Trusted professionals

Survivors have paid testament to the importance of a trusting relationship with an individual professional. The Trusted Professional scheme is aimed at front-line practitioners who work in the public and voluntary sectors and are likely to be in contact with survivors of domestic abuse.

Building on the trusting relationship already established with survivors, the Trusted Professional scheme offers a one-day training course (worth 6 CPD points), followed by a half-day review session three months later. The training focuses on the non-physical, coercive and controlling signs of domestic abuse so that these are not missed when a survivor is in contact with a Trusted Professional. In addition, Trusted Professionals will be provided with a practical toolkit to support needs-led conversations to help survivors.

Course content 

The intervention works across an organisation to embed a needs-led and strengths-based approach across all levels. It aims to transform the way in which the organisation understands and responds to the diverse needs of individual survivors. Led by the experiences of women using a service, we equip managers and frontline professionals to change policy and practice to ensure survivors get the right response. This will help to create a complete systems change, meaning that the time professionals spend with survivors is maximised to create meaningful and positive changes by seeking support for the needs that matter to survivors first.

We ensure that our Trusted Professionals are resourced and supported to:

  • Allow: using the time they have to create a safe and confidential space in which survivors will feel confident to discuss their experiences.
  • Enable: help women to access and use their own resources and rights.
  • Assist: when women’s own efforts are reduced, blocked or depleted, to help and assist them, using a needs-led approach.

Feedback on the course 

Training area

Trusted Professionals can access our Training Area below for ongoing resources and training. If you’re having trouble signing in then please contact us on trustedprofessional@womensaid.org.uk
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