CC(3) DA49
Communities and Culture Committee
Scrutiny Inquiry: Domestic Abuse
Response from Ynys Môn Community Safety Partnership
As a Community Safety Partnership we have responded in depth via the WLGA (copy attached), but would like to make some additions that are outside of the Ynys Mon County Council’s normal remit:-
1. The availability and accessibility of support for different groups; including counseling services for men, women, children, people from ethnic minority communities, older people and disabled people.
2. The provision of services for adults and children who have suffered sexual abuse within a domestic context.
There are currently no dedicated support services for DV victims that are male or from the BME population on Ynys Môn. Gorwel, the Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Service, the Adult Mental Health Service and Victim Support generically aim to support men and women.
3. The response of different sectors to domestic abuse, including, criminal justice, health and social care agencies
It is difficult to get health on board with DV, but this is starting to happen as a result of some recent inquires which are causing joint responses and greater linkages to be forged. For both Health and Mental Health locally, DV is not a priority and collecting DV data does not happen routinely. Social Care agencies are more aware of DV and are represented on the local DV Forum, as is Mental Health.
4. How the National strategy is delivered at a local level, the ways in which different bodies and agencies work with each other to ensure the best response
The national strategy is implemented into the Action Plan of the Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum. There are 20 partner agencies in attendance at the Forum to implement the objectives of the local action plan.
5. The allocation of resources to tackle domestic abuse and any potential conflict between the aims and objectives of different funding sources
There is no dedicated pot of money within most departments for domestic abuse. This makes it difficult in terms of sustainable funding for such posts as local IDVAs and supporting SDVCs from local Authorities. The CSP is therefore keen for the current annual budget for Domestic Abuse Co-ordinators to be enhanced so that the grant funding also incorporates an element which could be used for supporting local initiatives and preventative interventions which could be developed locally.
6. Statistical evidence of the rates and nature of domestic abuse, including incidences of murder, conviction rates, geographical trend
We have good relations with the NW Police analyst who provides the Forum with monthly and 6 monthly reports in regards to Police reported DV and where the hotspots are on the Island.
We are now seeing DV asked in triage at Ysbyty Gwynedd, but it has yet to reach the same data collection status as alcohol now has in PiMs.
7. The impact of isolation exacerbated by, geographical, cultural and individual factors
Rurality issues are vast in both Ynys Môn and our neighbouring County, Gwynedd. We are both still without a SDVC or an IDVA. Currently victims of DV travel vast distances for services and both Ynys Môn and Gwynedd would like to see a peripatetic SDVC to service our Magistrates’ Courts in Dolgellau, Pwhelli, Caernarfon, Llangefni and Holyhead with two full time IDVA posts to service the two Counties.
8. Processes for monitoring and evaluating outcomes
The Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum is facilitated by the Community Safety Team and the local DA Co-ordinator. The forum’s work is closely aligned with the local CSP targets (via the annual Strategic Assessment) and the National DA Strategy criteria. There are checks and balances within the County Council, reporting to the WAG and to the CSP at quarterly intervals.
Mandi Wheatley, Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator, Anglesey Council Community Safety Partnership, County Offices, Llangefni, Ynys Môn LL77 7TW
Tel/Ffôn: 01248 751881 Fax/Ffacs: 01248 752705
Email/Ebost: mwxpp@anglesey.gov.uk
Ynys Môn County Council Response To The WLGA:-
Domestic Abuse Inquiry: Questions to Advisers/Networks on the key roles of Local Authorities in relation to Domestic Abuse
1. What type of services/support does your Dept / directorate / policy area provide to victims of Domestic Abuse?
Managing Director Department - Community Safety Team:
Compliance with the All Wales Domestic Abuse Strategy.
Managing and monitoring Home Office and WAG DA requirements
Part-time Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator (3 days/week + management & admin support)
Strategic and Operational support for the Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum - DA Co-ordinator & CS Manager
Development and maintenance of the Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse strategy and annual action plan (in line with local & National strategies).
Operational support for all Domestic Abuse reduction activities
Liaison with all Domestic Abuse related partner organisations
Development support for new initiatives, services and preventative interventions to tackle domestic abuse.
Strategic Support for MARAC and other Regional and National Domestic Abuse committees and groups.
Continued support for all performance monitoring of violent crime and domestic abuse reduction activities in liaison with the Community Safety Partnership.
Collation of statistics and other qualitative information regarding domestic abuse.
Managing Director Department - Children & Young People’s Partnership
Funding of Play Worker within the Refuge and Outreach settings
Housing and Social Services Department:
Housing Homelessness Section - Accommodation for DV victims
Social Services Children’s Team
Processing referrals, raising concerns in relation to Domestic Violence and child protection.
Fortnightly Domestic Violence Meetings.
Initial Assessments/ Core Assessments
Protecting children
Case Conferences
Case Management of Child Protection Plans/ Planning Meetings/Child in Need Plans/ Court Orders.
Liaising and referrals to appropriate services including, The Freedom Project and Gorwel Domestic Abuse Service in Ynys Mon
Supporting parents to attend The Freedom Project by providing child care.
Attending and contributing to the Ynys Mon Domestic Violence Forum and MARAC
Collation of statistics and other qualitative information regarding Domestic abuse and child protection for The Local Safeguarding Children Board and Management.
Providing Training on the Impact of Domestic Violence on the parenting of children and child Development.
Providing support and direct work for children that have witnessed Domestic Violence.
Adult Mental Health Services
Can receive requests for a mental health service where Domestic Abuse features in the presenting problem
Subject to the severity of the mental health problem, the person can be directed to services specifically related to Domestic Abuse, for practical advice, assistance and support; given an assessment of their mental health needs; offered a service from the team.
If Domestic Abuse is identified at a later stage of involvement, it might be considered under the Protection of Vulnerable Adults.
The Team is represented on the Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum by its Chair who also participates in MARAC arrangements.
The department holds a rehabilitation budget for drugs and alcohol misuse which can be accessed by substance misuse and dual diagnosis workers.
Social Services Supporting People Team
Strategic commissioning of housing related support services for women fleeing domestic violence
Note: Gorwel (local refuge) is hosted via Supporting People.
Education Department:
Education Welfare Team / Schools Liaison Officer - no response received
2. What types of preventative work, if any, does your dept / directorate/policy area undertake in relation to Domestic Abuse?
Ynys Môn County Council has assisted with the following preventative work in the past three years:-
By raising awareness through dissemination of Domestic Abuse information at public events across the Island, such as the Anglesey Show.
By assisting in the running of a conference in 2004 and again in 2008 to share best practice across North Wales and facilitate greater joint working.
By part funding the Môn Home Safe Scheme that provides target hardening for victims of Domestic Abuse as well as victims of hate crimes, and burglary.
By housing a Substance Misuse Co-ordinator and Alcohol Outreach Worker as part of the Community Safety Team to work together on these inter-related issues with Domestic Abuse.
Mental health - Domestic Abuse is not a specifically targeted area for attention.
3. Are there any specific initiatives aimed at different groups of people e.g. women, men, children and young people, older people, people form BME communities, disabled people etc?
The Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum have held presentation mornings on domestic abuse and its effects on children and another one on housing issues. The next presentation will be by BAWSO and Domestic Abuse issues for the BME communities and the recent Forced Marriages Action Plan.
Mental Health - the use of POVA procedures
4. How does your dept/directorate/policy area work with other agencies in terms of providing services/support to victims and/or undertaking preventative work?
Ynys Môn County Council continues to work closely with its partner agencies via the following:-
Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum consisting of 20 members from key partner agencies involved in tackling domestic abuse (the forum is facilitated by the County Council in it’s committee rooms - the Chair is a Senior Mental Health Officer, the agenda is prepared by the domestic abuse co-ordinator, and the minutes are prepared by the Education Department.
Being a part of the data collection pilot with Ysbyty Gwynedd to ascertain extent of substance misuse and domestic abuse routinely in triage.
Providing for the MARACs that are held monthly.
Through the provision of the Crime Prevention Panel
The Housing Department works very closely with Partner Agencies and are participatory members of the Ynys Môn Domestic Abuse Forum, the MARAC and the Ynys Môn Homelessness Forum.
Regularly makes referrals to Gorwel and Cymdeithas Tai Hafan.
Mental health - link with substance misuse services.
5. What do you think your dept/directorate/policy area does well in terms of providing support/services to victims of Domestic Abuse and/or undertaking preventative work and why?
Housing Department has a policy for dealing with DV victims making homelessness presentations.
DV victims get extra points in the scaling for housing
Mental Health - will direct to appropriate services and deal with any mental health concerns pertinent to the team
6. What are the difficulties/challenges for your dept / directorate / policy area in terms of providing support/services to victims of Domestic Abuse and/or undertaking preventative work and why?
Lack of a corporate policy
Data collection and sharing information between Agencies and within the Council
A & E data collection (DV data collection needs to be considered the same as alcohol data collection)
Lack of financial assistance, need a dedicated budget within each Department
Ability to replenish diminishing stocks of promotional material
Require the DV Co-ordinator to be full time
Rurality issues
Obtaining a balance between local and national objectives
Finding long term accommodation for all homelessness clients
Lack of Council accommodation
Recognition of the impact of Domestic Abuse on mental health.
There is currently no system for identifying the prevalence of DV in the number of referrals received by the Mental Health Service
7. Are there any other comments that you would like to make with regards to the role of local authorities in relation to Domestic Abuse?
Corporate approach / manual required to confirm each department’s responsibility to DV
Department’s business plans to incorporate community safety objectives
Because of the lack of available Council stock the Authority continues to bid the Assembly for the private leasing schemes. We have now successfully obtained £1.07 million from WAG for 08/09 private leasing scheme which will help to accommodate DV victims.
The creation of policy to deal with Domestic Abuse if identified in the workplace
