Refuge Accommodation.
Changing Pathways have 46 refuge bedspaces within the Thurrock, Basildon and Rayleigh area. Refuge is a place of safety and a place to recover from the trauma experiencing domestic violence.
Communal refuges have kitchens, lounges, shower rooms/bathrooms, creches, and a large garden with play equipment. We have CCTV throughout all our buildings to ensure safety and security at all times.
We have on-call practitioners dedicated to refuge residents after office hours. Each resident is allocated a DAP Practitioner on site , with children and young people having their own dedicated CYP Practitioner also on site. Practitioners advocate on the residents’ behalf and work closely with all agencies, including Housing, Social Care, Police , GP, legal advisors, education providers, etc. Residents have access to group work, individual key work sessions , daily creche , counselling and in house courses.
What to expect
When you arrive at refuge you will be greeted by staff and settled in at your own pace. When you are ready we will show you your room and introduce you to the other residents. In refuge you will need to share communal areas but have your own space in your own room.
The first week in refuge can be very daunting and you can have a mix of many emotions. You will be allocated a support worker so you have a point of contact. The support worker will get to know you and your situation to help get your needs met.
Children:
If you have children they will be welcomed by the Children’s worker and shown the crèche facilities. If your children are of school-age, schooling will be arranged and if the child is traumatised then counselling can be put in place.
Safety and support
A DASH risk assessment to identify your risks will be completed. Following this a robust support plan with be implemented to make sure you are on the right tracks.
Practical steps are drawn up on your support plan that you will work through with your support worker. External referrals can be made to other professionals If you are in need of complex support.
Whilst living in the refuge there will be one to one support, group sessions and education on domestic abuse. These are practical steps to enable you to move forward to going back out into the community when you are ready to leave the refuge and start again.
Alongside this we also put in additional fun groups to make your stay beneficial all round.
Moving on
Your support worker will liaise with housing to the authority that you choose to getting you rehoused. There is no time scale on this as every case is different. Once you are accepted and get a property we will support you in this process to move on from refuge.
A new beginning in your new home.
