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24 hour domestic abuse helpline
Advice for practitioners
If someone discloses domestic abuse to you, you should speak to the individual concerned alone and in a confidential space where they have the opportunity to disclose the abuse and discuss the support they would like without fear of the perpetrator or other people hearing about the abuse.
Wherever possible you should try to complete a Domestic Abuse, Stalking & Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment with them to help determine the risks to the individual and to guide any safety planning. Depending on the level of risk posed to the individual concerned you may need to make a referral to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).
You can access the relevant risk assessments and MARAC referral forms for Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton here.
You may need to find out more about services available to support victims of domestic and sexual abuse, you can find more information about local and national services on our Get Help pages.
Support Services Directory
Training
Safeguarding
If you have safeguarding concerns about a child, please contact the appropriate local authority on the below details:
- Central Bedfordshire Access and Referral Hub on 0300 300 8585 or AccessReferral@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
- Bedford Borough should visit Concerned about a child? · Bedford Borough Council
- Luton Borough Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01582 547653 or mash@luton.gov.uk
If you have safeguarding concerns about an adult, please contact the appropriate local authority on the below details:
- Central Bedfordshire Adult Safeguarding 0300 300 8122 or adult.protection@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
- Bedford Borough Adult Safeguarding 01234 276222 or adult.protection@bedford.gov.uk
- Luton Borough Adult Safeguarding 01582 547730 or adultsafeguarding@luton.gov.uk
Resources for Young People
Useful Guides
Making a Safety Plan
A personal safety plan is a way of helping you to protect yourself and your children. It helps you plan in advance for the possibility of future violence and abuse. It also helps you to think about how you can increase your safety either within the relationship, or if you decide to leave.
Toolkit for work with male victims of domestic violence
Respect has published a toolkit for professionals working with men experiencing domestic violence. The purpose of this toolkit is primarily to support and inform work with male victims of domestic violence.
SafeLives
An advice sheet for non-specialists to help you identify victims, ask the right questions and to point you towards other organisations who can help.