For housing staff, this can be particularly important. They may be among the first people to recognise that something is not right for a tenant, while managers, colleagues and HR teams may be the first people an employee turns to for support.

Knowing what to do next, where to find specialist support and how to respond appropriately can make a significant difference.

To support learning and awareness during October, Share, a registered charity and leading training provider for the housing and property sector, is working with Glasgow Women’s Aid to deliver two webinars exploring how staff can support people experiencing domestic abuse.

The sessions will look at both the support available to people experiencing domestic abuse and the role organisations can play in supporting employees. The webinars will focus on the following areas:

1. Services and Support for Those Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Focusing on the specialist support available to people experiencing domestic abuse, with particular relevance to housing professionals. Glasgow Women’s Aid will provide an overview of its own services alongside other specialist services and sources of support available across Scotland. The session will explore when to signpost, when to refer and how to make a safe referral, as well as what professionals can do when someone does not want support.

2. Supporting Employees Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Looking at domestic abuse from a workplace perspective, including how it can affect employees and what organisations can do to provide safe and practical support. Glasgow Women’s Aid will explore how domestic abuse can show up at work, how to respond appropriately when an employee discloses abuse and how employers can take a trauma-informed approach. The session will also look at practical support employers can offer, including supporting employees who are considering reporting to Police Scotland, the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) and accessing specialist support available across Scotland.

Domestic abuse can be a difficult subject to talk about, and staff may not always feel confident about what to say or what action to take when they are concerned about someone.

These webinars provide an opportunity to hear directly from a specialist practitioner, understand the support available and consider how housing providers and employers can respond safely and appropriately.

By creating opportunities to learn from specialist organisations such as Glasgow Women’s Aid, Share hopes to support housing staff and organisations to build their confidence, strengthen their understanding and feel better equipped to respond to people experiencing domestic abuse.

Both webinars are free to attend for Share members, with non-members welcome to attend for £25 per session. Find out more and book your place: Webinars