Integrated Children's Services Report 2017-2020 and Plan 2021-2023
Strengthen strategic plans in recognition of national policy directives on prevention of domestic abuse.
Our Local Improvement priorities are:
To continue to address issues relating to Domestic Abuse across the Community Planning Partnership
What we will do 2017-2020:
Establish West Dunbartonshire Violence Against Women Strategy Group (VAW) with Argyll and Bute in line with Police Scotland Divisional Boundaries
Share learning, training and development across new wider partnerships
Explore opportunities for delivering Safer Together programme across the new wider partnership
Deliver integrated and appropriate housing approach to meet the needs of those affected by domestic abuse, including No Home for Violence
Reinforce Domestic Abuse as a key priority of the CPP through development of the new Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP)
Explore the use of preventative strategies locally:
*SACRO development to be explored
*Preventative Group work with young people from backgrounds of domestic abuse
What are the plans and structures that will support us to succeed?
Community Justice Partnership Plan
HSCP Strategic Plan
Equality Mainstreaming Report
Local Outcome Improvement Plan and Safe Strong and Included Delivery and Improvement Group
West Dunbartonshire has a higher than average incidences of domestic abuse. Figures from Police Scotland show 1,395 recorded incidents of domestic abuse were reported in June 2019 and 186 households presented to the Council as homeless. This has the potential to have devastating consequences on families with children. As such we have identified Domestic Abuse as a key priority of our CPP through Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP).
We have established strategies to tackle domestic abuse which follow two main routes of action and are based on the consent of the victim(s).
These two action points are:-
Offering the victim and any dependant/s legal claim back to the matrimonial home via Matrimonial Homes Act (Scotland) 1981; and
Identifying and pursuing appropriate legal restriction to tackle behaviour of the offender.
This approach is designed to protect victims and change the behaviour of perpetrators by the combined use of Multi Agency Risk and Communications Committee’ model (MARAC) and a Multi-Agency Tasking and Co-ordination (MATAC) process.
The MARAC model involves a thorough risk assessment in all reported cases of domestic abuse to identify those at highest risk and to establish the foundation for a multi-agency approach. This is complemented by the MATAC process that aims to identify and target the most harmful perpetrators through analysis of incidents, their frequency and gravity of offending. Identified perpetrators will be referred into the MATAC process where a bespoke set of interventions will be established using a ‘Domestic Abuse Toolkit for West Dunbartonshire’. The No Home for Domestic Abuse service, whether MARAC or MATAC offers a comprehensive, confidential assessment of accommodation and support needs; advice, assistance and housing options as well as advice on rights as a homeless person; temporary or permanent accommodation as appropriate or where required access to specialists support services such as Women’s Aid and Cara Project; access to benefits and debt and money advice to maximise income and reduce the burden of debt.
West Dunbartonshire had 1316 incidents reported to the police in 2018/19. This is fewer than the figure in 2017/18 of 1375.
West Dunbartonshire’s relative position rate per 10,000 population for 2018/19 is second behind Dundee City. The rate per 10,000 population for West Dunbartonshire is 148 which is lower than the rate in 2017/18 which was 153 per 10,000.
The actual number of incidents in West Dunbartonshire is lower in 2018/19 than 2017/18 by 59 and our rate per 10,000 population has reduced by 5 (148 reduced from 153).
West Dunbartonshire Council has become the first social landlord in Scotland to introduce a zero tolerance policy on domestic abuse within its properties. The Council has introduced measures which will ensure victims have immediate access to practical help and specialist legal assistance and support following any incident of domestic abuse. In addition the local authority will use the full scope of Anti-Social Behaviour powers in conjunction with Housing and Matrimonial Homes Legislation to ensure victims can remain at home, whilst the perpetrator will be legally removed, and prevented from returning.
The ‘No Home for Domestic Abuse’ campaign has been successful in protecting victims and their families by introducing a presumption that all tenancies for couples are in joint names. If an incident of domestic abuse occurs, the victim will legally be entitled to remain in the home.
The Council will also takes a tough stance on tenants found guilty of committing domestic abuse by offering them only short-term tenancies and ensuring the property is at a distance from the victim.
Housing staff work in collaboration with partner Police Scotland, Courts and Criminal Justice teams to coordinate swift action against the most serious offenders.
A zero tolerance domestic abuse policy introduced by West Dunbartonshire Council has made a difference to the lives of 130 victims in its first year.
https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/newsroom/news/2019/jun/domestic-abuse/
In 2020 the local CEDAR service was mainstreamed within social work services creating a sustainable platform from which to further develop group and individual opportunities facilitating recovery and reintegration where children and young people have experienced domestic abuse. In addition, The CARA service, based within children social work services continues to provide counselling for adult survivors of gender based violence and domestic abuse, and child survivors of exploitation and sexual abuse and trauma.
West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute established a joint Violence Against Women (VAW) Strategy Group in collaboration with Police Scotland. It was apparent in time, this did not add as much value as was hoped outside information sharing and helping to create a shared post for a MARAC co -ordinator across the two areas. As such, we have reverted to structures based on Council boundaries.
Community Planning West Dunbartonshire is committed to making West Dunbartonshire a great place to live, work and visit. We want to ensure the best possible outcomes for all our residents; ensuring they are empowered to contribute to an inclusive, vibrant and diverse West Dunbartonshire.
This first Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan for our area recognised the national ambition to reduce crime, and the number of victims of crime, by working together to create a just, equitable and inclusive society. We are working with partners to develop this plan post pandemic.
Domestic abuse slides Nov 19.pptNHDABS Feedback report.docxOur Pledge
Working Together - Working together, we will use all of our powers and resources to tackle domestic abuse in our communities.
Breaking the Cycle - We must break the cycle of domestic abuse for the next generation.
Building the community response - Communities have a key role to play in reporting concerns and ensuring perpetrators cannot hide behind closed doors.
A recent action in this initiative has been the ‘No Home for Domestic Abuse: Breaking the Silence’ community conference which was held in Clydebank Town Hall on November14th 2019, led by Housing and Employability, Education, HSCP and Nurtured DIG partners.
The Feedback Report attached reports that the conference achieved attendance of 200. The report includes feedback from round the table discussions that took place and was collected using the ISM approach, where the Individual, Social and Material contexts are considered when determining and monitoring the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions.
