2025

Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment (DANA)

This page contains everything you need to know about the current Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment project in Oxfordshire. It includes information about how you can get involved, and will include updates on what we are learning as we go. This means if you have contributed in any way, you can come back to this page to understand how it has fed in to the learning and recommendations.

What is the Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment?

A Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment (DANA) is a comprehensive analysis aimed at evaluating the full spectrum of services and support required for people experiencing domestic abuse, including victims, survivors, and perpetrators.

The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) placed a statutory duty on all local authorities to assess and provide safe accommodation for victims and survivors, including the requirement to conduct a domestic abuse safe accommodation needs assessment. The Oxfordshire DANA will include these statutory requirements but go beyond them by taking a whole-system approach. This means it will consider all aspects of the support pathway, prevention, intervention, and recovery services for those affected by domestic abuse.

Oxfordshire County Council has commissioned the Centre for Safer Society to conduct the DANA. Our work will help the Council fulfil its obligations under the Domestic Abuse Act while also informing broader strategic decisions. The findings will be pivotal in shaping the refreshed Domestic Abuse Strategy, ensuring that every aspect of support meets the needs of victims and survivors effectively and holistically. We are asking all stakeholders across Oxfordshire to support this project so that we can identify meaningful learning and ensure the assessment reflects the needs of all communities.

Read our project briefing here.

We're inviting responses to two surveys: one for people with lived experience of domestic abuse, and one for professionals and practitioners working in Oxfordshire. Each survey focuses on different aspects of the local response, but we recognise that many people may have insights to share from both perspectives. We know that professionals working in services across Oxfordshire may themselves have lived experience of abuse, and we warmly welcome anyone who feels they have something to contribute to complete both surveys if they wish. There is no 'them and us' here, both perspectives are equally valuable and essential to creating a response that works for everyone. Whether you've experienced abuse yourself, supported someone through it, work in a frontline role, or all of the above, your voice matters.

Help us shape the response to domestic abuse in Oxfordshire by completing one of our surveys.

Closing on 12th January 2026.

I have lived experience of domestic abuse.

The lived experience survey focuses on your personal experiences of seeking help and support, and what would have made a difference to you. We'll ask about your experiences with different services, what was helpful and what wasn't, any barriers you faced in getting support, and what you think needs to change. Your insights will directly shape how services respond to domestic abuse in Oxfordshire. We will be conducted some one to one interviews too, if you click below you can register for these if you would be willing to speak with us anonymously.

Complete the lived experience survey

I work in an organisation in in Oxfordshire that might come across domestic abuse.

The professional survey is for anyone working in a 'people-facing' role in Oxfordshire, whether domestic abuse is central to your work (like social workers or police) or whether you encounter it occasionally in roles like housing, healthcare, education, or community services. We'll ask about what you're seeing in your role, the barriers you face in responding effectively, the strengths and gaps in local services, and how agencies can work together better to support people affected by domestic abuse.

Complete the practitioner survey

Meet the team working on the Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment in Oxfordshire.

  • Danielle Sharp

    Danielle, our Chief Executive will be leading all aspects of project and act as the lead author on the final report.

  • Christina Govier

    Christina will be supporting the project through ensuring those with lived experience are central. She will work with the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) and conduct interviews with survivors in Oxfordshire.

  • Monika Lesniewska

    Monika will project project management support to the project including leading on the collection and analysis of data from services and agencies across Oxfordshire.

  • Maya Badham

    Maya will be supporting our fieldwork through facilitating engagement with key stakeholders, including the LEAG and conducting interviews with victims and survivors.

  • Andy Ryan

    Andy will be providing overall operational support including analysis of service level and survey data.