February 2026 – Audit
Transitioned women face significantly elevated rates of sexual and domestic violence, alongside heightened vulnerability to institutional betrayal, including misclassification, forced disclosure, exclusion, and service rupture. Despite this, their safeguarding needs remain inconsistently recognised within service design, commissioning frameworks, and public-facing policy.
Our aim:
To help transitioned women identify safe services, and to help services and commissioners understand how institutional design can either protect or harm survivors.
Across Scotland:
- 38% of services meet full recommendation standards
- 31% present high or maximum safeguarding risk
- Many services demonstrate strong inclusive intent but lack operational clarity, creating avoidable harm
Who This Audit Is For
This work is intended for:
- Survivors, seeking safer access to support
- Service providers, wishing to improve safeguarding design
- Commissioners and policymakers, responsible for equitable service provision
- Researchers and clinicians, working in trauma, safeguarding, and service development
