DEDICATED Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) have been placed in hospitals across West Mercia, including the Alex in Redditch, to provide victims of domestic abuse with early support.
Now, following a pilot a few years ago in Worcestershire and Shropshire, Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has increased the funding allocated to Women’s Aid to allow the scheme to be introduced across the whole of the region.
The aim is to provide early intervention and support and it was found four in five domestic abuse victims don’t report it to the police.
It was also found that by locating IDVA services in a hospital can significantly improve the health and wellbeing outcome for victims of domestic abuse .
PCC John Campion said: “It is so important that victims of domestic abuse are getting the support they need early on.
“Survivors who have been supported by the service have previously said they felt ‘safe’ and ‘protected’ and that they saw their IDVA as their ‘guardian angel’.”
Sue Coleman, chief executive for West Mercia Women’s Aid, said: “ We are really pleased to now have the capacity to develop this work in the longer term, and know that the presence of IDVAs in hospitals will make it possible for more people to feel safe and confident in asking for help with domestic abuse.”
