Keeping Safe: Safety Plan
Having a safety plan can help you to decide what action you can take to try and keep yourself and others safe if you have, or are experiencing domestic violence. Your domestic violence or sexual violence advocate can help you to complete it, and take the necessary actions that you identify.
Section 1: Safety during a domestic violent incident.
I can use some, or all, of the following strategies:
a) I can tell ___________________________(my neighbours) about the violence and abuse and ask them to call the police if they hear any suspicious noises, or disturbances, coming from my house.
b) If violence and abuse is occurring, is likely to occur, I can move to _____________ (a room with easy access to an exit). Don't go to the kitchen, bathroom or near possible weapons.
c) The quickest route out of my home is______________________________ I have practiced escaping in this way.
d) The quickest route out of my workplace is___________________________. I have practiced escaping that way.
e) I have taught my child/ren to use the telephone to dial 999 and call the police and the fire brigade in an emergency. I have also told my child/ren to get out of the room/leave the house/run to _____________________________ for help in an emergency.
f) I will use this code word ________________________________for my children, friends, or family to alert them to call the police for help.
g) I will ask_______________________________ (a trusted person) to contact me at least once a day to check I am safe, I will use the code word if necessary to tell them I am unsafe.
h) If I decide to leave, I will go to_____________________________________
i). I will keep my purse and car keys at ___________________________(place), in order to leave quickly.
j) I can keep a bag ready and put it______________________ so I can leave quickly.
k) I will use my judgment and intuition. If the situation is very serious, I will try and give my partner whatever he/she wants to calm him/her down. It is important that I try to protect my children and myself until we can get out of danger.
Step 2. Safety when getting ready to leave.
a) I will keep important documents (birth and marriage certificates, passports, medical cards, benefit books, bank and building society books, rent/mortgage details, driving licence, car registration documents, details of car insurance, immigration documents) or copies (wherever possible) at__________________________________________.
b) I will leave some extra clothes, personal possessions, medication, cash and spare keys with __________________________________________________________
c) I will open a savings account by __________________(date) to increase my independence. I will make sure that I ask the bank to contact me at another address, and keep any details related to may account safe at_________________________________
d) I will carry a phone card, change for a pay phone, and my mobile phone at all times and ensure that there is always credit so I can ring for help in an emergency.
e) Other things I can do to increase my safety and independence are:________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
f) The domestic violence national helpline number is 0808 2000 247 – I can call this at any time of day and night.
g) The numbers and contact details for national and local support services can all be found at the end of my safety plan. I will make sure I have access to these at all times.
h) I have contact numbers for the key support agencies that are kept safe at___________
i) I will check with_________________________ and ______________________ to know who will let me stay with them or who will lend me money in an emergency.
j) If I plan to leave I won’t tell my abuser/s in advance face –to-face, If I want to tell them I will leave or send a note, or call once I am in a safe place.
k) I will ensure that I never tell my abuser, or anyone who may tell my abuser, where I am staying.
l) If I cannot speak English, or I need support with communication, I will get ________ to write out a statement for me in English that I can show to agencies to explain what has happened and how I need help.
m) I will review my safety plan every ___________________(time frame) in order to review whether it is still working for me.
n) I will review the plan with ______________________________ (a friend, agency worker, counsellor or advocate.)
o) I will review and rehearse my escape plan every _________________________ (time frame) and practice it with my children.
Step 3. Safety At Home when the perpetrator no longer lives with me
a) I can take action to make my property safer by contacting the Vulnerable Victims Advocacy Team and asking to be considered for the Sanctuary Scheme. Contact: 0151 934 5142/ 5143
The Sanctuary Scheme can do many things including: change my door locks, put locks on windows and perhaps a bedroom door, can make- the doors and entry system more secure; install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, alarms, and can install an outside lighting system that lights up when someone approaches my home.
b) I can speak to a Domestic Violence Police Officer (police who specialises in domestic
violence). I will ask the police to flag my address so that I can get an emergency response should I need to call them out. Telephone: 0151-777-3087
c) If my ex partner harasses me in any way I will keep evidence (diary, texts, call logs etc) and then speak to the police about taking action under the Protection for Harassment Act.
d) I can speak in confidence to the ASBO team who may be able to help me take legal action against my perpetrator. They can be contacted at Bootle Town Hall and are based in the Community Safety Section, tel: 0151 288 6117
e) I will always ensure that I am clear which is the quickest escape route (dependent on where we are in the house) , and will share this with my children.
f) I will teach my children to dial 999, or to phone a friend or someone close by.
g) I will always use 141 before I make a call, but better still I will call 150
(Customer Services for BT) by___________________(date), so my number
can be withheld at all times. If I have another phone supplier I will check with them what codes to use and use them at all times.
h) I will change my mobile phone number and not give it to anyone who may give it to my abuser.
i) I will tell the people who care for my child/ren, who has permission to pick up them up and that my partner is NOT allowed to under any circumstances. I will inform the following people:
Nursery/Childminder/club_____________________________________
School_____________________________________________________
Teacher____________________________________________________
After school club____________________________________________
Babysitter__________________________________________________
Sunday School______________________________________________
Others____________________________________________________
k) I can see a solicitor, taking benefit books or proof of income, NI number; name, address and photo or description of abuser; any information about contact with police; name and address of Housing Officer, or details of my property.
l) I can ask a solicitor to help me get an occupation order, non molestation order, an injunction, or take other action to help to ensure that myself and my children are safe.
Step 4. Injunction and protection orders
The following steps will help enforce an injunction or any other order of protection:
a) I will keep the injunction/ non molestation/occupation order (any other order) at ___________________________(the location). I will always keep a copy of it with me to give to agencies like the police in an emergency.
b) I will give a copy of my protection order to police departments in the areas that I visit my friends, family, where I live, and where I work.
c.) If I visit other countries, I will register my protection order with those countries.
d.) I can call the local domestic violence unit for support if I am not sure how to register my protection order with police forces in other areas. Telephone: 0151-777-3087
e.) I will tell my friends, my family, children’s school my employer, my church leader, etc and others that I have a protection order.
f.) If my protection order gets destroyed, I know I can go to the court in which it was
made and get another copy. But I will photocopy the order and keep the copies safe, and give a copy to my domestic violence advisor/advocate to put in my file.
g.) If my partner breaks the protection order, I will call the police and report it. I will document everything and I will call my solicitor, my domestic violence advisor/advocate/IDVA, my counsellor, and/ or tell the courts about the violation.
h) If the police do not help, I will call my Vulnerable Victims Advocate/ DV/Sexual Violence advisor and/or my solicitor and ask them to support me to take action AND I will file a complaint with the Chief Constable of the Police Force.
Step 5. Stalking, Harassment and Public Safety
To keep myself safe at work I can do the following:
a) I can tell my boss, personnel, security, and _______________ at work about this situation, and ask them for help to keep myself safe. This could involve taking time out to seek professional support, changing work location or hours etc.
b) I will develop a safety plan with _________________________________(at work) ____________________________ (home) ____________________________(other) and think in advance about what I might need to do to reduce risk.
c) I can ask___________________________________ to help screen my phone calls, or to change my work phone number.
d) I can ask the IT department to change my e-mail address, and whether it is possible to screen out e-mails from my abuser etc.
e) When leaving work I can do the following:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
f) When I am driving home from work and problems arise, I can:_______________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
g) If I use public transportation, I can:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
h) I will shop at different supermarkets and shopping centres at different hours than I
did when I was with my partner.
i) I will use a different bank and bank at different hours than I did when I was with
my partner.
j.) I will call 999 if at any time I feel that I am at risk, or anybody else is in immediate danger, as a result of the behaviour of the person who is stalking or harassing me.
k) I will be alert at all times and will trust my instincts, I will never ignore my instincts or underestimate the risks posed.
l.) I will keep a log of all of the things that the person who is stalking me is doing.
m) I will contact my advocate on ___________________tel number and the FCIU on__________________________ (tel number) and report any stalking/harassment behaviours. (Including: text messages, e-mails and phone messages, unwanted gifts, cards, damage to property, being followed etc).
n) I will support any attempt made to prosecute the perpetrator.
o) I will change my route to work, school, home and any other places such as _______________________________________________________________ if these are places the person stalking me knows that I go.
p) I will never communicate with the perpetrator. I can do this by______________________________________________________________________________________
q ) I will have my name removed from the electoral role ad can do this by liaising with my advocate.
r) I can also do the following:___________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________
Step 6. Drug and Alcohol Use.
I can enhance my safety if I do the following:
a). If I am going to use alcohol and drugs , I am going to do it in a safe place with people who understand the risk of violence and who are committed to my safety.
b.) I can also__________________________________________________________
c) I can also contact_______________________________ for support to stop/reduce my use of alcohol/drugs.
d). If my partner is using, I can____________________________________________
e) I can also__________________________________________________________
f). To protect my children, I can___________________________________________
Step 7. Emotional Health
I can do the following:
a.) If I feel depressed and ready to return to a potentially violent situation/ partner, I can call___________________________ for support and help.
b) When I have to talk to my ex-partner in person or on the phone, I can:
________________________________________________________________________
But I know the best thing to do is to avoid all but essential contact with my abuser.
c) I will use "I can..." statements and I will be assertive with people.
d) I can tell myself "___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________"when I feel people are trying to control or abuse me.
e) I can call the following people and/ or places for support: _____________________
_____________________________________________________________________
f) Things I can do to make me feel stronger are: ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________
g) Things I have tried before which make me feel worse, and I will avoid in the future, are:
__________________________________________________________________
Step 8: SAFETY FOR MY CHILDREN
Children and young people exposed to domestic violence can be profoundly affected. It is very traumatic to be faced with violence directed at them or someone they love. Personal safety is extremely important and safety planning is always necessary for children whose families are experiencing violence. It is important to remember that your own safety plan may well be compromised by your child/ren, and therefore safety planning with them is critical toboth your own safety and to ensure that they can keep themselves safe when they need to.
Strategies for developing a safety plan with child(ren) should take account of their age and stage of development, and also consider their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. It is important to help children and young people learn ways to protect themselves.
Please use our ‘Safety Plan for Children and Young People’ to help you to do this with your child/ren.
REMEMBER
Always keep your safety plan safe, and never leave it where it could be found by
your abuser. Share this safety plan with a trusted friend or family member, and also with trusted agency workers you are in contact with. If you are happy to do so then give them a copy and then they can work with you to help you to monitor your progress and increase your options for safety.
Step 9: SUPPORT SERVICES
The following are some of the services that may be able to assist you should you need help and support.
- In an emergency always call 999 (Police, Ambulance and Fire Services)
- Vulnerable Victims Advocacy Team 0151 934 5142/5143
Provide a holistic support service to any victim of domestic and sexual violence and hate crime whose case is reported to the police and is high/very high risk, including people whose case is likely to go to court, Multi Agency Risk assessment Conference (MARAC) , or require Sanctuary to stay in their home or be safer when they need to relocate. - Sefton Council’s Homeless Team 0151 934 3541, e-mail homeless.team@sefton.gov.uk Support with homelessness, and a source of referral to other support agencies. Open Monday to Thursday 9am – 5.30pm, Friday 9am – 4pm
- National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247
Free national helpline, that provides support to women experiencing domestic violence, including access to refuge etc. Open 24 hours. The phone call will not show up on land line bills. -
Worst Kept Secret: 0800 028 3398.
Anybody who is subjected to domestic violence, or any family or friends, who are worried about an individual, can call the free phone confidential helpline. The phone call will not show up on land line bills. - Broken Rainbow 0845 604460
Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experiencing domestic violence. Open Mondays to Fridays 9am−1pm and 2pm−5pm and staffed by LGBT people. - Merseyside Safe Place: Sexual Assault Referral Centre: 0151 295 3550
Provides crisis intervention, including forensic examination to victims of rape and serious sexual assault. - Rape And Sexual Assault Service for Merseyside 0151 666 1392
rasamerseyside@btconnect.com or www.rasamerseyside.org - Sefton Women's and Children's Aid (SWACA) Bootle Office: 0151 922 8606, Southport Office: 01704 500647 Provides free and confidential support services for all women and children experiencing Domestic Violence. The agency is open Mon-Fri 9.30am - 5.00pm
- Venus Women’s Resource Centre 0151 474 4744
Provides a wide range of services to women including floating support, counselling, drop-ins, and support for teenage parents and young women’s group. Open Monday – Thursdays 10am-5pm, Fridays 10am-4pm. -
Voice For Change 0151–920-2211
Provide free and confidential support services to women and men experiencing domestic violence. Open 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday. -
Male domestic violence helpline: 01744 621119.
This service can offer 1:1 counselling to male victims of domestic violence; please call for information more information and to make an appointment - The Hideout is an on-line resource that provides support to children and young people living with domestic violence http://www.thehideout.org.uk/
