Nia is currently approaching her fourth year, studying Psychology with Criminology at Nottingham Trent University. She has always been fascinated by criminal psychology, both understanding what makes someone engage in criminal behaviour and exploring the effects of being a victim of crime. Her placement at Savera UK was her first experience in working with survivors of abuse, and it has set her on a whole new career path!

 

Nia, can you tell us a little bit more about why you chose your degree? 

“My interest in criminal and forensic psychology began before college, when I would watch a great deal of interrogation videos and analysis of behavioural and body language. I became fascinated by how people reveal their true emotions through body language, even when they’re trying to conceal them.”

What was the focus of your work while on placement with Savera UK? 

“Before starting at Savera UK, I had never worked with survivors of abuse, especially ‘honour’-based abuse. I was concerned about my ability to provide adequate emotional support to survivors of HBA and harmful practices. My main focus was to make my clients feel as comfortable and supported as possible.” 

What surprised you about the role? 

“I had little knowledge about what the job entails, such as the amount of work that goes into each case and how many different services are involved. I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed this role. I was blessed with the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and take on a caseload. Where I learnt more about my clients and built up rapport with them.” 

What did you enjoy most about the role? 

“I enjoyed having the opportunity to completely dive into this role. As my placement duration was lengthy, I was given the chance to build my caseload to 10+ clients, embrace different job roles, experience working with professionals on various cases and get to know my clients and the ones who regularly attend our social and wellbeing sessions  ’. These are weekly client sessions that the charity hosts to create a comfortable and supportive space where they can connect with others or develop new skills.” 

Did the placement meet your expectations prior to starting the role? 

“This placement completely exceeded my expectations! I have learnt an invaluable amount and had to confront my own anxieties. I feel like a completely different person after this amazing opportunity, and there’s no doubt that I couldn’t have made this professional progress without the support of the team here at Savera UK.”  

What did you learn while working with Savera UK? What was the most important thing you’ll take away from your experience? 

“I have learnt so much during this placement, about ‘honour’-based abuse and about myself.  

I was able to develop my skills by liaising with professionals and clients, although this was uncomfortable to start with. As I gained more clients, I was encouraged to use my initiative, and more recently, I found myself gaining more confidence to push for professional meetings in order to safeguard my clients. 

“Although I did build up a caseload, I still managed to spend time building up rapport with my clients through welfare calls. Prior to starting my placement, even the thought of picking up a phone and calling someone to do something as simple as booking an appointment was daunting. However, I now find myself starting conversations!

“Upon reflection, this role has forced me out of my comfort zone, yet it’s been the most enjoyable aspect. I will take away a newfound confidence and passion for supporting survivors.”

What was the most challenging thing that you did during your placement? 

“I would say that the most challenging part was listening to survivors’ experiences and knowing it was my responsibility to advocate for them, whether it was to safeguard or support them in their new beginning. I found comfort in confiding in the team about my choice of actions. However, I would definitely say that the most challenging part of the role was whether I was making the best decision for my client. It’s a crucial part of the role, and you don’t want to disappoint them.” 

Based on your experience working with Savera UK, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing organisations supporting survivors and those at risk of HBA and harmful practices? 

“I think an obstacle I often overheard and witnessed first-hand was the lack of understanding of HBA and the distinction between domestic abuse and HBA. A lot of professionals who come into contact with Savera UK, whether that’s through referrals, training or meetings, are new  to the concept of what HBA is. They often refer to this type of abuse as a ‘cultural’ practice. ‘Culture’ has been used as an excuse for HBA when abuse is not a part of any culture. 

“I have witnessed the amazing job both the Direct Intervention Team and Training Managers do to spread awareness and educate professionals on the indications and distinctions of ‘honour’-based abuse.  Not only does this lack of awareness affect Savera UK, but also survivors and those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse. If professionals are unaware of the indicators, they may miss out on the ‘one chance rule’, and the survivors’ experience could potentially escalate and expose them to more risks.” 

What do you think needs to be done to tackle that? 

“Savera UK is doing its  part to minimise this issue by providing training to a variety of professionals (e.g., IDVAs, social workers, healthcare workers, etc.). However, I do believe it is a wider issue where individuals need to confront their biases around who they believe can be a survivor or someone at risk of HBA.”  

What was the happiest moment of your placement? 

“I have genuinely enjoyed every moment of my placement; however, my happiest moments were with my clients, particularly when we hosted social and wellbeing sessions  and various celebrations. Witnessing the clients’ enjoyment during these activities and festivities was memorable.” 

What are your future plans? 

“Before starting my placement, I always believed that I wanted to go down the criminal psychology route, working with offenders with a focus on restorative justice. However, working at Savera UK has made me acknowledge my passion for working with survivors and supporting them with life after the abuse. This has made me reconsider my career path, and I am now looking into becoming an IDVA after my studies are complete.”  

How will you use your practical experience with Savera UK going forward? 

“My placement allowed me to discover my professional persona. My background is in hospitality and retail, so I had never been exposed to this kind of professional environment. I was initially fearful of how I would be perceived and whether I could carry out such intense work. However, I was treated no differently from my colleagues, and with exposure to more complex cases, I began participating in more professional meetings. I have had the full experience of being a frontline professional, and it has been amazing. This is an experience that I will be able to proudly look back on when I start my career.

“Savera UK has been a massive part of my life for the past nine months, and I am so grateful to have had this experience.  I would like to say a massive thank you to the whole  team. Everyone has been very welcoming and supportive throughout my journey, providing a helping hand whenever necessary. I entered this journey lacking confidence and knowledge, but thanks to everyone at Savera UK, I am leaving as a completely different person. I would like to especially thank my line manager, Merfat, who has been so supportive and empathetic throughout, Cleo, who has dedicated her time to supporting me in a completely new job role and Ayesha, who has provided me with support and resources beneficial for my future journey.” 

 

Thank you Nia for all your help and hard work, we wish you all the best for your studies and future career!