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Agenda item

Agenda item

DOMESTIC ABUSE - SAFE ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report on the Domestic Abuse – Safe Accommodations Strategy.

Minutes:

The Director of Social Care and Early Help submitted a presentation updating the Commission on the progress of the Domestic Abuse – Safe Accommodation Strategy. It was noted that this area fell under Community Safety Services which now fell under the Social Care portfolio.

 

The Team Manager for Domestic and Sexual Violence presented the item, it was noted that:

 

·         The Council was required to create a Safe Accommodation Strategy under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

·         The Strategy included a number of priorities including establishing a Partnership Board and expanding the accessibility and suitability of safe accommodation.

·         All target dates set out by the legislation were met.

·         ‘By and for’ BME safe accommodation had been expanded.

·         Respite Rooms had been piloted, bringing in 5 specialist accommodations.

New locations had opened to cover a wider area of the city.

·         Specialist support around issues such as substance abuse and mental health had been expanded.

·         The trauma informed framework aimed to discover and implement best practice across organisations and bodies.

·         The aim was to have accommodation suitable for all different needs.

·         Engagement activity with new facilities would be ongoing.

·         A programme of workforce training for Council staff would commence soon.

·         The performance management framework would be reviewed as data came in.

 

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

 

·         This strategy had been developed as a result of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. All of the Council’s work and support around domestic violence was much broader than what was covered in the Strategy.

·         Work had been done with Housing Officers to look at the ability to remove perpetrators from tenancies. However, this could involve giving priority to perpetrators for other Council accommodation which would present problematic optics.

·         Housing Officers would also be consulted on what barriers exist for victims accessing safe accommodation.

·         Extrapolated national data indicated that 54k people in Leicester had been victims of domestic abuse since age 16.

·         The community champions scheme was focused on providing training on domestic abuse to different partners.

·         The Council was supporting hundreds of people a quarter in the area of domestic abuse. Work was ongoing to understand what factors lead to people going through different access points.

·         The accommodation provided by the Strategy was entirely within the city boundaries, however a national network existed which could place victims in other Authority areas.

·         There were good relations with private sector providers enabling quick turnarounds on areas such as respite rooms.

·         Accommodation options were becoming more supportive for different needs such as providing resources for children.

·         Statistics were available in issues such as  victims returning to perpetrators.

·         Joint working between providers and different Council departments aimed to address barriers such as school admissions.   

·         A focus in recruitment was on language skills to enable those with language barriers to access the Service.

·         Focus group discussions with community groups had led to a radio campaign.

·         Those feeling domestic abuse would be given priority for Council accommodation.

·         The sufficiency of staffing levels would be reviewed as more data came in.

·         Grant money covered administrative costs as well as accommodation costs.

·         Poverty and financial concerns were a key strand of vulnerability in this area, so there were concerns of how the cost of living crisis could impact on domestic abuse levels.

·         Specialist support was available for those with immigration issues.

·         The Government funding was £857k for a 12-month period. The funding formula for future Government funding would be reviewed.

 

AGREED:

 

·         That the Commission notes the update.

 

Supporting documents: