Agenda item

(i)             Report of the Director of Public Health.

(ii)           Presentation by the Public Health Strategic Manager – Living and Ageing Well, Public Health, Adult and Health Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health which provided an overview of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and outlined key implications for the local authority and its partners (for copy see file of minutes).

Jane Sunter, Public Health Strategic Manager, presented the report advising Members of the responsibility of a Tier 1 Local Authority who required the following;

·        Domestic Abuse Local Partnership

·        Overarching Domestic Abuse Strategy

·        System Needs Assessment

·        Safe Accommodation Strategy

·        Accommodation Needs Assessment

·        Co-operation with Tier 2 LA

·        Report Annually to government

The Public Health Strategic Manager advised Members of the Councils statutory duties and the Needs Assessment/Draft Strategy would be available for consultation in January 2022 as well as the Safe Accommodation Strategy.

There were several groups and vulnerabilities that were being underreported, such as family abuse, older people and those with disabilities, people in rural areas and the  LGBT+ population.  Data showed that there was a higher number of female victims but this was an area that tended to be underreported.  With regards to the more vulnerable groups, 28% of the population who were registered as Transgender but the Council were not aware of the number in County Durham.

The Public Health Strategic Manager advised there were a significant number of children and young people who had experienced abuse as a child and were likely to go on to be a perpetrator of abuse when they were adults.  The budget prioritisation process had led the service to increase investment in children and young people prevention agenda and specialist support, and to increase the workforce development.

With regards to referrals into specialist services, Members were advised that there had been an increase in accessing specialist services but rather than be assumed as rising incidents, it could be due to the work undertaken to encourage victims to access services.  An influx had been expected during the pandemic, but this did not happen, so a campaign with Harbour had encouraged people to use the service and enabled them to make contact discreetly.  At one point there were

200 refuge referrals per week.  These referrals did not all require specialist services, some were for advice only.

The Chair left meeting 10.30 am and did not return.  Councillor Lines Chaired the meeting from this point.

Councillor Quinn commented on a perception that domestic violence only occurred with women and children and asked whether there were any plans to target groups such as men and transgender.  The Public Health Strategic Manager advised that the Health Needs Assessment would include further data relating to this area.  Funding had been secured for a Domestic Abuse Coordinator and Workforce Development Lead who would work within the wider system workforce and liaise with Police, Social Care, Children and Young People’s, and the Drug and Alcohol Service.  This role would be responsible for raising awareness and integrating the approach to domestic abuse, which would be based within the strategy going forward.  Councillor Lines added that mental abuse was not considered abuse by some people and these were groups that may particularly suffer from this type of abuse.

Councillor Atkinson was concerned by the underreported incidents of domestic abuse, which he noted was common across other areas in the Council.  He asked what action was needed to address this.  The Public Health Strategic Manager advised that the strategy would include information to expand the knowledge base on what domestic abuse was and include communication on awareness, with victims and perpetrators.  Raising awareness within the wider population and the use of alcohol and its impact on domestic abuse would also be a key priority.

Councillor Sutton-Lloyd had been shocked that his area suffered from a high amount of domestic violence he believed that many people had changed their outlook post COVID-19 which could have contributed to some people the getting help they needed.  As Councillors, the Committee should give as much support towards the strategy.

In response to a question from Councillor Mavin regarding the availability of Safe Accommodation in Durham, the Public Health Strategic Manager advised that at the time of the meeting the demand exceeded availability, however this would be addressed by reconfiguring and reallocating funding.  In addition to dispersal properties, the Domestic Abuse Act did not emphasise the victim leaving the home but rather the perpetrator, and there was a sanctuary scheme to protect the victim and enable them to continue to live in their home.  The Council needed to ensure they had enough properties for the moving on accommodation, used by woman and children who needed to go into hostel.  The assessment would be ready by January and include information relating to safe accommodation.

Councillor Quinn acknowledged that there was a lot of support available for victims however he queried whether there was any support or education for perpetrators.  He highlighted that abuse was part of cycle and those who had been abused were more likely to become a perpetrator, but in some cases a perpetrator may not realise they were being abusive.  There were some individuals who would genuinely want to change their behaviour.

Councillor Simpson left the meeting at this point and did not return.

The Public Health Strategic Manager agreed that this behaviour did tend to be embedded due to peoples lived in experiences and advised that funding had been issued to Harbour who offered a perpetrator course to try and change that behaviour. 

Resolved

1)   That the report be noted.

2)      Acknowledge the statutory requirements placed on the local authority and its partners.