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New training for GPs to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse
GPs will be trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse and sexual violence so that victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence can be connected to local specialist support services as part of the new referral service, Steps to Safety.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has begun introducing a new referral service, which will train GPs to spot the signs of domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) and connect victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence to specialist local services.
A group of 12 Integrated Care Boards, selected in September 2026, will receive a total of £34.4 million over 3 years to expand or commission specialist local independent services in a bid to strengthen the referral pathways between general practices and specialist domestic abuse and sexual violence support.
The targeted funding will allow ICBs to secure DASV specialist support workers to train GPs and general practice staff, cover training costs as well as provide support to victims and survivors.
The new Steps to Safety programme is being rolled out by DHSC in 3 phases, the first of which started in April 2026, with the aim of a national service provision in England by 2029.
ICBS to receive funding as part of Steps to Safety Phase 1:
- Cheshire and Merseyside
- North East and North Cumbria
- Essex
- Norfolk and Suffolk
- Black Country
- Birmingham and Solihull
- Coventry and Warwickshire ICB (joint bid with Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB)
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB (joint bid with Coventry and Warwickshire ICB)
- Surrey and Sussex
- Kent and Medway
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Changes for GPs
General practitioners at selected ICBs will be able to access independent domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist workers. These workers, funded by the Steps to Safety programme, will provide GPs with specialist support and receive referrals.
DASV specialist workers will be able to help general practices to:
- train GP practice staff
- provide ongoing support
- receive referrals
- advocate for patients
- develop safety plans
- conduct risk assessments
- arrange access to specialist services
The programme will allow patients to access support if they are a victim or survivor of domestic abuse or sexual violence at their general practice.
The DHSC said, ‘ Patients will be able to talk to any member of staff in a participating GP practice about their current or previous experience of domestic abuse or sexual violence.
‘Their disclosures will be dealt with sensitively, and they will be referred into the specialist support service, if they agree.’
After a patient has been referred to a specialist service, the DASV support worker will become their single point of contact and will advocate for their needs as they access specialist services.
To ensure general practices can deliver the Steps to Safety programme, the DHSC and NHS England will develop national support for ICBs, including targeted help as they set up and deliver their services, training and resources and opportunities to share learning.
The impact and delivery of Steps to Safety will be analysed by a national independent evaluator, to inform further development of the programme.
Further funding to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse
The Steps to Safety programme was initially announced in December 2025, to give general practices the “tools and ability” to support victims and survivors of DASV, with the goal of ending “patchwork services” in England and allowing people to access the help they need at their general practice and from their GPs.
The DHSC is investing £15 million across all ICBs in England over 3 years to enhance local specialist support services for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
ICBs will be asked to focus the funding towards improving support for victims and survivors, supporting local specialist service capacity, and easing potential pressure on outreach services.
This funding will be allocated proportionally to ICBs in line with the average number of patients who were registered at a GP practice between April and July 2026.
