Agenda item

Report of the Head of Communities (SC/24/1) seeking approval to commission an Integrated Domestic Abuse Service for Devon, from April 2025, attached.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared for the attention of Members and is also available on the web at - Commissioning Services to address Domestic Abuse in Devon - Impact Assessment

RESOLVED

(a) that Option 1 - the commissioning of an Integrated Domestic Abuse Service for Devon from April 2025, including improved access, prevention and early intervention, risk planning and advocacy, support for those in safe accommodation and in recovery, and to work with those that harm - be approved; and

(b) that delegated authority be given to the Director of Public Health, Communities and Prosperity in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality, the Chief Executive and the S151 Officer to award the contract.

(Councillors Biederman, Leaver and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Communities (SC/24/1) which sought approval to commissioning an Integrated Domestic Abuse Service for Devon, from April 2025, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Interpersonal and gender-based violence and abuse (IG-BVA) was a global public health issue rooted in gender inequality. Whilst the Report was focused on Domestic Abuse, it was noted that the three elements were intrinsically linked.

In 2021 the new Domestic Abuse (DA) Act came into force and with it a new duty for Devon County Council to establish and convene a Local Partnership Board and, through an assessment of need, develop and deliver a Strategy for Domestic Abuse support. The Council had received allocated funding from the Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities of approximately £1.48 million yearly. The ‘Strategy for delivering Domestic Abuse support in safe accommodation - Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse’ defined the Council’s objectives in reference to this and its Strategic Needs assessment, to improve understanding of communities and individuals affected by Domestic Abuse in Devon, was refreshed in November 2023.

The Domestic Abuse Act recognised for the first time in legislation, children and young people (CYP) affected by familial Domestic Abuse as victims in their own right.

The Council had a duty to provide support in safe accommodation and the District Council’s had a duty to cooperate with County Council to meet the statutory requirements. However, Safe Accommodation in Devon was substantially depleted several years ago following reductions in funding.  Further detailed information about the local needs could be found in the 2023 strategic needs assessment published here: Interpersonal & Gender-based Violence & Abuse - Safer Devon.

The Council wished to remodel and recommission the provision of Domestic Abuse support services for the County, with an anticipated commencement date for the new services on the 1^st of April 2025. The proposed new Service would form an integrated model that covered access, prevention and early intervention, risk planning & advocacy, support in safe accommodation and recovery, and to work with those that harm (demonstrated in Appendix A of the Report). The impact of trauma from domestic abuse was debilitating and long-standing and affected people well beyond the event.

It was essential that a different delivery model followed the life journey of victims/survivors and their families and supported children and young people more effectively. It would facilitate community and support network’s engagement and be designed to address harmful behaviours, reduce risk, and prevent reoccurring victimisation and break the intergenerational cycle of abuse.

The options were outlined in full at section 4 of the Report, as outlined below but options 2 and 3 had been assessed and considered not viable in supporting those affected by domestic abuse effectively and meeting the Council’s statutory duties.

1.    Option 1 - to Commission a full integrated service, as proposed, from 2025 (as described in the Report).

2.    Option 2 - to extend the current community contract until 2026 and continue grant funding the remainder of the projects as per 2024/25.

3.    Option 3 - extend community contract for one or two more years (max 2) and commission support in safe accommodation and therapeutic support only.

The Devon Interpersonal and Gender-based Violence and Abuse Partnership Board had been pivotal in allowing ongoing consultation with stakeholders and partners since its inception in 2021 and the full details of all consultations were outlined in full in section 5 of the Report.

It was proposed that to ensure delivery was viable, that the contract would need to be over a period of 5 years with an additional 4-year extension possible.

An Impact Assessment had been prepared for Members and was also available on the web at - Commissioning Services to address Domestic Abuse in Devon - Impact Assessment. The service would align to the Equality Act and the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policies. The integrated service would be required to proactively address barriers to access such as language and cultural barriers and was required to be sensitive to intersectionality and tailored to be accessible to marginalised groups.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Head of Service’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that Option 1 - the commissioning of an Integrated Domestic Abuse Service for Devon from April 2025, including improved access, prevention and early intervention, risk planning and advocacy, support for those in safe accommodation and in recovery, and to work with those that harm - be approved; and

(b) that delegated authority be given to the Director of Public Health, Communities and Prosperity in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality, the Chief Executive and the S151 Officer to award the contract.