Department of Health and Social Care Launches Steps to Safety Referral Scheme in 12 Areas
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced the launch of Phase 1 of Steps to Safety across 12 English health regions. The programme trains GP staff to spot signs of domestic abuse and sexual violence, allowing them to connect patients directly with specialist support workers. Selected Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) will share up to £34.4 million across three years to fund these local specialist workers and practice training costs. The government originally committed to the initiative in December 2025 and aims to expand it across all of England by 2029. Patients visiting participating practices can talk to any staff member about past or present abuse. If they agree, staff will refer them to an independent specialist worker who acts as a dedicated contact point. DHSC is also distributing a separate £15 million fund across all ICBs over three years to strengthen specialist support capacity for victims and survivors.
What was announced
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced Phase 1 of its Steps to Safety scheme across 12 health regions in England. Under this initiative, 12 Integrated Care Boards, which are regional bodies that arrange local NHS services, will divide up to £34.4 million over three years.
The money will fund independent domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist workers. These specialists will train GP practice staff, conduct risk assessments, build safety plans, and receive patient referrals. DHSC committed to the project in its December 2025 strategy document, and selected the 12 initial areas in September 2026. The full national rollout across England is scheduled to complete by 2029.
Alongside Phase 1, DHSC is investing £15 million across all Integrated Care Boards in England over three years. This extra fund aims to help local specialist services handle patient volume.
What it means
Patients at participating GP practices can share current or past experiences of domestic abuse or sexual violence with any member of staff. Staff will handle these disclosures sensitively. If the patient agrees, staff will refer them directly to a specialist support worker.
That specialist worker acts as a single point of contact. They advocate for the patient's needs when accessing local specialist services. GP staff will also receive direct training from these workers to help them identify signs of abuse.
What the announcement does not tell us
The announcement does not state when Phase 2 or Phase 3 will begin, nor which areas will be included in those later stages. It does not clarify how many individual GP practices within the 12 regions will participate during Phase 1.
The document also omits details on how the independent national evaluation will measure success. Finally, it does not explain how long patients might wait to meet their specialist support worker after making a disclosure at a practice.
How this was written
This analysis was written with AI from the official announcement below, using only facts that announcement states. The quoted wording is gov.uk: Health and Social Care’s own. Always check the original before acting on anything here.
Phase 1 of Steps to Safety will enable GP practices across 12 areas in England to connect people experiencing domestic abuse with specialist support.
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