Make A Referral To LDASS
Make a referral into Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service
Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service provides specialist support and assistance to families and individuals in Lincolnshire experiencing domestic abuse
The Domestic Abuse Support Service encompasses the following elements of service:
- A support hub and helpline, offering advice and guidance on a range of situations and signposting to relevant services.
- Support service for adults, children and young people
- Recovery support which is an additional up to 8-weeks of service interventions for victims with certain circumstances following the conclusion of their Adult Specialist Intervention or IDVA Support.
- Online support and advice for all domestic abuse victims
- An outreach and engagement team who provide proactive early interventions, targeting communities and individuals who may face barriers to accessing domestic abuse services.
- IDVA support for victims at highest risk of serious harm – Please note this is a separate referral pathway, referrals to MARAC cannot be made through Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service. All victims determined to be at high risk of harm should be referred to a MARAC meeting in order to manage their risk in accordance with the MARAC Operating Protocol IDVA Support referrals come via the MARAC Administration Team at Lincolnshire County Council.
Make a referral into Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service
Access our online referral form here to make a professional referral to LDASS. Once you have submitted the online referral, the system will give you the option to receive a PDF copy of your completed referral which will be emailed to you.
All referrals should be made using the online referral form.
As per the new criteria of the service, you will not be able to submit the referral form online without a completed DASH being attached.
Click Here for the DASH Risk Assessment Form.
Criteria for referring to LDASS
Adult Service Users (16 years and over) will be eligible for specialist support interventions should any of the following features be identified by referring professionals:
- Stalking/Harassment, a pattern of repeated unwanted, behaviour that causes a person to change their routine or feel afraid, nervous or in danger.
- Current physical abuse, violence, or threatening behaviour.
- Sexual violence and abuse
- Repeated emotional/psychological abuse
- A pattern of controlling/coercive behaviour
- Potential Honour Based Violence and/or Female Genital Mutilation
- Threats to kill / arson
- Financial abuse
The service will attempt to contact the victim 4 times, if unsuccessful after the 4th attempt the referral will be closed and the referrer will be notified.
10 Top Tips for making a referral into LDASS
- Always ensure you have the victim’s explicit consent to make the referral.
- Complete the DASH risk assessment with the victim. It should be done in a private environment when the perpetrator is not around. Click here for DASH guidance https://professionals.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/2136/dash-s-dash-guidance-notes
- Ensure the victim is aware of what has been recorded on the referral form and DASH as this will be shared with them. If you have any specific information that you do not want to be shared with the victim then please make that clear on the referral form.
- Do not use family or friends as interpreters.
- Consider the presence of children over the age of 2 years who may be able to report back to perpetrator. Sensitive discussions should not take place when children are around.
- Be aware of victims holding a mobile phone during the meeting as the perpetrator may be listening to the conversation
- Talk to your client about safety planning. In an emergency call 999. You can refer to our safety planning guidelines for help with this.
- Are there children or adults at risk involved? Refer to your organisation’s procedures for children and adults at risk and make a referral to Children’s or Adult Services
- Consider what your agency should do to help them safe, and which other agencies should be contacted.
- Ask if they want further support or information to take away if they have somewhere they can keep it (e.g. make clients aware that they can cover their internet tracks when accessing domestic abuse websites)
