Southside provides targeted and specialist support for people affected by domestic violence and abuse across Bath and North East Somerset. Southside’s team of Intake Workers and IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) supports people aged over 16 years who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

Southside’s services are inclusive: while women are most likely to experience domestic abuse, men, people in same-sex relationships, trans and non-binary people also experience abuse. Some people face additional barriers to accessing support and not recognising abusive behaviours. Our experienced team helps people to overcome these barriers, including an Older Persons’ IDVA to provide specialist support for people experiencing domestic abuse in later life. There are many factors that may make older people less likely to disclose domestic abuse, so this can often be unrecognised.

Southside’s work is trauma-informed, therapeutically focused and supports victims of domestic violence and abuse, and their families, to find solutions that last. Specialist domestic abuse support enables victims to improve their safety, quality of life and self-confidence. Southside’s in-depth support starts with a detailed assessment of each victim’s needs and risk level. Our workers develop a safety and support plan with the individual, empower and support them throughout the tailored work.

Intake Service
Southside’s Intake Service is the first point of access for people experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Intake support includes initial triage, risk assessment and advice on the services and choices available to victims.

This may include more in-depth support through the Intake Service, further domestic abuse support from the IDVA service, or signposting to other partner agencies where appropriate. This ensures that people experiencing domestic violence and abuse can access the right trauma informed support at the right time for them.

IDVA Service
The IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) service provides one-to-one outreach support, including crisis support for victims at high-risk of serious harm or death, which is critical to help them at times of crisis to access the safety and help that they need, and to safeguard their children. Southside’s IDVAs provide:

• risk assessment
• safety and support planning
• emotional and practical support
• advocacy for victims, for example in relation to Criminal and/or Family Court proceedings
• help to access other statutory and voluntary agencies, e.g. housing, mental health and education
• step down to Southside’s Family Support Service to reduce the risk and impact of domestic abuse to victims and their children in order to achieve long lasting change.

IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety)
The Southside IRIS Advocate works in partnership with medical teams in GP surgeries across Bath and North East Somerset to provide training and to raise awareness of issues around domestic violence and abuse, support their staff and clinicians to recognise signs of domestic abuse, and raise their awareness and confidence to ‘ask the question’ and make referrals to Southside for support.

The IRIS Advocate service provides tailored support and advice to people experiencing domestic abuse who have been identified and referred into the service by their GP.