Scrutiny Committee Hear Report On Services Available To Domestic Abuse Victim

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee met recently to be updated on the services available to victims of domestic abuse. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the meeting, the committee heard a report on the instances of domestic abuse and the causes, as well as the services available to victims of this abuse. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report stated that throughout 2015, there were 3064 police logs of domestic abuse reported, while 75% of children on the Child Protection Register have domestic abuse within the household. Despite the high number of incidents reported, this only represents part of the true picture as on average only 23% of all incidents are reported to the police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The services provided to victims of domestic abuse within Caerphilly are done so mainly by third sector agencies with the exception of one direct funded specialist supported worker who supports high risk and very high risk victims through the criminal justice system. Support services offer a co-ordinated multi-agency response to victims of domestic abuse through a single pathway which places the victim and their family at the centre of the tailored support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Victims and their children often require emergency accommodation, which can be accessed 24 hours a day. Within Caerphilly, at any one time, the service is able to provide accommodation and support to 17 families across 4 refuges and 1 safe house. Support is also available if victims wish to return to or remain safely within their home, as a variety of safety measures can be put in place. During 2014/15 the service housed and supported 108 women and 66 children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A wraparound support service for children and young people affected by domestic abuse is also available. In 2014/15 this scheme supported 72 families by encouraging them to work through how domestic abuse has affected them using age appropriate tools and resources while teaching them to stay safe, maintain healthy relationships and move forward. 93% of users reported improved family relationships as a result of this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to the support services provided, an early intervention and prevention outreach scheme has been jointly commissioned by Supporting People and Families First. This service has resulted in 151 families being supported in 2015, including a total of 261 children. Within these, only 5 families have needed access to immediate safe accommodation as an interim measure whilst additional security and safety planning is completed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Due to the early intervention scheme, 146 families have been able to remain safely within their own homes. This ensures that children do not have to move areas, schools, lose the support of friends and family or lose their homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Homelessness prevention is also utilised which supports individuals affected by domestic abuse who are at risk of facing homelessness. This scheme focuses of liaising with landlord regarding eviction proceedings, notices, significant rent arrears and rehousing due to safety or the separation of families. 100% of families helped by this scheme felt safer, while 88% reported improvement management of accommodation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection said: “Vital support is provided to victims of domestic abuse throughout Caerphilly, as well as prevention and intervention services to potential victims, which aims to ensure that families remain as safe as possible at all times. Hundreds of children and families have been helped as a result of working together for a Safer Caerphilly and I am delighted to see what a fantastic different they have made to the lives of those who have suffered domestic abuse”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Support and assistance is available to anyone affected by domestic abuse. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Safer Caerphilly Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm. Please phone 01443 819317 to contact.
Caerphilly Domestic Abuse Service (out of hours) – 02920 860255
All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline– 0808 80 10 800 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​