Consultation on proposals to change services for people at risk of violence and abuse 19 September 2016 Jessica Timmins, Strategic Improvement and Development Officer – Housing Support and Domestic Violence Our mission: Working as one to serve our city wolverhampton.gov.uk

What to expect Presentation to provide context Consultation questions Questions and comments from the audience Transformation includes the redesign of Children’s Services, the introduction of Wolverhampton’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, the Troubled Families programme and the council’s Headstart funding. wolverhampton.gov.uk

The need for change Expiry of the current contracts Changing and emerging need Transformation across the council Consultation feedback Transformation includes the redesign of Children’s Services, the introduction of Wolverhampton’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, the Troubled Families programme and the council’s Headstart funding. wolverhampton.gov.uk

The process Strategic review: Needs and gap analysis Service user and consultation feedback Policy, strategy and best practice wolverhampton.gov.uk

The findings Five service types: Accommodation based support Floating support and advocacy Work with perpetrators Target hardening Counseling and therapeutic support wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 1 – male need While men and women experience domestic and sexual violence, the majority of the victims are women and the perpetrators men. The current accommodation based service provider is a specialist women’s organisation. It is required to meet the needs of both female and male victims. Previous consultation feedback tells us that male victims do not want their services ‘adding on’ to specialist female services. They want specialist male services. An appropriate service for male victims is required which takes into consideration the relatively low number of male victims and limited budget available. How do you think accommodation based services for male victims should be provided taking into consideration the relatively low number of male victims and the limited budget available? wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 2 - specialism Services that are able to meet additional needs including needs of people from a Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) background and of people with mental health problems/complex needs are able to engage communities and individuals who may face barriers to accessing statutory and non-specialist voluntary services. The current service is required to provide generic, specialist support rather than specialise further in additional needs. Do you agree that the new accommodation based service should provide specialist support to victims with additional needs including mental health problems/complex needs and people from a BME background? Please give the reason(s) for your answer. wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 3 - prioritisation The council’s Children and Young People service funds accommodation based support services for people at risk of violence and abuse. Children and Young People is responsible for a range of services that keep children and young people safe and improve their life chances. This includes supporting vulnerable families at the earliest point and working together to keep children safe. For this reason, the current service is required to prioritise victims who have dependent children. Do you agree that victims with dependent children should continue to be prioritised by the new accommodation based service? Please give the reason(s) for your answer. wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 4 – out of area usage Around 33% of the victims who access the current accommodation based service are from out of area. Do you agree that Wolverhampton’s accommodation based services should continue to support victims from out of area but put recharge arrangements in place so that the victim’s local authority funds their placement? Please give the reason(s) for your answer. wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 5 – community support Some victims are fearful of statutory services. Providing independent, specialist services to people living in the community are important in engaging hard to reach groups. The current community support service provides independent domestic and sexual violence advocacy, support to resettle into the community and support to maintain independent living. Do you agree that the council should continue to provide independent, specialist community support and advocacy services? Please give the reason(s) for your answer. wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 6 – perpetrator programmes Community based perpetrators programmes enable perpetrators to access help to change their behaviours. Referral to programmes can be made by GPs, early help services and self-referral for example. Wolverhampton does not currently have a community based perpetrator programme. Do you agree that the council should provide a community based perpetrator programme? Please give the reason(s) for your answer. wolverhampton.gov.uk

Consultation question 7 – target hardening Target hardening services carry out security works to victims’ homes to enable them to remain living there. Services are currently available to owner occupiers in receipt of income assessed benefits (via the council’s Safe Homes Scheme), Wolverhampton Homes’ tenants and on an ad-hoc basis, some housing association tenants. It is proposed that target hardening services should be available to all victims regardless of the tenure of their accommodation. Do you agree that the Safe Homes Scheme should be expanded to include homes of all tenure? Please give the reason(s) for your answer. Please feel free to suggest an alternative name for the Safe Homes Scheme. wolverhampton.gov.uk

Questions and comments

Thank you wolverhampton.gov.uk