CC(3) DA52

Communities and Culture Committee

Scrutiny Inquiry : Domestic Abuse

Response from Torfaen County Borough Council on behalf of the Torfaen Community Safety Partnership and the Torfaen Domestic Abuse Forum

1. Strategic background

1.1 Torfaen County Borough Council has adopted the All Wales National Strategy for tackling Domestic Abuse and has developed its action plan under the following headings:

• Support and protection for victims of domestic abuse and their children
• Perpetrator accountability
• Prevention and influencing the next generation

1.2 The Torfaen Domestic Abuse Forum is a multi agency partnership, consisting of representation from key statutory and voluntary sector agencies involved in the delivery of services to all affected by domestic abuse.

1.3 The Torfaen Domestic Abuse Forum oversees the development and delivery of Torfaen’s domestic abuse action plan.  The Forum takes its strategic lead from the Torfaen Community Safety Partnership and the Local Safeguarding Children Board.  It is currently establishing links with the Children and Young People and the Health Social Care and Well Being partnerships.

1.4 Following the appointment of the Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator in 2003, the work of the Domestic Abuse Forum and its subgroups has become more sophisticated.  A well developed training programme has resulted in a raised awareness and understanding of domestic abuse and the impact on service delivery in statutory and voluntary agencies.  The Domestic Abuse Forum has a detailed action plan which addresses perpetrator accountability, raising awareness of healthy and unhealthy relationships with children and young people and support and protection for adult victims and their children.

1.5 The Community Safety Partnership provides funding for the Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator (in addition to the £27,500 grant from WAG), administrative support for the co-ordinator and the Forum and the multi agency training programme.

1.6 The Community Safety Partnership supports the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme, is committed to the IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) and provides the additional funding necessary to make this a full time post.

2. Support and Protection for victims of domestic abuse and their children

2.1 Over the last five years there has been a sea change in the way in which domestic violence and abuse is treated by the police and other key agencies.  All police officers who now attend a 'domestic’ have to complete a DV1 form which not only registers the assault but defines its nature and circumstance.  This is leading to better understanding of the nature and extent of the problem which in turn allows services to be better tailored.

2.2 At present adult victims of domestic abuse in Torfaen can access services from Torfaen Women’s Aid, Cymdeithas Tai Hafan, Victim Support and the IDVA for advocacy and support.  There are also close links with BAWSO and Project DYN in Cardiff.

2.2.1. Torfaen Women’s Aid manages 2 refuges, one for women with children and one for women without children or women who do not have their children living with them.  One of the refuges has a unit for women with disabilities.  In addition, Torfaen Women’s Aid provides a floating support service which can be accessed through the local TeSS (Tenancy Support Scheme), This service is available to anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse and who needs support in maintaining a tenancy.  At present, all support services within Torfaen Women’s Aid are funded by Supporting People grant.

2.2.2 Cymdeithas Tai Hafan provides a floating support service for victims of domestic abuse who need support in maintaining a tenancy.  The scheme has recently been extended to include support for victims of domestic abuse in owner occupied properties.   The scheme is funded by Supporting People grant.

2.2.3 Victim Support provides a service to victims of domestic abuse as part of their general service to victims of crime.

2.2.4 Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)

The IDVA provides advocacy, information and support to high and very high risk victims of domestic abuse who are going through the criminal and/or civil justice system.   This includes risk management and safety planning for victims and their children.  The IDVA is a standing member of the MARAC.  Through the IDVA key information is fed into the MARAC process.  The IDVA is an essential part of any safety plan agreed at a MARAC.

2.3 Links with CJS

2.3.1 Torfaen is part of the Gwent Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme.  The Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator and Community Safety Officer represent Torfaen on the strategic Pan Gwent SDVC Management Group.

2.3.2 On a operational level, the IDVA has developed strong links with the local  Police Domestic Violence Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service, Witness care, Witness Service and the local Courts.

2.4 MARAC

2.4.1 Following the implementation of Gwent Police’s Domestic Violence Risk Assessment form, the MARAC process was introduced in Torfaen in March 2006.

2.4.2 Since implementing the MARAC and raising domestic abuse as a child protection issue, Torfaen has seen a change in the reasons why children are registered.  The largest category is now registered under emotional abuse.

2.4.3 At present the overwhelming majority of MARAC referrals come from the Police.  A recent review identified a number of key areas which need to be addressed to make the process more multi agency.  In particular the review identified the need to develop a multi agency risk assessment form and a multi agency referral procedure.

2.5 Multi agency centre

2.5.1 Torfaen Community Safety Partnership, together with the Domestic Abuse Forum is currently in the process of securing accommodation for a multi agency centre for all those affected by domestic abuse.

2.5.2 It is the intention to co-locate the existing service providers, i.e. Torfaen Women’s Aid, Tai Hafan and the IDVA in the premises.

2.5.3 Once established, it is the intention to further develop the remit of the centre to encourage increased reporting of domestic abuse and to provide programmes for victims to make them less vulnerable.  It is the intention to involve service users in this process.

2.6 Complex Needs

2.6.1 In view of increased awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on mental ill health and drug and alcohol use, and the recognition that complex needs are best addressed simultaneously by relevant agencies, a Task and Finish Group was formed to develop an integrated care pathway between service providers from the three sectors.  

2.6.2 A baseline data collection day is scheduled in Torfaen for the first of July to establish the number of service users who are presenting with complex needs and who are accessing services from more than one agency.

2.6.3 An integrated pathway pilot is due to commence in Torfaen on September 1^st.   Participating agencies from all three sectors will routinely ask their service users about the other issues and engage relevant agencies routinely in their support plans.

2.6.4 Regular data collection should establish an increased identification of service users with complex needs and an increased delivery of services across the agencies.

2.7 Sexual violence and abuse

2.7.1 Torfaen has discussed the Cross Government Sexual Violence and Abuse Action plan and carried out an audit from which it became clear that a number of identified actions are already in place, mainly because they were listed as mandatory.

2.7.2 There is currently a SARC in Risca, which covers the whole of Gwent.  In reality, it is not always easily accessible to victims in Torfaen.  Since sexual violence in an abusive relationship does not always require crisis support, accessing the SARC is not always the best option.  Counselling can be accessed through New Pathways in Merthyr Tydfyll, but there is a waiting list.

2.7.3 Torfaen Women’s Aid and the IDVA have identified that 40% of their clients have experienced sexual abuse in their relationship.  The IDVA has received CAADA training to deal with the specific issues.  TWA however has no staff specifically trained and no capacity to deal with these issues.  Additional funding is needed to develop this aspect of the service.  Although Home Office funding is available for an ISVA post, this funding  only appears to be available on a year to year basis, making it difficult to develop and sustain a service.  

2.7.4 The plan suggests that the local Domestic Abuse Forum takes on the responsibility for the actions outlined in the plan.  However, at present the Forum has neither the strategic strength nor the necessary resources to do this.

2.8 Services for children and young people

2.8.1 At present there are no specific services for children.  Torfaen Women’s Aid Refuge has no funding for children’s worker.

• The most recent Supporting People GNME needs analysis identified:
• a need for services specifically for young men affected by domestic abuse
• a need for family support & support for children

2.8.3 Although developing specific services for children and young people is included in the Torfaen Domestic Abuse Forum’s action plan, without new funding it will not be possible to act on any identified needs.

3. Perpetrator accountability

3.1 Torfaen CBC is currently attempting to set up a non mandatory, community based perpetrator programme.  Funding has been secured for a pilot programme for 2008 - 2009, however financial sustainability may be an issue.

3.2 The programme is being developed by a multi agency strategic steering group, consisting of representatives from Social Services, Probation, CafCass and Community Safety.

3.3 The programme will be based on the IDAP programme currently run by Probation and supported by a programme manager and a Women’s Safety Worker.  Sessional group facilitators will be used to run the groups.

4. Prevention

4.1 After a successful funding application by Torfaen, Gwent received a one off Home Office grant to carry out safer relationships work with children and young people.  The aim of the safer relationships programme is to address potential abusive behaviour in young people before it becomes entrenched and to change perceptions of what is healthy and unhealthy in a relationship.

4.2 With funding from the grant, Gwent Theatre performed 'The Lizards Tale’ in 69 secondary schools across Gwent.  The play addressed the effects of domestic abuse on the family and on a teenage son in particular.  The play was originally commissioned in 1999 by Newport Domestic Abuse Forum.  The play was followed by workshops in which pupils discussed the issues raised in the play.  All those attending were given a green wristband with the All Wales Domestic Abuse help line’s number on the inside.  The feedback from pupils and staff was overwhelmingly positive.

4.3 In addition, the grant enabled the production of a 'Safer Relationships Resource Pack’ for use in education and youth services.  The pack consists of 7 sessions, each with a number of activities.  The activities address relationship issues ranging from early family relationships to one to one relationships and abusive behaviour.  The final session addresses support needs and how to access services.  

4.4 Work on the play and the Safer Relationships Resource pack highlighted the lack of specific support services for young people.  Although children and young people can access Childline, the domestic abuse number given out on the wristbands is primarily a help line for adult victims of domestic abuse.

5. Conclusions

5.1 Torfaen County Borough Council is committed to the implementation of the All Wales National Domestic Abuse Strategy and this is reflected in the Domestic Abuse Forum’s action plan.  

5.2 The Community Safety Partnerships is committed to the Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator and the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor’s posts.  In addition, the partnership funds the domestic abuse training programme.  

5.3 Some of the actions identified in the plan may initially be implemented with no or very little new funding: the complex needs integrated care pathway asks agencies to work in a different way, using existing resources.  It should however be noted that increased identification may result in an increased demand on services which agencies may not be able to deliver without additional funds.

5.4 Current domestic abuse services in Torfaen are funded by Supporting People.  Although Tai Hafan now does have some units which enable them to provide a service to those in owner occupied properties, the Supporting People funding is primarily targeted at those who are experiencing domestic abuse and have difficulties maintaining their tenancy.  Having to rely so heavily on one specific funding stream presents agencies with difficulties, when those who do not meet these criteria want to access the services.

5.5 Lack of new funding and uncertainty about current funding streams will make it difficult to sustain the current programme and implement new actions identified in the local action plan, specifically actions with regard to services for children and young people, perpetrator accountability and preventative work.

6. Recommendation

6.1 That the Welsh Assembly Government develops a long term funding strategy which will sustain current activities and enable the implementation of new initiatives identified under the strategic headings in the All Wales National Strategy to tackle Domestic Abuse.

Immy Lee
Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator
Torfaen.

16^th May 2008.