IRISi is thrilled to announce the launch of the IRIS programme in general practices across Sefton, Halton and Herefordshire – where the initiative will be delivered in partnership with Sefton Women’s Aid and Children’s Aid (SWACA ), Halton Domestic Abuse Service and West Mercia Women’s Aid (WMWA).
These regions were selected based on Whole Health mapping conducted by Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse on a national scale. The decision to commission the IRIS programme in these areas was made collaboratively with healthcare professionals, local authority domestic abuse leads, and domestic abuse service providers. This comprehensive analysis considered insights from regional Domestic Homicide Reviews, MARAC recommendations, and demographic characteristics of the regions. The IRIS pilot sites were identified as the most viable options for driving significant improvements at the intersection of health and domestic abuse.
In addition to these commissioned services, Standing Together established the ‘Crossing Pathways – Integrating Best Practice within Health and Domestic Abuse’ meetings in June 2023. These groups unite experts in healthcare and domestic abuse to collectively enhance knowledge, pathways, and responses for domestic abuse survivors within healthcare settings. Their shared goal is to develop and integrate best practices, promote effective organisation, foster sustainable systemic change, and establish a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) to domestic abuse within their respective regions.
For Lucy Downes, IRISi Network Director, “We are happy to be a part of this initiative, which brings together expertise and dedication from across the healthcare and domestic abuse sectors. Stakeholders in the three areas selected have been seeking to secure funding for the IRIS Programme for a really long time, so we are delighted to be in the position of having been awarded funding to make this happen. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by domestic abuse by improving clinical practice so more victims and survivors are identified and offered life-changing advocacy and support”.
Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing additional information about these new sites in the near future.