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Specialist domestic abuse service for Deaf people and children

We provide specialist support for Deaf people and children who have experienced domestic abuse, addressing communication barriers and unique risks faced by the Deaf community. Our services include counseling, outreach, prevention workshops, and support for survivors in refuges. Contact us for more information.

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Specialist domestic abuse service for Deaf people and children

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  1. Specialist domestic abuse service for Deaf people and children

  2. Why specialist services are needed? • No other domestic abuse specialist services for Deaf people exist that provide the same level of support • Lack of specialist knowledge of Deaf community/Culture in mainstream services • Hearing DV services – more signposting (signposting does not work for Deaf clients) • Deaf clients include many extremely vulnerable and complex cases, especially from non British born and from BAMER communities

  3. Why specialist services are needed? • Around 80% of Deaf referrals for specialist counselling have experienced domestic abuse • 2:4 Deaf and disabled women at risk of DV Making the Links report 2009 Women’s Aid • 90% of Deaf people have hearing parents with a large percentage of families unable to communicate effectively

  4. Deaf Community issues - risks • Communication barriers prevent Deaf people from disclosing abuse • Lack of awareness of the issues of domestic abuse amongst Deaf Community • Changes in tradition – deaf clubs closing and more internet dating/socialising • Higher risk of Forced Marriage and Honor Based Violence – including Deaf LGBT • Vulnerability of Deaf people from ethnic communities coming to UK with minimal language skills and no education

  5. Deaf Community issues - risks • Hearing perpetrators use power and control, and also use a person’s deafness as another way of abusing them • Deaf perpetrators behaviour can be due to witnessing domestic abuse in childhood and believing this to be normal behaviour. • Lack of appropriate education for Deaf young people leads to lack of awareness of acceptable/unacceptable behaviour • Deaf perpetrators will use their Deafness as an excuse to avoid prosecution. Court cases often dropped due to no interpreters.

  6. Refuges • Communication barriers – both staff and other survivors • Refuges don’t have equipment for Deaf => Deaf women are delayed to go in refuges until equipment are fitted • Slower recovery rate and increased mental health issues • Many will leave refuge to return to perpetrator • Deaf refuge not an option due to the Deaf community being so small, would be hard to manage risks

  7. Who we support Deaf led supporting Deaf people and children Our Clients : D/deaf (both oral and sign language users) Deafened Deaf/Blind Hard of Hearing Our Aims : Prevention, Protection and Provision

  8. Our current services • IDVA Independent domestic violence advocates – High risk clients • Outreach – Medium to low risk • Young Deaf Hope prevention workshops • Children and Families service • Survivor workshops (first in UK) • Supporting Deaf women in refuges • Training – professionals Deaf community groups

  9. Where are we based? • Administration only office in Balham, South London • Our services currently cover all London Boroughs, Sussex and Kent • We meet clients in their own boroughs/areas and work closely with their local dv services

  10. Our team Small team of 8 : 1 hearing, 7 Deaf Service Manager (also IDVA) Deaf Hope Admin/Coordinator 4 Deaf IDVA workers 1 Children and Families worker • Young Deaf Hope Prevention Officers (including 1 Deaf IDVA) All fluent in BSL and can use International Sign Language

  11. Our criteria • Clients must be d/Deaf, deafened, deaf/blind • Age 16 or over in accordance with the definition of Domestic Abuse and Violence • Must be experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse • Direct support for those within our funded areas • We do not provide counselling but refer to Sign Health specialist BSL Healthy Deaf Minds

  12. Deaf Hope - Referrals • Referrals can be accepted from any agency, victim support, police, health etc. within our funding areas • Self referrals also accepted • Referral form can be requested or downloaded from website. • Allocations each week or immediate for high risk

  13. Young DeafHope – Prevention Work • 6 weeks healthy relationships workshops to Deaf young people age 11-19 • Forced Marriage/HBV workshops • Internet Safety/Sexting/Cyber bullying • Sexual Consent

  14. Client Centred – Multi Agency Approach

  15. Perpetrators identified from 2012-16 for 250 female clients.

  16. Deaf Hope 2010-2017 • Around 100-120 Deaf women a year supported to leave abusive relationship and start new life • 13 survivor workshop groups have been delivered • YoungDeafHope has delivered prevention workshops to over 500 Deaf young people 11-25 • 18 Deaf women and their children have been supported to successfully access refuges services by Deaf Hope

  17. Deaf Hope Supporting Deaf people and children to live free from fear and harm of domestic abuse

  18. For more information • Contact Deaf Hope : • Referral forms on website or on request – only for professionals and not self referrals Telephone : 020 8772 3241 Mobile sms : 07970350366 Email : deafhope@signhealth.org.uk Facebook www.facebook.com/deafhopeuk Twitter@deafhopeuk

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