Steps to Safety initiative introduced in 12 areas across England
What was announced
Phase 1 of Steps to Safety will enable GP practices across 12 areas in England to connect people experiencing domestic abuse with specialist support.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- The Department of Health and Social Care ( DHSC ) has begun rolling out a new referral service across general practices for people experiencing violence and abuse. The Steps to Safety programme is being introduced in 3 phases which started in April 2026, with a goal of national provision of the service in England by 2029.
- Steps to Safety will ensure general practice staff are trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse and sexual violence, so they can connect victims and survivors directly to local specialist support services.
- DHSC committed to the Steps to Safety programme in the Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy , published in December 2025.
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “They will receive a total of up to £34.4 million over 3 years to commission or expand local specialist services and strengthen referral pathways between general practices and domestic abuse and sexual violence support.”
- “Victims and survivors support fund DHSC is also investing £15 million across all ICBs over 3 years to boost local specialist support services for victims and survivors.”
Who and where
UK bodies of power
- Department of Health and Social Care (UK government department) · more news
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Compassionate care in the NHS, Health and social care training, Domestic abuse, Violence against women and girls.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/steps-to-safety-initiative-introduced-in-12-areas-across-england
- Published 2026-10-23 14:21:45 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-10-23 19:45:34 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 769, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Related official news
- New MHRA research puts needle-free Strep A vaccine within reach
- New mental health pilot for young people supported by social care
- Social media campaign urges Brits to get vaccinated for winter
More from GOV.UK
- Final call for public to submit their memories for Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial
- The role of heat networks in the energy transition
- Thousands step forward in record magistrate recruitment drive
- Joint ministerial statement on the risk of famine in Sudan
- UK-Oman joint statement on Omani State Visit
- Legacy system local plan extension: letter from the Housing Minister
Also announced on 23 October 2026
- Discussing Implementation of UN Charter, Sixth Committee Touches on Sanctions, Peaceful Dispute Settlement
- Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
- Secretary-General Condemns Terrorist Attack on Church Service in Jordan
- Security Council Press Statement on 19 October Drone Attacks in Abyei Area
- Weak Cyberspace Governance Can Undermine Peace, Security, First Committee Told, Calling for Responsible State Behaviors
- Mediation Can Turn ‘Possibility of Peace into a Lasting Reality’, Says Secretary-General in Remarks to Istanbul Conference