Supporting domestic abuse survivors

18th June 2025

Pictured at the five-year showcase event are: Donna Murphy Assistant Director Children and Young People’s Services. Trudy Reid Director of Medicine and Unscheduled Care, Deborah Hanlon Head of Adult Safeguarding, Colm McCafferty, Executive Director of Social Work, Helen Cranney, Acting CEO Women’s Aid, Steve Spoerry Chief Executive, Flo Fegan, Former Head of Service for Acute Social Work, Virginia Murphy, Acting Head of Service Acute Social Work, Helen McAllister Acute Hospital Safeguarding / Child Care Professional Lead and Aoife Anderson, DASS Support Worker.

The Southern Trust’s Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Service has held a special showcase event to celebrate five years since its launch.

The Southern Trust was the first in Northern Ireland to introduce this type of initiative, providing confidential on-site specialist support to women affected by domestic abuse within an acute hospital setting.

Co-managed with Women’s Aid Armagh Down, the DASS pathway has supported over 500 women to date and delivered specialist training to more than 3,000 staff across the organisation.

The occasion featured an address from Acting Chief Executive of Women’s Aid Armagh Down Helen Cranney alongside speakers including Flo Fegan, Head of Acute Social Work at the time of the DASS launch, Virginia Murphy, current Head of Acute Social Work, DASS project worker Aoife Anderson and Acute Hospital Safeguarding / Child Care Professional Lead Helen McCallister.

Director of Medicine and Unscheduled Care Trudy Reid said:

“The DASS service is about more than statistics, it’s about safety, trust and long-term change. We are incredibly proud of the impact this project has made through the tireless efforts of our DASS team, our partner Women’s Aid and our staff.

“Together we are offering not just support but hope. It exemplifies our commitment to collaborative working, one of our key strategic priorities for our Vision and Strategy 2030, by bringing together statutory, community and voluntary partners to deliver safe, compassionate and responsive care for those experiencing domestic and sexual abuse.”

Helen Cranney, Acting CEO Women’s Aid Armagh Down added:

“DASS has transformed how women experiencing abuse are supported at one of the most critical moments in their lives. It is a powerful example of what can be achieved when statutory, community and voluntary services work with a shared purpose.

“As we look ahead, our ambition is to ensure that every woman can access a service like DASS. We are committed to strengthening and expanding this model and to ensuring that in partnership we have the right person, in the right place, for the right purpose, with the right approach, offering victims of domestic and sexual abuse safety, support and hope.”