Mapping of Domestic Abuse Services across England and Wales
Task
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales is committed to making sure that all victims and survivors, regardless of their identity or location, receive the support and assistance they need, precisely when they need it. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner works independently from the Government and other statutory agencies, with a key part of the role being to hold them accountable for their response to domestic abuse.
The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) required the Domestic Abuse Commissioner to publish a report into the provision of community-based services. In order to do this, a survey was open between Tuesday 6th July – 3rd August 2021, asking people to help with the mapping of all domestic abuse provision across England and Wales.
The survey was designed to map all services that support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and their children, or that work with perpetrators. These services needed to specifically provide support relating to domestic abuse, rather than being more general services that a victim or survivor of domestic abuse may engage with. Specifically, the mapping work covered:
Accommodation-based services, including refuge;
Community-based services, including floating support, outreach, or advocacy or caseworker roles;
Recovery work, including counselling, group work and support groups;
Open access services, including helplines, drop ins and online web chats;
Behaviour-change interventions, such as domestic abuse perpetrator programmes;
Prevention and awareness work, such as educational work with schools.
TONIC was tasked with supporting the analysis of over 1,700 survey responses as part of the national consultation.
Our Approach
TONIC researchers reviewed responses, devised a code framework, and manually coded all of the data received in relation to the questions the team were tasked with analysing. The findings were then shared with the team working on behalf of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, contributing directly to the final reports that were later published.
Outcome
The information provided through survey responses, as well as engagement with sector partners and with victims and survivors, was used to better understand the ‘postcode lottery’ in the response to domestic abuse and present to Government and agencies the evidence they need to take steps to address this.
The published early findings reported can be found here: https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DAC-Mapping-Briefing-Paper-05.pdf