Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment
This needs assessment informed the setting of strategic priorities for the Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 by exploring the needs of survivors and their children, explore what is working well and present areas of focus and development.
Key findings
- All Specialist Domestic Abuse Service have experienced a rise in referral rates.
- All Specialist Domestic Abuse Services report that additional pressures on services remain an issue due to the increased and enduring complexity of survivor’s support needs.
- Gaps in therapeutic and mental health support for survivors
- Some gaps in supporting children and young people.
- Clear need for earliest intervention
- Progress has been made in all recommended areas of the 2021-2024 Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse Strategic Framework, in some areas, detailed in this report, work is continuing.
- Adults with disabilities, LGBTQ+ survivors and survivors from BME/Global Majority backgrounds remain underserved and underrepresented throughout the system.
- Further development of support for survivors with multiple, compound needs is required.
- Further development of support for migrant survivors is required.
- Training is comprehensive across the county, with continued development work in place to ensure a consistent offer.
The full needs assessment is available here: Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment
A needs assessment refresh was also completed in 2026: Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment update 2026