The Department of Health and Social Care announced on 23 October 2026 that its Steps to Safety programme is being introduced in 12 areas of England. Under the first phase, staff at participating GP practices will be trained to recognise signs of domestic abuse and sexual violence and, with the patient's agreement, refer them to local specialist support services. Each specialist worker would act as a single point of contact, offering training to practice staff, risk assessments, safety plans and help accessing other services.

The department said 12 integrated care boards were selected in September 2026 and will receive a total of up to £34.4 million over three years. The programme began in April 2026 and is planned in three phases, with a goal of national provision in England by 2029. Funding allocations range from £722,318 for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly to £6,672,213 for a joint bid by Coventry and Warwickshire and Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

A further £15 million is being allocated across all integrated care boards over three years to boost local specialist support services. An independent national evaluation will assess how the programme is delivered and its impact, the department said.