Health
At Manchester Women's Aid, we have four health projects, working in partnership with healthcare experts across Greater Manchester to better identify and improve outcomes for patients experiencing domestic abuse.
IRIS in Manchester
IRIS (Identification & Referral to Improve Safety) in Manchester is a training, referral, and advocacy model which accepts referrals from GP practices. It recognises the importance of improving the healthcare response to domestic abuse through health and specialist services by collaborating and working with GP practices across Greater Manchester.
Our Advocate Educators and Clinical Leads provide training to clinical and reception staff in each GP practice. We improve healthcare staff’s knowledge of domestic abuse, their approach to speaking with survivors and advise how to refer to appropriate services.
Healthcare staff offer their patients who have been affected by domestic abuse, either currently or historically a referral into the IRIS programme. We will provide updates to the clinician on the work undertaken with their patient and the outcome of support.
Our Advocate Educators provide specialist domestic abuse support to patients who are referred to the service. Overall, we aim to support the patient through understanding the domestic abuse they have experienced.
In the financial year 2023/2024, IRIS in Manchester received 1013 referrals.
Iris in Manchester's results
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83 General Practices across Greater Manchester are training in domestic abuse and receive regular update training.
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99.3% of patients reported that they visit the GP less because of the support from ROSE.
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97% of respondents felt better able to recognise abusive behaviour after their time in service.
Iris Safe in Salford
The IRIS programme is a training, referral and advocacy model that supports clinicians to better support their patients affected by domestic violence and abuse.
The IRIS programme is an evidence-based, effective, and cost-effective intervention to improve the primary care response to domestic violence and is nationally recognised.
We provide in-house domestic abuse and violence training for general practice teams and a named advocate educator which patients can be referred to for support.
IRIS Safe In Salford consists of a Project Manager, two Advocate Educators and a Clinical Lead who is a local practising GP.
We support 33 GP practices throughout Salford.
In the financial year 2023/2024, we received 301 total referrals.
IRIS work in partnership with Salford Foundation, Trafford Domestic Abuses Service (TDAS), Talk Listen Change (TLC) and are part of the Safe in Salford Partnership.
Iris Safe in Salford
Advocate Educators
The Advocate Educator and Clinical Lead work in partnership to deliver training to the practices and offer specialist DVA consultant to the general practice teams as well as advice and support when needed.
The Advocate Educator also advocates for the patients and will provide specialist support to the patients who are referred into the IRIS service.
The Advocate Educator receives referrals, undertakes risk assessments and provides options and support to patients as well as implementing safeguarding strategies, if necessary.
Women who experience domestic violence and abuse experience many health problems including but not limited to gynaecological problems, neurological symptoms, chronic pain, cardiovascular conditions and poor mental health.
We work to address these health problems by providing training, support, and a clear referral pathway for general practices.
in 2023/2024 iris sis clients
clients felt safer
respondents felt better able to recognise abusive behaviour
respondents felt more confident in their parenting abilities
Midwifery and Domestic Abuse Support Service
The MiDASS (Midwifery and Domestic Abuse Support Service) project has two strands, both focused on the identification of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during pregnancy.
MiDASS offers domestic abuse training and a referral pathway for maternity staff as well as holistic support for pregnant women, both during pregnancy and up to 28 days postpartum.
Our duties include providing advice and information on options to improve safety, advocacy and empowerment for clients, and collaboration with the specialist DVA sector to ensure information sharing and pathways between services.
Safelives report that around 30% of domestic abuse begins during pregnancy, while 40–60% of women already experiencing domestic abuse are abused during pregnancy. Domestic abuse during pregnancy puts the woman and the unborn baby in danger. It increases the risk of miscarriage, infection, premature birth, and injury/death to the baby.
Midass pathway
The key objective of the MiDASS project was to bring North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) and University Hospital South Manchester (UHSM) in line with the service offered at St Mary’s Hospital (SMH). The Pathway project employs an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate to sit within the maternity unit and offer support around DVA for staff and patients.
In 2022-23, the MiDASS project was put out for tender, and Manchester Women’s Aid were successful in winning this tender. Since April 2023, MWA began to deliver the project across all three sites. Due to the success of the project, MiDASS has been running successfully since its implementation in 2016.
The efficacy of the MiDASS Project in identifying and referring victims of DVA is demonstrated by the fact that before MiDASS was in existence, in the financial year 2015-16, there were no referrals attributed to midwives and only 17 from hospitals. Whereas, since its inception, MiDASS has been able to support over 800 women and has ambitions to keep supporting hundreds of women across Greater Manchester.
MIDASS IMPACT
women supported since its inception
respondents feel able to better recognise abusive behaviour
respondents felt more confident in their parenting abilities
“The MIDASS service is a lifeline for many women. It is vital in helping women to identify domestic abuse. The service has a quick referral process which allows women to be seen immediately. The maternity staff have excellent support and training from MIDASS to support women. I have seen first-hand the essential work MIDASS undertake with the women. This service is essential in keeping women safe. The impact on the women and her family is life-changing.
The IDVA works so hard to support the women in the maternity setting and support us as staff. I know how grateful the women are for her support and I have seen women after the IDVA‘s input and the positive impact it has on their life and family going forward.” – Linda Applebee, Specialist Midwife Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol, NMGH
advise
The ADViSE (Assessing for Domestic Violence in Sexual Health Environments) programme was launched in October 2021 and supports sexual health clinicians to identify and respond to people affected by sexual and domestic violence and abuse.
ADViSE provides clinicians with a simple referral pathway to specialist services for any patient making a disclosure of abuse. At Manchester Women’s Aid we have a team of Advocate Educators (AEs) who provide clinicians with knowledge and understanding around domestic and sexual violence and abuse. This is achieved via training sessions and an ongoing consultancy service to offer any advice and guidance. Our AEs have built great relationships with the clinicians providing support via email, telephone and at the drop-ins within the clinics across The Northern Sexual Health Service.
The AEs also provide one to one tailored support to patients referred from the sexual health clinics. Support can be provided where the perpetrator may be an acquaintance or stranger. This is a great aspect of the programme as some domestic abuse services only provide support where the perpetrator is an intimate partner or ex-partner or family member. Upon case closure, AEs provide the referring clinician with an update of the advice and support offered to the patient and a brief summary of their situation. This has been welcomed by clinicians as they appreciate the work AEs offer and are able to follow up with patients at any future appointments.
ADViSE is a partnership programme with Trafford Domestic Abuse Service (TDAS), Stockport without Abuse (SWA) and Jigsaw Homes.
I think the ADVISE service is invaluable. They offer a comprehensive holistic approach to both the physical and social wellbeing of the patients that we refer. They are brilliant at communicating with us, giving regular updates about the patients that we refer into the service. This is so lovely as it gives us an element of continuity of care. They are very accessible being an in-house service. The practitioners are amenable, friendly and approachable. I feel it would be a great loss to the service if we no longer had the provision of ADVISE.
Clinician NMGH (nurse)
