Agenda item

Further to Minute No. 103 of December, 2017, Councillor Hoddinott, Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, and Sam Barstow, Head of Community Safety, Resilience and Emergency Planning, presented an update in relation to key activity and progress in relation to the provision of Domestic Abuse Services across Rotherham.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy was a partnership strategy, adopted by the Safer Rotherham Partnership and endorsed by the Cabinet.  The Strategy set out the collective vision for Domestic Abuse (DA) Services within Rotherham for the next 3 years.  There had been some key achievements to date, a number of which were outlined in further detail in the report submitted.  A summary of key achievements was as follows:-

-          The agreement of a revised action plan

-          Reduction in waiting lists in commissioned DA Services

-          Additional funding secured through Housing

-          Revised training offer

-          Commencement of a Perpetrator Programme

-          Development of a handbook for practitioners

-          Delivery of an independent peer review

-          Subject of the Council’s independent Health Check

-          OFSTED – Rated Good

-          PEEL – Rated Good

-          Complete data set

-          Delivery of a targeted World Cup operation

-          Additional DA support over the Christmas period

-          Enhanced engagement with Service users

Domestic Abuse had been subject to 2 independent reviews and was a specified area within the Council Commissioners’ Independent Health Check.  The Service had also undergone a full independent peer review led by colleagues from Bradford City Council and a sector-led improvement specialist.  The full outcome report was attached as Appendix A to the report submitted.  The findings of the report were largely consistent with those issues identified by the Partnership and made a clear case for improvement in some areas.  It also identified a number of areas of good and effective practice.

There was a clear ambition of partners to work closely with Service users, victims and survivors to better understand how the Service worked for them and to work together on designing services for the future.  During the Peer Review assessors and the team also ensured that Service users’ voices were captured to inform the overall outcome; this was done through a focus group.

Rotherham RISE had agreed to work with the Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator to plan an annual calendar of engagement events the purpose of which was to hear both feedback and consult on key policies/strategies.

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

-          How was the voice of the child captured? As a result of the work with Peer Review, a much deeper audit had been undertaken by South Yorkshire Police looking across all of the districts and at the voice of the child within those DASH assessments (Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour Based Violence). Following this audit, the Police had increased their training offer specifically around DASH and capturing the voice of the child.  In addition, it had been made a specific requirement of all MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) Chairs that, when receiving/reviewing/discussing cases, a specific question was asked of how the voice of the victim had been identified and responded to.  As part of the broader governance and assurance, a series of “dip samples” of cases,with the first taking place in Housing Services. This would look at decisions to move victims and if alternatives could be found.  The next area subject to dip sampling would be Police records to establish if there were children

-          The dip samples would look for specific reference within the DASH assessment to seek assurance that this is captured in the paperwork and practice.  This may include details to establish if there were any children in the property at that time; what action police officers had taken;  what the follow on actions were at the time e.g. was it passed through to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) particularly when looking at medium and standard risk

In respect of the evaluation of the Perpetrator Programme; research from other programmes have shown that there is potential for increased risk to the victim. The concern expressed in the report was not based on any incidents/experience in Rotherham

-          Further details was asked about Police willingness to engage. Details was given about their involvement in the Domestic Abuse Priority Group and to address the issues raised in the PEEL Review  

-          For example, a collective challenge was that of the backlog of standard and medium risk incidents around domestic abuse and the referral of those incidents particularly into the MASH.  The Police had flagged and raised this as a legitimate concern and was being addressed at a partnership level.  Assurances had been given that, whilst there was a backlog, it was triaged by professionals within the Police reviewing the cases and referring those considered to be high risk to the MASH on a timely manner.

-          The Police had been requested to submit the performance analysis by the August meeting of the Domestic Abuse Priority Group. Clarification was sought whether there was a correlation between the change in reporting and increase in incidents and the decrease in referrals and reductions in positive outcomes.

-          An increase across all crime types at the moment but in general those increases were as a result of the improved crime recording standards by the Police. There was a concern that there had been a slight dip in the level of incidents of domestic abuse, however, it was felt to be under reported.

-          Repeat incidents – were services managing to resolve and support the victims or did they keep coming back?

-          The Home Office prescribed a list of what they agreed was an official list of outcomes (18 potential) for the Police that then constituted an outcome to a particular incident or crime.  It could range from a simple Caution through to Restorative Justice, Charge and Summons.  The Police in Rotherham were looking at and understanding the outcomes.  The documentation had been shared around the Council so there could be an understanding of the analysis of those outcome rates and some action in place to improve those

-          Concerns were raised about online-abuse (e.g. stalking and harassment) and whether this is reported as an incident or a crime; how the risk is assessed and the potential for escalation. The Safer Rotherham Partnership, as a result of its priority setting process this year, had specifically identified stalking and harassment as an objective.  There was a broader issue around online issues; cyber was a huge enabler of crime and a huge risk area that was not properly understood.  It was intended to hold a dedicated conference with partners around understanding what information was potentially on line, how to capture that information legally and legitimately and use it as part of investigations.  The Police had had powers around stalking and harassment for some time. The Council also had a role to play in terms of its own tools and powers around stalking and harassment particularly when it linked into wider anti-social behaviour issues which would be reported in due course

-          It was important to recognise that the Council did not always have to be at the exact level of the Police and if they said it was a crime it was resources and to this end the SRP and partners over the past year had co-located some of their key services around enforcement

-          Clarification was sought about thresholds across services of risks particularly when children were present and ensure that these are consistent. Early Help assessments were used to understand the whole picture of a family in relation to children.  The SRP were pushing the use of the tools that already existed and colleagues within the MASH actively challenging the risk levels that come through from Police colleagues

-          Whilst the peer review highlighted positive work taking place, a number of gaps where also identified.  There were a number of other players in terms of domestic abuse, particularly in the voluntary sector, that the Authority needed to engage and work with.  It was important to get the system working together i.e. data sharing, governance and referrals.  Challenges were put to partners who it were felt were not stepping up to the mark

-          There was confidence that the challenge was happening and would continue to do so

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the intentions in relation to varied case audits be noted and that a report in relation to the findings and learning as a result be submitted.

(3)  That the action plan and engagement timetable be circulated to Select Commission Members.

(4)  That regular updates continue to be submitted.

(5)  That the Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety submit a briefing paper in January 2019 to include an update on the action to address stalking and harassment and progress of the final report.