1. Domestic Abuse Middlesbrough Council Claire Moore DA Operational Coordinator

2. Role of DA Operational Coordinator
Coordinate Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership
Implementation of Strategy, Operational Plan and local Initiatives
Contract Management
White Ribbon Partnership
Needs Assessment
Preparing specification for the new service

3. Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2016 - 2020
Tackling violence against women and girls everybody’s business.
Early identification and intervention priority to stop violence and abuse from escalating
Victims get the right support at the right time
Transformation of service provision

4. Middlesbrough Strategy 2016 Preventing Domestic Abuse
Prevent offending
Prevent reoffending
Support victims
Monitor and challenge

5. Priorities
Improve outcomes for victims, perpetrators and children/ young people
Prevent violence and abuse from happening in first place
Forensic data analysis and strategic needs assessment to understand local picture.
Increase awareness and change attitudes

6. Middlesbrough Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership
Focused on long term prevention and reduction of Domestic Abuse
Key partners meeting to form a local response and identify need
Identifying commissioning and strategic priorities
Partner participation

7. Preventing Domestic Abuse
In Middlesbrough preventing Domestic Abuse is a priority for action.
Middlesbrough council currently commissions a range of specialist support services for victims, perpetrators and children affected by domestic abuse

8. Preventing Domestic Abuse
In March 2018 we are recommissioning domestic abuse services.
To prepare for this we are conducting a domestic abuse needs assessment.
This will map all points of access to a service, service capacity and gaps.
It will help us understand what is needed in Middlesbrough

9. Preventing Domestic Abuse
Good commissioning begins with an understanding that VWAG victims and survivors are expertise in their own lives and are integral to future design of services. It is important we understand from agencies and stakeholders how we respond and the referral pathways accessed.

10. Needs Assessment
Local Specialist Services experience of, and data around needs and gaps.
Qualitative and Quantitative data from wider stakeholders public and voluntary Services
Evidence of Need ( Health, DHR, Housing)
Demographics of population and need
Impact Assessment

11. Commissioning
Specialist service providers and stakeholders have a breadth of expert knowledge and experience to draw on.
Involving specialist services and stakeholders gives increased confidence in getting future services right for your area.

12. Needs Assessment Data analysis Consultation framework
Surveys completed based on national statement of expectations (service users, specialist providers stakeholders)
Consultation event and service user focus Groups

13. Local Knowledge
The level of reported Domestic Abuse in Middlesbrough is very high, which places a huge burden on local resources
Significant impact on Safeguarding demand
Underlying cultural issue

14. Local VWAG Services

15. Commissioned Services
IDVA
Counselling Service
Crisis accommodation and support
DA Link Worker
Resettlement support
Therapeutic and Prevention programme for Children and Young People
Perpetrator Programme
BME Specialist Provision

16. Commissioning
Good commissioning begins with an understanding that VWAG victims and survivors are expertise in their own lives and are integral to future design of services.
They have unique knowledge and understanding and can contribute in a meaningful way.

17. Mapping Provision Different elements of Domestic Abuse
Levels of need ( including unmet)
Pathways
Points of access to service
Duplication
Gaps in provision
Missed Opportunities
Value

18. Unreported / Unrecognized
Data sets of those identified as at high risk from domestic abuse still show relatively low numbers of people with health and social care needs.
Underreported or recognised than in the general population.

19. Statutory Responsibilities
MBC Legal Obligations Care Act 2014
Make or cause enquiries to be made if it believes an adult is risk of experiencing abuse or neglect
Prevent care and support needs arising from domestic abuse
Information about service available prevent abuse and safeguard themselves

20. Safeguarding, domestic abuse and carers
Care act defines a carer as someone who ‘provides or intends to provide care for another adult’
LA has a statutory duty to assess a carer support needs. This is currently provided by Carers Together

21. Safeguarding, domestic abuse and carers
Carers may cause harm through abuse or neglect of person they care for
They may be caused harm by the person they care for
Or they maybe observers / reporters of harm by others

22. Safeguarding, domestic abuse and carers
Some people with care and support needs might be intentionally abusive to their carers.
Others may not have capacity to choose to be abusive or their disability / health needs may cause abusive behaviour.

23. Safeguarding, domestic abuse and carers
Potential for domestic abuse in caring relationship tends to be greater when the carer is a partner or close relative and where the carer is trying to support a relative with problematic substance misuse.

24. Alert to Situations
Where there is harmful intent on the part of the carer and/ or where unintentional harm is having serious impact on persons well being.

25. Support and Intervention
Support to address DA should be offered if abuse is causing carers physical and or mental health to deteriorate or is preventing them caring for another adult. The carer may feel unable to leave or seek help because they are concerned about leaving person they care for with perpetrator or fear about caring for them alone.

26. DA Prevention Identifying Abuse Enabling and encouraging Disclosure
Assessments
Respect client autonomy,
Help them plan for future safety,
Overcome isolation
Help them make informed decisions

27. Alerts : Abuse towards Carer
Engages in abusive or aggressive behaviours
History of substance misuse or unusual offensive behaviours
Does not understand actions or impact on carer
Angry about situation and seeks to punish others for it

28. Alerts : Abuse towards Carer
Relationship unsatisfactory
Communication difficult
Health and social care needs exceed carers ability to meet them
Does not consider need of carer
Rejects help and support from outside
Refuses to be left alone day or night
Has control over finances / property living arrangements

29. Alerts : Carer as abuser
Unmet or unrecognised needs of their own
and they themselves are vulnerable
Lack of understanding of person care and support needs
Unwillingly had to change lifestyle
Are not receiving practical or emotional help
Sought help and support did not meet thresholds

30. Overlapping Issues Requested help but problems not solved
Feel unappreciated by person caring for or exploited by family or services
Feeling emotionally and socially isolated undervalued or stigmatised
Have other responsibilities such as work / family
No personal or private space outside of caring environment

31. Pressures
The perpetrator might be elderly or have health needs of their own
Conditions that lead to violence
Transitions of care
Medication
Is criminal justice response appropriate

32. Challenges
The Distinction between intentional harm and unintentional harm
Some actions carers arise due to lack of coping skills and/ or unmet care and support needs
Others may be intentional
May use needs of victim as a way to establish power and control ‘you wont cope without me’

33. Challenges
Under recognised by health and social care professionals – low disclosure rate
Barriers to reporting , dependency , traditional views on marriage / gender roles,
Prolonged abuse makes it difficult to access help
Assumptions about age leads to missed opportunities

34. Challenges
Health and mobility issues might affect victim ability to access services
Might have limited eligibility for housing legal or financial support – leaving might have costly care costs or accommodation which is adapted might not be available
The victim might be reluctant to leave or have complex needs which prevent them from doing so

35. Challenges Victim might have inability to understand acts as abusive
Multiple carers
Habitual submission to authority
The abuser is the adult child or grandchild
Less likely to report – feel torn as want them to get help. Blame themselves

36. Challenges
DA services are they the right service to support. Experience and understanding of challenges a carer might face could be limited
Does Domestic abuse describe situation. Do they see themselves in the stories of DA specialist services

37. Recommendations
DA referrals should be considered but not always appropriate referral. If DA identified often requires different approach. Better to assess needs of adult and carer and ensure provision of extra support.
Assessments for carers which address their own mental health needs and ensures they are not placing themselves and/ or cared for person at risk

38. Recommendations
Alongside work with victim look for support services for a vulnerable perpetrator
Speak to DA services about experience with particular examples/ cases.
Build strong partnerships with services carer or client is using
Share information where appropriate – and maintain contact / visit at home

39. Recommendations Drop in sessions at safe places they can easily access
Face to face communication – meets needs
Access to accommodation re adapted
Access to information advice and guidance , re elderly / disability

40. Recommendations Strategies to be developed ‘ carers aware’
Professionals need to develop response to carers in line with Care Act 2014
Friends and family or ‘informal networks’ hold vital information around the level of risk

41. Recommendations
Campaigns should be tailored to specific minority communities who may face multiple barriers when accessing services and support or raise awareness about the importance of third-party reporting.

42. Contact Details Claire Moore 01642 728691
Stakeholder Survey
http: consult.middlesbrough.gov.uk/portal/da stakeholder