Domestic abuse: safe in accommodation duty inclusion project in Surrey

Jo’s working career to date has been varied, starting in the housing sector, moving into community safety then early help and most recently domestic abuse, adolescents, and family resilience. 

Domestic abuse has been a big part of all the work throughout Jo’s career and has had the opportunity to facilitate several innovative approaches to domestic abuse.

Jo has held several senior positions across local authority organisations, which have required extensive partnership work. 

Partnership working has been key to all of the work that Jo has undertaken and crucial to its success from developing new policies and procedures to the opening and sustainability of new refuge accommodation.

Jo has been working with Surrey County Council for two years and in that time has overseen the implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act for Surrey.

Sonia has worked within local authorities for over 20 years, with most of her career focused on domestic abuse.  Sonia has led on several projects including the implementation of MARACs, domestic homicide reviews, domestic abuse training, and most recently the implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act in Surrey.  Sonia’s passion and strengths are around relationship-building and partnership working, and she thrives on the opportunity to lead and support on new initiatives, policies and practice.

Sue has worked on the inclusion project since January 2022.  Sue aims to provide four single one-bed units for domestic abuse victims who do not fit into mainstream refuge.  Gaps that have been identified are for adult males, LGBTQ+ and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This is a two-year pilot project based in Surrey and supported by Surrey County Council.

Sue’s mission is to find suitable, affordable, and secure housing for the people using the inclusion project service.  These groups have complex needs and will require holistic specialist support with a trauma-informed approach.  This includes emotional and practical support with recovery tools to enable them to move on to a new life free from domestic abuse. 

Sue has extensive experience having worked for ‘I Choose Freedom’ for 11 years.  She is a qualified IDVA and facilitator of the Freedom Programme and an avid campaigner for rights of people who have experienced domestic abuse. 

Sue has participated in ‘round table’ discussion with Chris Skidmore (Minister of Constitution) with the aim to provide women in refuge with a more accessible registration process to anonymously vote and be placed on the electoral register without their names appearing to ensure future safety.

Sue provided a consultation on ‘exceptions to the limiting of Child Tax Credit’ for the Department for Work and Pensions.  This resulted in refuge managers being added to the list of ‘authority to sign’.  She has also provided a speech to Women’s Aid on her views of the ‘3rd child tax credit rule read in Parliament July 2019.

Sue has featured on ‘Susy’ radio, local radio station, talking about Claire’s law and other domestic abuse issues.

Sue featured in the Channel 4 documentary – Safe at Last in a Women’s Refuge.

Sue has written articles for the Independent newspaper and Women’s Aid national campaigns.  She has also advised on a fringe play called ‘Bottled’, which was held in London.