1. IRIS – IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL TO IMPROVE SAFETY
ACHIEVING MORE TOGETHER
TOWARDS A SAFER SOUTH WALES
IRIS – IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL TO IMPROVE SAFETY
Addressing the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors of domestic abuse and violence.

2. Domestic Abuse prevalence South Wales Police 2016-17
34,133 domestic abuse incidents 14,290 domestic abuse related crimes 9,351 victims of domestic abuse related crime A third of all ‘violence with injury’ was domestic abuse related (34.9%) A total of 3,081 high risk Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) were held A total of 4,191 children were involved in high risk MARAC cases
Health Services and Domestic Abuse what the research tells us
Low referral rate from partners, including health
Evidence shows it can take 5 years for a high risk victim of DVA to find effective help (CAADA 2012)
80% of victims state if they were asked they would prefer to disclose in a health setting
The most likely settings that women will be seen on their own are within health services
Victims and survivors often state they “wanted to be asked”.

3. Enhancing health and wellbeing through co-production – IRIS - Cardiff and the Vale and Cwm Taf University Heath Boards
The South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner funds collaborative working between the Third Sector,
University Health Boards and General Practice teams to:
Enable the early identification of patients who are or have experienced domestic violence or abuse through targeted tiered training to all practice staff, and providing a pathway to a single point of contact for advocacy and referral to specialist services. ASK & ACT.
Through:
Increase awareness within General Practice teams
Enhanced ability to identify indicators of domestic abuse
Increased confidence of GP’s
Increase awareness within GP practice teams
Improved record keeping and information sharing

4. Supporting those with the greatest health need, making the best use of all skills and resources
Resources per 25 surgeries:
1 – Advocate / Educator (Third sector specialist provider)
1 – Clinical Lead (UHB)
Now:
GP’s and teams report feeling more confident to ASK & ACT
More GP’s are routinely asking patients about domestic violence and abuse
More patients referred are receiving advocacy and access to support
Referrals being received for the majority of surgeries that have had training
Patients able to disclose at the earliest opportunity

5. Aim: To improve the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse
Outcome 1 – Better access to support and services
Earlier: Engagement when experiencing DVA.
Access to interventions, risk assessment, support services
Opportunities for recovery work.
Outcome 2 - Modify future help seeking behaviour
Patients/clients feel listened to and valued
Support is:
Client-led and tailor-made.
Many clients have disclosed the support has been life-changing
Support plans target physical and mental health needs
Patients going on to receive psychological therapy.
Outcome 3 -Improve physical and mental health
Reduction in GP appointments (some surgeries
Clinical tools (Trauma Symptom Inventory) have evidenced the mental effectiveness of referral through IRIS.

6. IRIS impact IRIS in Cardiff and the Vale, 2 years on:
IRIS across Cwm Taff region, 1 year on:
 26/26 surgeries trained
24/25 surgeries “IRIS aware”
359 health professionals trained
212 female, 9 male referrals
(prior to IRIS average 5 per year)
140 first time disclosures
35/43 surgeries trained
22 surgeries “IRIS aware”
399 health professionals trained
169 patients referred to IRIS service (prior to IRIS 0 referrals)
59 first time disclosures