Steps to Change

A whole-family approach to tackling domestic abuse and stalking

Surrey Steps to Change is the UK’s first multi-agency hub providing coordinated, whole-family support to people affected by domestic abuse and stalking – including victims, children and perpetrators.

Led by Interventions Alliance, the Hub brings together specialist services from the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership, Waythrough Surrey’s Youth Using Violence & Abuse team, and policing partners to deliver a trauma-informed, joined-up approach focused on reducing harm and increasing survivor safety.

The Steps to Change hub is commissioned by the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner.

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How the Hub works

The Hub combines expertise from multiple agencies to provide:

Integrated case reviews and real-time information sharing
Earlier identification of risk and opportunities to prevent escalation
Tailored support for adults, children, victims and perpetrators
Co-ordinated safeguarding and risk management
Referrals into the right services and interventions

Referrals can be made by professionals including police, social care and healthcare services. The Hub also takes self-referrals in cases of domestic abuse.

A key strength of the model is its ability to support the whole family, ensuring people receive the most appropriate intervention and reducing the risk of people falling through gaps between services.

Supporting behaviour change and survivor safety

The Hub creates opportunities for earlier intervention and out-of-court resolutions, enabling police and partner agencies to refer people directly into behaviour change and support services where appropriate.

By working collaboratively across agencies, the Hub helps:

Increase survivor safety
Reduce harm caused by domestic abuse and stalking
Improve information sharing and safeguarding
Provide more coordinated support for families
Reduce pressure on the criminal justice system

Research review

An 18-month review found the model is helping to improve survivor safety and reduce harm from perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking.

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Interventions

Specialist programmes available at the Surrey Steps to Change Hub include:

Challenging Unhealthy Relationship Beliefs and Behaviours (CURBB) – provided by Interventions Alliance
Offers an early intervention to perpetrators of domestic abuse to prevent any escalation in offending and reduce the risk of harm to known/unknown victims.
Healthy Relationships – provided by Interventions Alliance
Provides an opportunity to address and prevent further incidences of domestic abuse, through supporting perpetrators to change their behaviour and to develop respectful, non-abusive relationships.
Compulsive, Obsessive Behaviour Intervention (COBI) – provided by Interventions Alliance
For people who have obsessive and controlling behaviour which manifest in stalking and harassment. Using Dialectal Behavioural Therapy, perpetrators are helped to acknowledge, accept and recognise their difficult emotions and thoughts that trigger harmful behaviour towards others.
Services for Survivors – provided by The Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership
The Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership delivers trauma-informed support for survivors of domestic abuse, putting them at the heart of the service user journey. They will work with survivors in a relatable way and empower them to move forward independently.
Surrey Children and Young People Service (YUVA) – provided by Waythrough
YUVA Surrey provides confidential support for families experiencing child to parent violence or abuse. The service supports young people aged 11 to 18 (or up to 25 with additional needs) who have used violence or abuse toward family members or intimate partners.

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Stories of Hope

Participants have described improvements in their physical and psychological safety, wellbeing, and access to support. In several cases, they told us that without the Hub’s intervention, their situations may have worsened.

The findings also demonstrated how the Hub’s whole-family approach can identify needs that may otherwise be missed. In some cases, people initially referred for perpetrator interventions were later identified as victim-survivors needing specialist domestic abuse support.

Other families received coordinated support for multiple and complex needs, including support for children affected by violence and abuse in the home, parents seeking help, and perpetrators engaging with behaviour change services.

"The Hub provides support to every member of a family, ensuring no-one falls through the gaps. It enables individuals and families to be connected to the right services for them, especially in complex situations where tailored support and safeguarding are essential.” Victoria Curtis
Head of Behaviour Change Practice at Interventions Alliance

Delivered in partnership with

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If you want to find out more about our services or ways to partner with us, we’d love to hear from you.

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