We believe a home should provide safety and security, but for many people home is anything but safe because they are one of many victims of domestic abuse across the UK.
Your home should be somewhere you feel safe.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or are worried about somebody else, you can talk to us.
We will take you seriously, listen to what you tell us and consider what we can do to help you stay safe.
You do not need to have reported the abuse to the police before we will help you. Innisfree’s policy specifically states that we will not require someone experiencing domestic abuse to take legal action or contact the police before we provide assistance. Email us at housing@innisfree.org.uk to contact us about domestic abuse.
If you or somebody else is in immediate danger, call 999. If you cannot safely speak when calling 999 from a mobile phone, follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
If it is safe to do so, you can also contact Innisfree for housing-related help and support.
Domestic abuse can take many forms and does not always involve physical violence.
It can include a pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening or abusive behaviour between partners, former partners or family members. Abuse may include:
Domestic abuse can affect anyone.
You can report domestic abuse or raise a concern with any member of Innisfree staff.
You can contact us by telephone, by email, in writing, or in person. You can talk to your Housing Officer or another member of the Innisfree team.
Email us at housing@innisfree.org.uk or call us on 020 7625 1818
You can also contact us if you have witnessed domestic abuse or are worried about somebody else. If you need interpreting or translation support to speak to us, please tell us. We will arrange this where needed.
We will take your report seriously and respond sensitively.
Our Domestic Abuse Policy says that we will arrange to speak with a resident reporting domestic abuse within one working day. This discussion can take place somewhere you feel comfortable.
We will:
Every situation is different, so the support and action we consider will depend on your individual circumstances and needs.
We understand that confidentiality can be extremely important when somebody is experiencing domestic abuse.
We will handle information about your report carefully and keep personal information confidential in accordance with data protection requirements.
We aim to take action with your consent.
There are, however, some circumstances where we may need to share information without your consent – for example, where we believe a child is at risk, there is a high risk of serious harm, there are safeguarding concerns or we have another legal duty to share information.
If you are worried about how we contact you or somebody else seeing communications from us, tell us what is safe for you when you contact us.
You can ask Innisfree for help whether or not you have reported the abuse to the police.
We will not require you to contact the police or take legal action before we provide assistance.
Depending on your circumstances, we may discuss reporting incidents to the police with you and explain other organisations that may be able to help.
If a crime is taking place or somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you want to remain in your home, we will discuss whether there are steps that could help make it safer.
Depending on your circumstances and advice from other agencies, this could include additional security measures like changing locks, improving lighting, or panic alarms.
We may work with the police, local authority or specialist support organisations to help improve the security of your home.
If it is not safe for you to remain in your home, we can discuss your housing options with you
If you need emergency accommodation, we can provide advice and assistance to help you access accommodation through your local authority or a refuge and can provide a referral letter where appropriate.
If you need to move permanently because of domestic abuse, we will discuss the options available to you.
Our current Domestic Abuse Policy says that applications for permanent rehousing because of domestic abuse will be prioritised as a management transfer.
Because Innisfree has limited housing stock, we may not always be able to offer another Innisfree home quickly. Where appropriate, we will therefore also support residents to approach their local authority for rehousing and may support access to the Pan-London Housing Reciprocal.
Domestic abuse can make the position particularly difficult where you and the person causing the abuse are joint tenants.
Innisfree cannot decide which joint tenant has the right to remain in the property.
We can discuss your housing situation with you and will encourage you to obtain independent legal advice about your options. Contact us at housing@innisfree.org.uk
Depending on your circumstances, legal options may be available relating to occupation of the home or the tenancy itself.
If children or vulnerable adults are affected by domestic abuse, there may also be safeguarding concerns.
We will consider the safety and welfare of everybody in the household when responding to a report.
Where we believe a child or another person is at risk, we may need to take safeguarding action or share information with the appropriate organisation.
Where the person responsible for domestic abuse is an Innisfree tenant, their behaviour may also be a breach of their tenancy agreement.
Depending on the individual circumstances, we may work with the police and other organisations and consider appropriate action against the perpetrator.
This can include legal action relating to the tenancy where this is appropriate and proportionate.
Any action will take account of the safety of the person experiencing domestic abuse.
You do not have to deal with domestic abuse alone.
Specialist organisations can provide confidential advice, safety planning, refuge accommodation, legal information and other support.
Innisfree may signpost or refer residents to appropriate services, including specialist domestic abuse services in their local borough. We also work with organisations such as local authorities, the police and social services where appropriate.
If you need help communicating with us, please tell us.
We can provide interpreting and translation support where needed and consider reasonable adjustments to help you access our services.
If there is a particular way that it is safe for us to contact you, please tell the member of staff you speak to.
You can contact us if you are concerned that an Innisfree resident or somebody living in an Innisfree home may be experiencing domestic abuse.
You do not need to investigate the situation yourself.
Tell us what you have seen, heard or been told and we will consider what action may be appropriate.
If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.
Raise a concern by emailing us at housing@innisfree.org.uk
John Delahunty, CEO of Innisfree, has co-signed a letter to the new
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