WORTH services

WORTH Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse services provide direct support to victims and survivors in West Sussex. You can refer yourself to WORTH services using the contact details below.

If you are worried about someone you know, you can also contact us for advice.

Be aware that WORTH is not an emergency service, if there is immediate danger, contact the police to get support.

Ways to contact WORTH services

Online

The best way to contact us for yourself is to complete the online self-referral form. This gives us all of the basic information we need, so when we contact you we can get straight to providing help.

If you are contacting us about someone you know, you cannot use the online form, so phone us for advice.

Complete the self-referral form

Phone: 033 022 28181 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm)

Text: 07834 968539

Email: domesticabuseservicescentral@westsussex.gov.uk

If we are unable to answer immediately, we aim to respond to you within 1 working day. In your message, let us know when it is safe to contact you.

Professional referrals

If you are a professional, you can make a referral to WORTH services using our online form.

Make a professional referral (external link)

WORTH services run training courses for professionals. See what's available on the Safer West Sussex Partnership domestic abuse courses page.

Support WORTH services provides

Help for victim-survivors of domestic abuse

We work alongside victim-survivors of domestic abuse to make them and their family as safe as possible. We ensure they get whatever help they need, providing emotional and practical support to reduce the risk posed by the person causing harm.

We provide support around staying safe. This might include:

  • getting injunctions
  • the criminal justice process
  • home security

Specific help

We have advisors who deal with specific types of need.

Housing

We provide support working with housing providers across West Sussex. We help those needing access to safe housing ensuring systems of support are in place.

Additional needs

We work with specialist services to provide extra support for victim-survivors who are facing multiple disadvantages. This could include needs around substance use or mental health.

Family safeguarding

We have specialist practitioners supporting victim-survivors where the family's children have a child in need plan or child protection plan.

Young people

We work on a one to one basis with high risk victims of domestic abuse aged between 13 and 17 years. Where there are additional support needs this can extend to 18 to 21 year olds.

Health

We have workers in hospitals across West Sussex who can support you.

Help for victim-survivors of sexual violence

We support people who have experienced sexual violence, whether incidents happened recently or years ago. We can help you:

  • process what happened
  • in your involvement with the police and criminal justice system

Our service can:

  • liaise with police or health providers
  • help you to find counselling or talking therapies
  • ask for updates from the police or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on your behalf
  • help you understand what is happening now and what will happen going forward
  • support you through the court process both pre-trial and on the day

Specific help for young people

We can work on a one to one basis with young people at risk of sexual abuse aged 14 to 17 years where there is a current criminal investigation.

Other languages

For information about WORTH services in a different language, email your request to: domesticabuseservicescentral@westsussex.gov.uk.

How WORTH services support people

  • My WORTH Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) reached out to me when I moved back into the local area in 2021, as arranged via my previous ISVA in a neighbouring district.

    The transition from my old ISVA to a new one was quite daunting for me as it isn't easy to talk about what happened but they instantly made me feel safe and heard and contact was arranged at what felt manageable for me.

    My ISVA kept me up to date with the police investigation every step of the way, also liaising with the local authority when I needed help regarding concerns about my children. They attended the criminal trial with me- the trial was very emotional but having their physical presence with me on the stand gave me so much strength, it really reaffirmed to me that I was doing the right thing.

    When you've been a victim of sexual and domestic violence having someone that acknowledges your pain and what you've been through is beyond empowering and their kind words and sound advice have been integral to my healing journey. I still have good and bad days but they continue to check in with me and I look forward to a life without my abuser now that they have been jailed. I encourage others to seek help through WORTH and other services, because my ISVA genuinely cares.

Our confidentiality policy

  • Before receiving support from WORTH Services, it is important that you understand what may happen to the information that you share with us.

    Our aim is to:

    • increase the safety of clients, their families, and any others
    • to inform you of choices that are available to you and support you in whatever decisions you make

    There may be times that we may need to share the information that you provide to improve your safety or the safety of others.

    All information given to us will be:

    • held securely on a database which can only be accessed by support staff and their manager
    • treated as confidential
    • up to date
    • relevant to your support
    • shared with those involved in your support plan  

    We will only share information with other parties if:

    • directed to do so by court order
    • there is a change of service provider
    • it is necessary in order to prevent serious harm to yourself or others

  • There may be times when staff are bound by law to share information with other agencies. This is usually in a high-risk situation where you, a family member or child is in danger, to support child and adult safeguarding procedures.

    This includes when a case goes to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). We will always try to do this with your consent and will inform you that we are sharing the information. If we cannot gain your consent, a manager will make any decision to share information as necessary.

    If you give us information about something that is a criminal offense, the police may choose to pursue it. You have the right not to make a statement to the police.

  • To determine the most appropriate service for you we may need to share information with, or request information from, other organisations about you.

    This will make those agencies aware of your contact with us. We will only share information with them on a 'need to know' basis.

  • SafeLives and WORTH services regularly collect and analyse data in order to continually improve our service to clients. Analysis aids our understanding of what works for people experiencing domestic abuse.

    We never share data that could identify you or your family in this analysis.

  • We have a complaints procedure. You can ask your support worker or their team manager for details. They will discuss the process and any timescales with you. We investigate all complaints.

    Find more information on the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) make a complaint or appeal page.

  • Under data protection legislation, you have the right to request access personal information we hold about you. You can do this with a Subject Access Request.

    Find more information about how to make this request on the West Sussex County Council page about accessing your personal data.

  • For more information about your rights regarding data we hold about you, our privacy notice and information sharing, see the West Sussex County Council data protection pages.