Agenda item

            (a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee support the ongoing work of the Neighbourhood Housing Team in tackling domestic abuse.

The Neighbourhood Housing Manager introduced a report to provide an overview and update of the work taking place within Neighbourhood Housing in relation to customers who were affected by domestic abuse. 

                        The Committee were shown a dvd entitled ‘Leaving’ which had been requested by Councillor Peter Curtis.  In response to a comment from Councillor George Hardcastle about the content of the dvd, the Neighbourhood Housing Manager said that it was hardhitting and disturbing but was a harsh reality of the issues that some Council tenants faced. 

                        The Neighbourhood Housing Manager explained that it was difficult to measure the number of cases of domestic abuse as not all incidents were reported.  Figures provided by Police indicated that there were 2348 recorded incidents of domestic abuse in Flintshire in 2012/13 and on average, people had 30 experiences of domestic abuse before they sought help. 

                        Councillor Hilary Isherwood felt that the dvd had been difficult to watch.  She spoke of issues around domestic abuse, both physically and mentally, and how it could be-little people that were experiencing it and highlighted the fact that a significant number of people over the age of 70 were also domestically abused.  She felt that discussions around domestic abuse should be included in the school curriculum and said that it was important to highlight the issue before it became a problem.  Councillor Isherwood said that the dvd highlighted that making the call to seek help was difficult.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager commented on the work of the Housing Officers and the relationships that the officers built up with the tenants and said that it was important that the officers were trained to deal with such disclosures of domestic abuse.

                        Councillor Sharon Williams thanked the officer for the dvd and welcomed the training for Housing officers to allow them to look out for any signs of domestic abuse.  She spoke of signposting to agencies that could provide assistance and support for victims and welcomed that awareness of the issue was being raised within the Housing Service.         

The Neighbourhood Housing Manager commented on the multi-agency arrangements around domestic abuse and spoke of the work undertaken at the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).  The number of referrals to MARAC by housing staff had historically been low but it was felt that this could be because an appropriate referral had already been made to MARAC by other agencies or the Police.  This had prompted the team in Neighbourhood Housing to ask whether there were opportunities to identify domestic abuse being missed.  The Housing Service was working with the Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator within Community Safety and other social landlords in the area to enhance the approach to identifying and dealing with incidents of domestic abuse. 

It was reported that Housing Officers and front line staff who may go into customer’s homes would be trained, which would also include the Council’s Income Officers who were to be trained in recognising domestic abuse and being confident to ask the right questions.  Trades staff such as joiners would also be given awareness training so that they would know what to do if they attended a property and had concerns about domestic abuse.  Recruitment of additional specialist officers in anti-social behaviour would allow them to also be the lead officers within neighbourhood housing for reports of domestic abuse and would act as a link between neighbourhood housing, support services and other agencies such as the police.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager said that the Housing Service was also looking to develop clear branding, such as badges or a lanyard, so that customers could clearly identify who was trained in domestic abuse to allow customers to overcome concerns when wanting to disclose incidents.  She also provided details of re-charges where damage to a property had been caused by a perpetrator of the abuse rather than the tenant, and issues to be considered by Anti-Social Behaviour Officers when dealing with complaints.

Councillor Gareth Roberts highlighted the excellent work undertaken by Delyn Women’s Aid and the difficulties that victims of domestic abuse experienced in disclosing incidents.  Councillor Ian Dunbar welcomed the fact that the issue of domestic abuse was being highlighted within the Housing Service and the suggestion that badges or lanyards were to be considered for clear identification of trained officers.  He commented on a situation where a victim of domestic abuse lived close to their family and support network and whether in such cases it was possible to move the perpetrator out of the property rather than relocating the victim away from their family.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager said that powers were different depending on whether the perpetrator was the tenant or not and she commented on the powers within the Housing Act and Anti-Social Behaviour Act.  The Police were also to have additional powers where they could exclude the perpetrator for 48 hours but this could be extended to 28 days if an application to the Magistrates was successful. 

In response to a question from Councillor George Hardcastle, the Neighbourhood Housing Manager said that there were formal information sharing meetings with the Police and other agencies as well as regular contact on an ad hoc basis.  The recruitment of specialist domestic abuse officers had also given the Housing Service the capacity to deal with the issue. 

Councillor Rosetta Dolphin asked whether counselling would be provided to officers dealing with reports of domestic abuse.  The Neighbourhood Housing Manager confirmed that counselling would be offered and spoke of the Council’s responsibility to the health and wellbeing of its staff.  Councillor Sharon Williams felt that people did not know what help was available to them if they were experiencing domestic abuse and welcomed the ongoing support that was to be provided by officers within the Housing Team.  Councillor Marion Bateman suggested that the dvd also be shown to the Social and Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee as she felt that it was important for as many people as possible to see the dvd.  In response to a comment from Councillor Isherwood, the Neighbourhood Housing Manager said that older people did not always relate to the wording of ‘domestic abuse’ and suggested that different wording be considered. 

            RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee support the ongoing work of the Neighbourhood Housing Team in tackling domestic abuse.