Agenda item

(To receive a report from Jade Thursby, Domestic Abuse Business Manager, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021-2024, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement between 16 -23 December 2021)

SITTING AS THE CRIME AND DISORDER SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

The meeting resumed at 12 :28pm.

The Chairman advised that this item invited the Committee to consider and comment on the adoption and publication of the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021/2024, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement between the 16 and 23 December 2021.

The report had been circulated separately to members of the Committee on 8 December 2021 for their consideration.

The Chairman invited Jade Thursby, Domestic Abuse Business Manager, to remotely. present the item to the Committee.

Attached at Appendix A to the Executive Councillor report was a copy of the Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021/2024 for consideration by the Committee.

The report referred to the background behind the obligations of the authority to publish the final strategy by 5 January 2022; the direction that Lincolnshire would be taking in the next three years in relation to the Domestic Abuse agenda, and the pivotal role Lincolnshire County Council had in delivering the work and new statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, particular reference was made to Part 4 of the Act which provided a four-part statutory framework for the delivery of support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in safe accommodation and provided clarity over governance and accountability; and ensuring Lincolnshire had a robust response to the wider Domestic Abuse agenda with the production of an operational delivery plan and subsequent commissioning plans for both outreach and accommodation-based services.

During consideration of this item, the Committee highlighted some of the following comments:

·       Clarity was sought around the number of safe accommodations that could be accessed throughout the county and if there were any plans to provide any additional accommodation.  Assurance was provided that within the strategy, under the commissioning section, advised of the services currently commissioned in Lincolnshire which were an Outreach and Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Service (IDVA) as well as a Refuge Service to support individuals experiencing domestic abuse and their children.  In addition to the commissioned services there were other non-sustainably funded provision provided in the south of the county by a local charity South Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Service (SoLDAS).  The Committee was advised that the intention was for further accommodation to be commissioned in line with the Domestic Abuse Act and funding availability, to ensure future consistency and standard across the county. It was also highlighted that a new refuge unit and dispersed accommodation was also coming into place in March 2022;

·       Reference was made to disabled persons being at risk of abuse as highlighted in the report. Assurance was given that reporting of domestic abuse and data collection were featured in the strategy and there was acknowledgement that people that have disabilities, both physical and otherwise, did suffer from domestic abuse.  It was also reported that the figures for Lincolnshire were not above the average in comparison to national figures. The strategy was inclusive of all individuals and victim groups, including people with disabilities;

·       Lincolnshire was below the national average in terms of the number of individuals who spoke a foreign language as their main language and it was highlighted that 69.3% of those who spoke English well, was below the national average. It was felt that this could be associated with the rurality of the county.  Further information was sought as to, what mitigations were in place to ameliorate the risk of abuse suffered amongst those individuals. Assurance was provided, that translation services were available in areas of the county where it was needed and that this was a key priority to the partnership. Moreover, the partnership was working with some particular workers from certain cultural backgrounds to mitigate risks and provide support;

·       Members requested further information around staffing numbers within the department, whether there were vacancies, and if younger people were encouraged to enter the sector.  Assurance was offered in terms of the central partnership team that worked with in Lincolnshire County Council who supported this agenda and pushed elements forward, in light of the £1.4m and the responsibilities under these statutory duties, that team was being expanded and recruitment was imminent in the coming months.  In terms of the commissioned service and other services within Lincolnshire (charity-based organisations), there was staff turnover due to the nature of the work. Assurance was also provided that as part of the recommissioning process, staffing level capacity, future training opportunities for individuals looking at joining this area as well as wages were all being reviewed; and

·       Members requested more information on the support available to staff working in this particular area, including mental health support.  Assurance was provided, that this was being investigated for staff who may not be working directly with victims but were however exposed to information that could be traumatising. The commissioned service offered one-to-one provision and regular supervision not only in relation to workload but also in regard to emotional and well-being needs. This was being monitored through official commissioning arrangements.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended thanks to the Domestic Abuse Business Manager for her presentation.

RESOLVED

1.      That the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee unanimously supported the recommendation to the Executive Councillor Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement as set out on page three of supplementary report pack.

2.      The Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee agreed that the comments listed above be forwarded on to the Executive Councillor. Children’s Services, Community Safety and Procurement in relation to this item.