The Pilion Trust

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The Pilion Trust
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Working with Complex Needs Women
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Activ 8

• Background
• National
• 1 in 4 women will be victims of Domestic Violence
  in their life time.
• 2 women per week are killed by their former
  partners.
• Islington Borough
• 3,777 cases of Domestic Violence were reported
  last year.
• In the first 6 months of 2012 Police statistics
  show an increase of 17 of reported Domestic
  Violence cases.
• Complex Needs Women
• No Borough Stats on this group of Women
• 17 of Drug Using Women in the Borough have
  experienced abuse and/or violence.

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Activ8

• Complex Needs Women
• Drug and/or Alcohol Misuse
• Mental Health (diagnosed or undiagnosed)
• Insecure housing
• Links with Prison Services, Probation, Police and
  perceived ASB.
• Previously been in Care (themselves) and/or have
  had dealings with Social Services and Childrens
  Services.
• In and out of Borough services.

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Activ 8

• Project Aim
• For women with complex needs to be able to access
  the services they need, engage in productive
  dialogue around their concerns to enable them to
  feel safe and secure, while improving the quality
  of life.
• The project is a 6-month Pilot
• The pilot will ensure the identification,
  engagement of women with complex needs, and
  ensuring the following
•  That women are screened for MARAC eligibility
  and referred if appropriate services
• That women are appropriately supported and
  advocated for so they can meet MARAC thresholds
  through motivational interventions and
  reengagement with services.
• To ensure that MAPPA referrals are made for all
  perpetuators associated with these women.
• To liaise with CSPU, Probation and Police leas
  around enforcement including implementing
  restraining orders where not taken onto MAPPA.
• To contribute to IOM Hub intelligence Unit as
  required and in line with Data Protection Act and
  CDRP information sharing protocol.

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Activ 8

• Referral Pathways
• IOM
• MARAC
• HMP Holloway Prison
• Probation

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Activ 8

• Partnerships
• We currently have the following organisations and
  departments signed up to the protocols
• IOM
• MARAC
• HMP Holloway and Pentonville Prisons
• MAPPA
• Probation
• Borough Police and Safer Neighbourhoods.
• Community Drug and Alcohol Services ISIS and
  ICASA.
• Domestic Violence Services Solace Womens Aid
  and Nia Project
• Housing Providers SHP, English Churches, Family
  Mosaic and Islington Housing Advice Centres.
• Islington Outreach Services
• Community, Cultural and Faith Based Groups in
  Islington.

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Activ 8

• Partnerships
• With changes in health structures and
  commissioning in the Borough we continue to
  struggle to bring the following services into the
  Borough DV Action Plan
• Health Services.
• Statutory Drug and Alcohol Services
• GPs
• Hospitals- Whittington and UCH Hospitals
• Mental Health Services
• Highgate Mental Health Unit
• Sexual Health Centres
• Adult Social Services
• We continue to campaign and have open dialogue
  with services to come on board and sign up to
  protocol so we can collectively support these
  women to change their lives and gain a quality to
  their lifestyles.

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Activ 8

• Case Study
• Gina 44 yr old.
• In the autumn of 2011 Gina was drugged and
  kidnapped by a gang of men on Seven Sisters Road
  and took her to South London and tied her to a
  bed and sold her for sex. She endured 3 days of
  continuous sexual violence and abuse. She managed
  to escape from her captors and was found naked
  and hysterical on the streets of Norwood by
  Police.
• Upon her return to Islington she could not access
  any services and in desperation tried to get
  herself admitted to The Whittington. She was
  refused access and in her desperation she threw
  herself in front of a 43 Bus that night.
• She was known to over 7 Islington Services and
  yet she could not access support.

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Activ 8

• Statistics so far.
• 12 Women have accessed the Service. ( 80 of the
  women are from the identified list of complex
  needs)
• Research completed of women with alcohol
  dependency and a further 19 vulnerable women were
  identified
• 01.10.12 additional research into hidden harm
  women with complex needs identified 4 women due
  to their mental health cannot/ refuse to access
  statutory services and remain vulnerable in the
  hands of their perpetrators.
• 5 male perpetrators have been identified and
  referred to IOM and MAPPA
• 4 women are engaged in activities and meaningful
  occupations.
• 2 women has been moved to another Borough for her
  safety and linked into local services.
• 1 woman who was a victim of DV has also presented
  as a perpetrator and is being supported via legal
  support to access her child safely.
• Support levels for this group of clients is
  averaging 50 hours of face to face support per
  issue.

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Activ 8

• Future challenges
• Continued buy in from Statutory Services
• Changes in Mental Health leads in the Borough
• Other Boroughs identifying similar needs
• Women who cross over numerous Boroughs and cause
  concerns due to their lifestyle
• No identified leading womens service that can
  facilitate a bespoke service to this group of
  women.
• What will happen after the pilot is completed?
• Future provision for Complex needs women during
  this climate of austerity.

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Activ 8

• Contacts
• Tracy Robb Project Coordinator
• 5 Clarendon Buildings, 25 Horsell Road, London N5
  1XL
• Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Mob
  07552 123-267
• E-mail tracy.activ8_at_piliontrust.org.uk