Agenda item

This agenda item will provide an update on the progress towards the Rotherham Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2027.

Information will also be provided about the referral pathway, which delivers a single point of access to services for victims of domestic abuse, along with details of victim and/or survivor engagement with support services.

This agenda item provided an update on the progress towards the Rotherham Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2027.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor Cusworth, the Cabinet Member for Childrens and Young Peoples Services, Emma Ellis, Head of Service for Community Safety and Regulatory Services and Kayleigh Charlton, Community Safety Officer for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

The Chair invited Councillor Cusworth and Emma Ellis to introduce the report and the following was noted:

·       The Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2027 that was approved by Cabinet in 2022, aimed to ensure that the pathway into services would be seamless and that people would have one point of contact, with support provided.

·       It was advised that 44% of the actions within the plan were completed and the Strategy was on track.

The Chair invited Kayleigh Charlton to lead on the presentation. The presentation gave an overview of the following content:

·       Developing a Single Abuse Pathway with followed the below process-

?   A domestic abuse incident would occur.

?   There would either be a victim self-referral or an agency referral with victim consent.

?   Rotherham Rise would complete a triage process and identify the most appropriate support.

?   If the case was highly complex, a domestic abuse assertive outreach case worker would be assigned or alternatively a Rotherham Rise case worker would be assigned.

?   The victim would be supported.

·       Changing Rotherham’s Engagement Rate Definition-

?   The definition had been changed to ensure that there was a clear definition of engagement and a methodology to work out engagement rates that was consistent.

?   The new definition was any referrals that have engaged in any support offered, for example 1 to 1 support or attending programmes and or interventions.

?   The change would provide a more accurate and reflective engagement rate figure, as inappropriate referrals, or uncontactable referrals would not be included in the engagement rate calculation.

·       Victim Barriers to Accessing Services-

?   National Domestic Abuse Charity Safe Lives confirmed that families lived with domestic abuse for a significant period before seeking effective help. 

?   There were many reasons why families lived with domestic abuse or returned to their abuser after attempting to leave. It may not have been apparent to the victim that a relationship was abusive.

?   On average high-risk victims lived with domestic abuse for 2.3 years and medium risk victims for a period of 3 years, before getting help 

?   On average victims experienced fifty incidents of abuse, before consenting to effective help and support.

·       The Strategy Update So Far-

?   There had been a focus on driving change together by prioritising the strengthening of governance processes and improving ways of working. As a result, there had been the developed of the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Priority Group and awareness training with schools and General Practices (GP’s).

?   There had been a focus on prevention and early intervention, with a review conducted of all multi-agency meetings such as MARAC and MADA.

?   There had been a focus on justice and on-going protection and as a result 60% of victims were engaging with domestic abuse services.

?   There had been a focus on minimising harm by providing Early Help Support.

?   There had been a focus on providing safe accomodation and support, as a result the number of specialist domestic abuse houses had been risen from twenty from eleven to twenty-four. There had been an increase in refuge spaces from eight to ten and one hundred and eighteen victims had been supported financially to be able to remain in their own homes.

?   There had been a focus on responding to changing need and demand, with a focus on weekly safe accomodation meetings and working on complexities.

·       The Cranstoun Programme-

?   From the commencement of the program in September 2021 there had been five hundred and seventy-three referrals, with a 55% completion rate.

?   88% of Victims and/or survivors reported feeling safer on exit from the service.

?   68% of victims and/or survivors reported that the abusive behaviours had stopped or reduced.

The Chair thanked the relevant officer for the presentation and invited questions, this led to the following points being raised during discussions:

·       In relation to Rotherham Rise case workers, there was male case workers and male counsellors available to support male victims.

·       Rotherham Rise consulted with service users frequently, in order to shape their service offer and gather feedback. The local authority had regular commissioning meetings with Rotherham Rise, where case studies were provided.

·       Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO) had changed and the length of the DVPO had increased from eight weeks to thirty-one weeks.

·       There were now thirteen furnished properties, specifically used for domestic abuse victims, that provided a homely environment.

·       Evidence based behavioural programmes such as Inspire to Change, would always require an element of voluntary engagement, to ensure people engage and were ready to change. There were mandatory programmes for offender prevention in custody and the community.

·       Operational Encompasses aim was to ensure that a notification was provided to schools where there had been any domestic abuse incident.

·       The referral process for referrals into the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) was changed last year, so that referrals could only be received by phone calls. This had ensured that the right information was captured throughout those referral conversations.

·       The domestic abuse training was delivered online only and regular feedback on the training was reviewed at the Domestic Abuse Priority Group.

Resolved:-

1)    That members of the Improving Lives Select Commission note the progress towards the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2027

2)    That hard copies of the Feel Safe Leaflet, are provided to members for circulation.

3)    That a visit to Rotherham Rise is arranged for members of the commission, in the New Year.