Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

Councillors A S Khan and P Akhtar, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which detailed progress made against the Domestic Abuse Action Plan and on the commissioning process. The Briefing Note outlined the services that will be provided under the new contracts and updated on the proposed key performance indicators and contract monitoring arrangements.

Over the last 6 months, Public Health, assisted by colleagues in procurement, have progressed the commissioning process for Domestic Abuse Services and Sexual Violence Services. The services were divided into the following four lots, with lots being awarded to the providers indicated:-

·  Lot 1 – Victim and Child Services for information, advice and community based support  - Coventry Haven, Panahghar and Relate (consortium bid)

·  Lot 2 – Victim Supported Accommodation – Valley House

·  Lot 3 – Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Service – Coventry Haven, Panahghar and Relate (consortium bid)

·  Lot 4 – Sexual Violence Support Service – CRASAC

Each lot will be let on the basis of a five year contract, commencing on 1 July 2019, with two, two year extensions (if required), meaning that providers could potentially be in place for a total of nine years.

The Briefing Note highlighted the following key differences between the existing and new domestic abuse services:-

·  A “No Wrong Door” approach between all providers replacing the previous single point of contact

·  Better evaluation and data collection

·  Longer contract with a greater focus on continuous service improvement

·  Greater focus on access for under-represented groups

·  Greater focus on prevention

·  Greater focus on a family approach – supporting improved relationships between the non-abusing parent and affected children

There are close interdependencies between all three of the domestic abuse contracts and it is intended that a monthly allocation meeting will be held between the City Council (including public health and children’s social care), police and providers of the three contracts. The purpose of this Panel will be to manage access to children’s counselling and ensure parallel support is provided to victims of people accessing the perpetrator service and ensure appropriate links are in place with police and social care. The domestic abuse contracts will be managed using the following three sets of data, details of which were contained in the report:-

·  Outcomes data

·  Performance data

·  Activity data

The Briefing Note also provided an update on the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2018-2023, launched in Summer 2018 with a supporting action plan, which has made significant progress under the four themes: Prepare, Prevent, Protect and Pursue. In particular, the Committee noted a core competency framework which has been developed and which sets out the training levels for all members of staff and elected members.

The Briefing Noted also highlighted the following key differences between the existing and new contract for sexual violence counselling:-

·  Using technology to increase access to service and provide other options for service users who are unable or unwilling to travel

·  Greater focus on prevention

·  More use of befriending/mentoring and support groups to assist victims/survivors to continue their recovery journey

·  Greater emphasis on assessing the service user journey to recovery, moving them on to less intensive support as soon as they are ready to maximise the available resource

The Briefing Note indicated that the Key Performance indicators for the sexual violence service were based on a framework redeveloped alongside the service specifications and that there would be a focus on the following:-

·  Maximising the number of available one to one counselling slots which are utilised

·  Higher levels of prevention/education/awareness activity

·  Demonstrable improvements in emotional/mental wellbeing of clients using the counselling service

·  Minimising the time that clients have to wait before they receive one to one counselling

·  Provision of groups that can offer informal peer support

The Committee questioned officers on aspects of the Briefing Note including:-

·  Work done in schools on these issues

·  The availability and accessibility of information and support

·  Break clauses in the contracts

·  Work undertaken with GPs and surgeries and, in particular,  the take up of the Increasing Referrals to Improve Safety (IRIS) programme

·  Training for elected members

·  The training and checking of counselling mentors

The Committee also sought and were given assurances in relation to the collection and sharing of data.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee:-

1)  Notes and supports the contents of the Briefing Note

2)  Recommends to the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities that it be mandatory for all elected members to complete Level 1 training in Domestic Abuse

3)  Requests that a letter be sent on behalf of the Committee to the Clinical Commissioning Group urging them to promote the take up of the Increasing Referrals to Improve Safety (IRIS) programme by all GP practices and that the Committee’s support for the take up of the IRIS programme by GP practices be highlighted to the Health and Well Being Board.