Domestic Abuse Champions offer help at NNUH

The first group of 22 domestic abuse champions at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital have completed their two day training course and will be forming a network of supporters throughout the hospital.

With one in three women and one in five men affected by domestic abuse, the NNUH will be supporting an additional 22 staff to be trained as champions so that they can offer support in key areas.

The champions have an enhanced knowledge and skills base so that they can advise, guide and support their teams in all areas of domestic violence and abuse management. They will help when concerns are raised in the hospital for both patients and staff members.

The new role will also include being able to regularly update their teams with information concerning issues related to domestic abuse, including female genital mutilation, honour based violence and forced marriage.

Tristan Johnson; Named lead nurse for Adult Safeguarding said;
“The trust is committed to ensuring that our staffing teams across the hospital have the necessary skills and confidence to be able to identify and respond to any issues or concerns that are raised with them by patients, visitors or staff members. Having undertaken the domestic abuse champion training myself it has enabled me to understand the importance of responding appropriately when concerns are first raised, to ensure that the individual gets the right services to support them to reduce their risks and to break the cycle of abuse they are facing.”

Sara Shorten, Deputy lead nurse for Adult Safeguarding added;
“I am proud to say that as a Domestic abuse champion within the Nursing profession and safeguarding team at the NNUH, I can help to improve the culture of continuous learning and improvement across the organisation on Domestic abuse.
I have developed skills that mean I can help identify victims and refer them to relative agencies, local resources and support.”