Support for victims of Domestic Abuse

Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service and Refuge

Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service (PDAS) offers a comprehensive package of support to women and children who are experiencing or fleeing from domestic abuse. The service is provided by the charity Carr-Gomm.

Working in partnership with local agencies PDAS can offer emotional and practical support, which includes safety planning, securing safe accommodation (where appropriate) and support through the criminal justice system.

As part of the children's service, PDAS offer creative support packages through their specialist children's worker.

PDAS is committed to equality, offering services to the black and minority ethnic (BME) community, those living with a disability and women in a same sex relationship.

PDAS recognise that domestic abuse is not gender specific and are currently in the process of developing the service to meet the needs of male victims.

PDAS will accept self referrals and referrals from outside agencies via the telephone. They also work closely with the RSPCA to either foster or adopt animals (dependant on age).

Opening times are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and an answer phone is available outside of these hours.  PDAS will always return a call if a safe contact number is left.

Telephone PDAS on 01752 252033 or email pdas@carr-gomm.org.uk.

Contact the Plymouth Refuge on 01752 562286.

Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA)

IDVAs are trained specialists whose goal is the safety of domestic violence victims. While IDVAs will accept all referrals, their focus is on providing a service to victims at medium to high risk of harm to address their safety needs and help manage the risks that they face. Their medium to high risk remit means that the majority (if not all) of their cases are women victims. IDVAs tend to come in at the point of crisis for a victim i.e. just after a police call out or Accident and Emergency attendance.

Key elements of an IDVA service 

There are a number of elements present within an IDVA service. These are:

Crisis Intervention: advisors work from the point of crisis with a survivor and offer intensive support to help assure their short and long term safety.

Risk: the service is based on assessment and understanding of risk and its management. IDVAs must be trained to assess risk and respond in a way that is appropriate to the level of risk that the victim is experiencing. IDVAs have to be willing to involve other agencies when the victim or the children of the victim are in danger.

Independent: from both the justice system and local government, in order to focus on safety and not other targets which statutory agencies must bear in mind when providing a service. Victims need support from someone who can give impartial advice on their safety options.