| Research to Reality: A Women's Service for Oxfordshire |
| Written by Caroline Haworth, Service Manager, Oxon Women’s Service | |
| Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | |
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The prospect of a service specifically designed to meet the needs of women in Oxfordshire has been the subject of much discussion and planning for a number of years. The service as it appears today is the result of in-depth research and user consultation over a three year period. This process helped to shape the specifications for a new service.
Key recommendations for any new service in Oxfordshire, based upon sound research and evidence, included specialist staff, childcare facilities for women attending the service, out of hour’s access and support for sex workers. These factors were taken into consideration in the development of both The Women’s Service and a small outreach initiative aimed at street based sex workers, currently operated by Cranstoun. Prior to a Stakeholder event in 2004 Oxfordshire DAAT in conjunction with Oxford City PCT commissioned a piece of research examining the patterns and levels of street based sex work amongst women who use class ‘A’ drugs in Oxford City. This research consisted of in-depth case studies with women who were currently involved in the sex work industry in Oxford. From these case studies emerged a number of themes and perspectives such as safe and unsafe working practices, violence, relationships with the police and clients etc. Useful information also emerged regarding levels of engagement with existing services and indications for the development of a specific service aimed at meeting the needs of this group of women. The research into the need of sex workers resulted in the development of a small pilot outreach project offering harm reduction and support to street based sex workers in the Cowley Road area of Oxford every Thursday night from 8pm to 12am. The pilot, known as the WISH, Women’s Initiative on Street Health, Project, began in August 2006 and depending on its success would be incorporated into a broader service for women which was due to be commissioned in 2007. Street based sex workers in Oxford are a largely hidden population with numbers out on the street at any one time ranging from three to ten depending on a range of factors including the time of year. Thus, the project needed to be particularly proactive in order to engage and maintain regular contact with this group of women. The WISH pilot was initially designed as a static drop in based service but as a result of low levels of engagement over the initial 8 weeks of service delivery the service was redesigned in order to enhance engagement. The service proceeded to adopt an outreach based model whereby two workers would take a range of harm reduction equipment out with them and walk around the area where the majority of women work in Oxford. The WISH Project provides condoms; lubricant, attack alarms; food and drinks, and information and support around engaging in a range of services available in the City. The project is staffed by four lead workers from The Women’s Service in Oxford and a number of volunteers from other services in Oxford. This multi agency approach is particularly beneficial to the clients as they are able to speak to and become familiar with workers from a variety of services in Oxford thus enhancing the prospect of future engagement. The WISH Project has played a significant role in identifying and engaging with a vulnerable and largely hidden group of women as well as leading treatment strategy in Oxfordshire. The manager of the project also chairs a county wide strategy group to co-ordinate sex work initiatives throughout Oxfordshire and to assist in the development of the Thames Valley Police Prostitution Strategy. The Women’s Service, which was commissioned in late 2007, became operational in January 2008. The service offers CBT based interventions around drug awareness and relapse prevention alongside more gender specific work focusing on eating disorders, body image, relationships and parenting skills. These sessions often take place in a community venue agreed by both client and worker or at the client’s home depending on suitability. The service also offers advocacy between the client and social services where child protection issues exist. For the future it is anticipated that the service will secure more stable premises and will then be able to offer a much broader selection of tier two and three treatment options. There will be a crèche on site one day a week enabling clients to attend structured groups and access complimentary therapies. |
| The prospect of a service specifically designed to meet the needs of women in Oxfordshire has been the subject of much discussion and planning for a number of years. The service as it appears today is the result of in-depth research and user consultation over a three year period. This process helped to shape the specifications for a new service. | |
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