Rochdale Specialist Domestic Abuse Service

If you’ve been affected by domestic abuse in the Rochdale area, you can call your local Rochdale Specialist Domestic Abuse Service on 0161 507 9609. Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

If you need telephone support outside of these opening hours, you can call our Supportline free, on 08 08 16 89 111. Supportline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Email us

You can email the team at rochdale@victimsupport.org.uk.

We’re the ‘front door’ to access support for anyone who is experiencing domestic violence and abuse in the borough of Rochdale. We’re a specialist team of domestic abuse professionals and Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs). We support men, women and children. Our service supports individuals and families where the abuse is ongoing or has ended and our aim is to work with each individual to break the cycle of abuse, reducing risk of future abuse. The Rochdale Specialist Domestic Abuse Service (SDAS) takes a whole family approach and we work with all levels of abuse because we understand that early intervention is key.

If you contact the Rochdale SDAS, we’ll provide support that’s personalised to you. We’ll listen with compassion and help you find ways to manage and feel safer. We can also inform you of your rights and the services that you may be entitled to. If you’d like us to, we can refer you to other specialist organisations that can also help.

Support is provided for any adult, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identification.

  • Bespoke safety planning advice and information, an essential element of the support that will be provided by the team for all victim/survivors
  • Support with safe accommodation (including refuge) through our partnership with WHAG and Safer Homes Scheme
  • Support to access group and peer support through our partnership with Rochdale Connections Trust
  • Support for people who have no recourse to public funds via DV concession applications
  • Information and access to legal and civil remedies e.g. non-molestation orders, occupation orders or child arrangement orders to ensure immediate safety
  • Information and support around criminal proceedings, including advocacy with police and CPS
  • Supporting Greater Manchester Police in making Clare’s Law disclosures e.g. information/ advocacy/joint visits
  • Referrals/signposting to benefits and debt management advice, e.g. Citizens Advice
  • Referrals/signposting to mental health support including counselling and therapy
  • Information and support around court, including pre-trial visits (via Witness Service or direct support for high risk when required)
  • Support with complex needs/vulnerabilities eg referral to drug/alcohol services
  • Representation at a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) to ensure the voice of the victim is heard and is central to the actions agreed to safeguard and protect those at high risk

The Rochdale SDAS will work with children aged 5 to 17.

The children and young person’s independent domestic violence advisor (CYP IDVA) works with children and young people aged 10 to 17, who are living in a household where they are witnessing or have been witnessing domestic violence and abuse within their home. In addition to this we work with 15 to 17-year-olds who may be in their own unhealthy relationships.

The CYP IDVA will:

  • Explore the wishes and feelings of the young person
  • Complete risk assessments
  • Complete safety planning
  • Promote healthy relationships
  • Address the impacts of parental domestic abuse on the child/young person
  • Access specialist counselling delivered by our partner Rochdale Connections Trust for children and young people aged 5 to 17

We offer two behavioural change programmes for men who are having problems within their relationships leading to arguments, conflict, and/or violence.

  • Turning the Spotlight is a 12 week course for low-to-medium-risk males.
  • They Matter is a 24 week course for high-risk males.

To access our programmes, the man needs to be 18 or over and living in Rochdale. The courses are delivered in a group setting and we also offer one-to-one support alongside this.

While we support the person who harms, we can offer their current or ex-partner support from our specialist DA support worker.