Transcript Document
Scrutiny Commission on Domestic Violence Amanda Bradley, Head of Children and Families Social Care 24th November 2011 Overview • Why is DV a priority? • How are we addressing it? • What are our key services / approaches? • Identifying service gaps / opportunities Priority • Between January and August 2011: – 2348 reported incidents – 1101 involved children • DV is the primary cause of referrals to Children’s Social Care • A key factor in majority of Child Protection cases • Devastating impact on a child/children • Linked to other forms of abuse • Priority area for LSCB Addressing it • Strong protocol with Police - Need to maintain this / police restructure • All cases notified to Referral & Assessment • The response is monitored closely / Front Door Model • Well Being Panels / CAF ensure early support is provided • Up-skilling staff across the partnership • Training (LSCB, DV Forum, E-learning, schools) • Multi-agency – Education/HV proposals. Key services / systems • • • • • • • • • Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme – Voluntary programme for men who are concerned about their behaviour towards a partner/expartner. Community Domestic Violence Programme – For men who have committed at least one domestic violence offence. Integrated Offender Management – Identifies and prioritises interventions for the most prolific offenders. Options Service – Confidential advice to women on domestic violence issues. Places for People Women’s Refuge – 12 unit purpose built refuge for women at risk of domestic violence. &Young Person’s DV Worker WHIST (Women’s Health in South Tyneside) – Operates the Freedom Programme; a 12 week course empowering women to make informed choices about their future. Sanctuary Scheme – A victim-centred initiative which aims to enable households at risk of violence to remain safely in their homes. MARAC a multi-agency forum for addressing the risk to victims where serious injury or fatality is highly likely. Specialist DV Courts- A targeted Court service for victims of DV. Key Services continued • Wide scale issue – has to be addressed by universal services – ‘up skilling’ – Health Visitors – School Nurses – Drug & Alcohol Workers • Targeted – CAMHS, provide therapeutic support • Specialist – Social work, assessments of need & risk Our Approach • Early Intervention – Screening tool used at Laygate – Family Support Service staff trained to deliver Freedom Programme • Think Family – Service redesign, a co-ordinated approach – Commissioning, based on local need – Evidence based interventions • Better support for those at risk Gaps/Opportunities • Services for children & young people affected by DV • Addressing violence in teenage relationships • Child to parent violence • Identifying cases earlier • Changing local culture – what is acceptable? • Think family – new service models Any Questions? Thank you