Women Centred Working is an initiative to encourage the design and delivery of better services for women facing multiple disadvantages.
This is a chance to take an approach proven to benefit women and families – and statutory and voluntary agencies – and inspire its roll-out on a wider scale
The benefits of the approach have been recognised by academics and government agencies – in particular by the Corston Review, which led to a network of one stop shop community services for low risk female offenders.
Women facing multiple disadvantages may be dealing with an overwhelming combination of issues – including domestic violence, offending behaviour, physical and mental illness, substance misuse, unemployment and homelessness. Services delivered by different organisations in different locations can be fragmented and difficult to access. By contrast, the women centred way of doing things works by integrating and tailoring support around each person’s specific situation.
Women Centred Working has been set up to share good practice, change thinking and promote effective, women centred approaches nationally. The initiative is funded by Lankelly Chase Foundation as part of its mission to transform the quality of life of people who face multiple disadvantage.
This is a chance to take an approach that has proved to benefit women and families – and statutory and voluntary agencies – and encourage its roll-out on a wider scale. We will be sharing resources to help in the design and delivery of women centred solutions through this website, publications and advice for policy-makers, commissioners and practitioners.
We captured the key components of the women centred way of addressing vulnerable women’s needs in Women Centred Working, Defining an Approach.
Simon Duffy of the Centre for Welfare Reform conducted research at WomenCentre Calderdale and Kirklees and here he explains how the women centred approach works.
Our latest booklet Showcasing Women Centred Solutions describes women centred principles and the benefits this can bring.