Domestic abuse services have grown rapidly within Cheshire East over the last 5 years, due to enhanced funding from local partners as well as through national funding streams. Over 2024/25, the Cheshire East DA Strategy was reviewed and a full Needs Assessment commissioned, which highlighted gaps in provision as well as the need to focus on early intervention. This development ran alongside the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act 2024 and the increased responsibility of Local Authorities to support victims of DA, as well as treating children as victims in their own right. The Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit (DAFSU) team began as an Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate (IDVA) at the ‘Hub’ (an identified referral route via phone and/or an online portal); as well as a small number of high risk IDVAs taking referrals directly from MARAC meetings. The Hub developed into a wider team, offering advice, information and education around DA, as well as risk assessment (using the DASH Risk Assessment Checklist) and onward referral where appropriate. The high-risk team also developed and became a dedicated resource for victims at the highest risk.
