Agenda item

The responsibility for co-ordinating the council and its partners’ work around domestic abuse passed from the Assistant Director Housing and Corporate Services to the Assistant Director for Frontline Services in January 2012.

A report was made to Cabinet on 27 November 2012 on the work undertaken since January 2012.

This report seeks to update the Committee on progress since November 2012. 

Discussion:

The Committee was reminded that the responsibility for co-ordinating the council and its partners’ work around domestic abuse had passed from the Assistant Director Housing and Corporate Services to the Assistant Director - Front Line Services in January 2012.

The Committee received a report setting out progress since the last report in November 2012.

The Committee was advised that there was a multi-agency commitment to the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy 2013 – 2016 which had the following objectives:

• Preventing Abuse - To prevent domestic abuse from happening in the first place, by challenging the attitudes and behaviours which foster it and intervening early to prevent it.

• Provision of Services  - Provide adequate levels of support when domestic abuse occurs.

• Justice Outcomes and Risk Reduction - Take action to reduce the risk to domestic abuse victims and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

• Partnership Working  - Work in partnership to obtain the best outcomes for those affected by domestic abuse and their families.

The Committee was advised of the following national developments and progress in Medway:

-         Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

-         Definition of Domestic Violence

-         Teenage Relationship Abuse and Rape Prevention

-         Stalking Laws

-         Domestic Violence Protection Orders

-         The establishment of a Community Safety Sub Group reporting to the Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board

-         Co-ordination with Kent County Council

-         Commissioning of an Independent Domestic Violence Adviser.

-         Schools Notifications Pilot in five Wards between September 2012 – July 2013.

-         Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse report into defining Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Outcomes

-         Domestic Homicide Reviews

-         Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse

-         Refuges and Housing Related Support

Referring to the Schools Notification Pilot set out at paragraph 4.4.1 of the report, a member requested that a briefing note be provided setting out information on the pilot scheme operated in 5 Wards between September 2012 and July 2013. It was also suggested that a report on the Schools Notification Pilot also be referred to the Health and Adult Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

A member referring to the recently signed military covenant sought clarification as to whether the Council was undertaking any work with the military on domestic abuse and requested that information be submitted to a future meeting on this matter. The Head of Safer Communities advised that no work had been undertaken on this issue to date but agreed that this could be looked at in the future.  

During discussion on this item, as a member had referred to the Schools Notification Pilot (paragraph 4.4.1) Councillor Griffiths declared an interest on the basis that he is a Non-Executive Director of Medway Community Healthcare.

Decision: 

a)                 The content of the report be noted;

b)                 A briefing note be supplied to all members on the Schools Notification Pilot;

c)                  A report on the Schools Notification Pilot be submitted to the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

d)                 Future reports include information on the implications of domestic abuse in military families.