PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Refuges: Females (12 February 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many referrals have been made to women's refuges in the past six months by work coaches in job centres in the UK.

Asked by:
Alison McGovern (Labour)

We do not record how many referrals have been made to women's refuges.

Work Coaches will signpost individuals to the relevant support service, ensuring they get the help and support they need from the appropriate partner organisation. No data is held on the number of claimants signposted to domestic abuse support services

DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. This includes those who are, or have been, victims of domestic abuse.

We provide a tailored service that recognises those with complex needs at any point through-out their journey and ensures appropriate support is quickly made available - a fundamental principle in the operational delivery of UC.

We are working closely with Refuge and Women’s Aid to improve the training provided to our staff, which means that Departmental training and awareness is now better than it ever has been, allowing Jobcentre staff to proactively identify, support and signpost victims of abuse.

Answered by:
Justin Tomlinson (Conservative)
20 February 2019