that the woman wishes to engage in. The Outreach service is available to women regardless of whether they are with the perpetrator of abuse or not. This service is generally delivered in our office base but if necessary we can arrange to meet a woman elsewhere when it is safe to do so.
What happens when we receive a referral?
Once we receive a referral we undertake an initial assessment, which includes a specialist Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment (Caada DASH). This process can take up to an hour to complete, and may require further follow up to manage safety / support needs of the woman. We will inform women of the outcome of their assessment and they will be offered support or placed on our waiting list if necessary. If women are on a waiting list we will keep in regular contact to let them know when they will be at the top of the list.
Housing First
The Housing First model prescribes safe and permanent housing as the first priority for people experiencing homelessness. Our support workers work with the woman to help address complex needs in partnership with other agencies such as DDARS, We Are With You, and our own service ASPEN. The aim is to provide intensive support to help them maintain their tenancies. Each individual is assisted in sustaining their housing as they work towards recovery and reintegration within the community at their own pace. The referrals that come to DWA for Housing First also identify either current or historic Domestic Abuse.
Responsive
For women accessing our service when they are in crisis to obtain information and advice on their rights and responsibilities, the services we offer and refuge. DWA has a support line which is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm. Thursdays, 9:30pm-12:30pm. Although we offer an appointment system, women can drop in to the office if necessary and someone will be available to see them. We also recognise that some women find it difficult to work with the appointment system and responsive support provides a more flexible option.
Refuge
We have refuge spaces scattered throughout the City of Dundee. DWA has a mix of one and two bedroom properties and none of the properties is shared accommodation.
Click here to visit our refuge section.