Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services)

The current domestic abuse strategy for Stockport covers the period 2012-14.  The Draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy for 2015-16 is a new statement of Stockport’s approach to outcomes for adults, families and children and young people who experience domestic abuse.  The strategy sets out the priorities established by the comprehensive ‘Review of Domestic Abuse Services’ carried out in 2013 and is guided by the best available evidence about the long term effectiveness of interventions.

The Executive is asked to approve the draft Domestic Abuse Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2015-16.

Officer contact: Helen Boyle; 0161-474-3145, helen.boyle@stockport.gov.uk

The Executive Councillor (Corporate, Customer & Community Services) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive Meeting to consider a revised Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy for 2015-16 and Action Plan that would inform the approach of partners in Stockport to prevent and respond to domestic abuse.

Councillor Meikle, the Council’s Domestic Abuse Champion, commended the Strategy to the Executive. Executive councillors welcomed the commitment to the multi-agency working demonstrated by the Strategy.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan for 2015-16 be approved.

(2) That officers involved in the preparation of the Strategy be thanked for their contribution.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The current domestic abuse strategy covers the period 2012-14.  The Draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy for 2015-16 is a new statement of Stockport’s approach to outcomes for adults, families and children and young people who experience domestic abuse.  The strategy sets out the priorities established by the comprehensive ‘Review of Domestic Abuse Services’ carried out in 2013 and is guided by the best available evidence about the long term effectiveness of interventions.

A copy of the draft strategy and action plan is appended to this report. The Strategy forms a framework to steer the work of all key partners in Stockport and provides a policy basis for the consistent commissioning and development of provision and services. 

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the draft strategy and implementation plan for 2015-16.

Officer contact Helen Boyle on Tel: 0161-474-3145 or by email on helen.boyle@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy for 2015-16 which was a new statement of Stockport’s approach to outcomes for adults, families and children and young people who experience domestic abuse.  The strategy set out the priorities established by the comprehensive ‘Review of Domestic Abuse Services’ carried out in 2013 and is guided by the best available evidence about the long term effectiveness of interventions.

A copy of the draft strategy and action plan was appended to the report and formed a framework to steer the work of all key partners in Stockport and provided a policy basis for the consistent commissioning and development of provision and services.

The Deputy Executive Leader and Portfolio holder for Corporate, Customer and Community Services (Councillor Iain Roberts) attended the meeting to answer member’s questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The need for all front line officers to be appropriately trained to be able to support victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse they may encounter.

·         The role of Councillor, as community champions, in leading the fight against domestic abuse locally.

·         The Strategy recognised that domestic abuse can affect anyone irrespective of gender, sexuality, age, class, religion or ethnicity.

·         A significant number of incidents of domestic abuse are alcohol related and there was a need to continue to work with mental health, Domestic Abuse and Alcohol Services.

RESOLVED – That the draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy for 2015-16 be noted.

To consider a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Stockport Council)

The current domestic abuse strategy covers the period 2012-14.  The Draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy for 2015-16 is a new statement of Stockport’s approach to outcomes for adults, families and children and young people who experience domestic abuse.  The Strategy sets out the priorities established by the comprehensive ‘Review of Domestic Abuse Services’ carried out in 2013 and is guided by the best available evidence about the long term effectiveness of interventions.

The draft strategy and action plan is included in the agenda. The Strategy forms a framework to steer the work of all key partners in Stockport and provides a policy basis for the consistent commissioning and development of provision and services.

The Board is invited to comment on the draft Strategy.

Officer contact: Helen Boyle, 0161-474-3145, helen.boyle@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for People (Stockport Council) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Board to consider a revised Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan that was currently being consulted on. It was emphasised that there were approximately 5000 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by Police last year, 3000 of which were in setting with children.

The Strategy and Action Plan recognised the need for cooperation between agencies to provide better preventative services (including awareness raising in schools); to develop a series of interventions when abuse was identified (such as homeless referrals); and improvement in the treatment of perpetrators to prevent future incidents.

Oversight and governance of the Strategy and Action Plan would mirror that for Troubled Families pathway, which had been a successful approach to providing quicker and targeted intervention through multi-agency working.

The following issues were raised:-

·         Greater emphasis was needed on wider services that could contribute to the Strategy, such as district nursing, as the current Strategy had an understandable, but too narrow a focus on children’s services.

·         Significant improvements had been made in recent years to ensuring the response of agencies was more cohesive, and this was a development of that. Significant risk would remain in relation to sharing of information and communication between agencies.

·         It was important to ensure professionals and front line staff were supported as responding to domestic abuse and other problems could be overwhelming.

·         There were really deficiencies in the current regulatory system to identify risks to adults living in care homes and nursing homes. Efforts to encourage relationship building between the new health and social care locality hubs and local care homes to improve monitoring providing support  was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That the Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan be welcomed and the Council Executive be recommended to approve the Strategy and Plan, subject to the comments of this Board.