Working Group 3 – Prevention and Early Detection Wednesday 27th May 2009 The Gwalia, Llandrindod Wells
Present Angela Morgan Independent Chair PDAF Cassie Aitkin Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre Sarah Stokes Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre Christine Jones Relate Julie Sayce Victim Support Peter Gilbert Victim Support Lynette Evans CAFCASS Lynne Jones LHB Angela Wragg LHB Philippa Frost Mediation Lynda Rogers Tai Hafan Margaret Richards Co-ordinator 1. Apologies Sara Haumphreys Tai Hafan Joyce Hughes IDVA Yan Jomes PCC Education Ceri Wood BWA
2. Introductions All those present introduced themselves.
3. Action Plan
‘To help ensure that children and young people affected by domestic abuse either as a single factor or together with other contributory factors, such as problematic use of alcohol and/or drugs, mental health issues, or disabilities, are identified and protected from further harm in a multi-agency arena.’ After initial discussions it was agreed that it would be beneficial to have a representative from PDAC at future meetings to ensure that stronger links are made between the Substance Misuse provider and the Domestic Abuse providers. Some members had attended the Implementation Workshops of the new Substance Misuse Treatment Framework for Wales (SMTF) and the Powys workshop had concentrated on the current situation, the barriers in taking the joint working forward and the way forward. It was now necessary for a protocol to be drafted to ensure robust links between the services. MAR stated that a meeting between herself and Juliet Still, the Substance Misuse Commissioner, was being arranged to take things forward. She would report back to the group in due course. ‘To help enable children and young people affected by domestic abuse to develop to their full potential.’ AM reported that the ‘Notyourfault’ website, the Powys Domestic Abuse website and the Hideout website were all easy to use and good resources for young people. PG suggested that school computer could possibly have one of these websites as the default page for a week, especially at a time when there was a national focus on domestic abuse, such as Domestic Abuse week in October or White Ribbon week in November. It was agreed that MAR should investigate with the Powys CC IT department whether this would be possible. Action: MAR to investigate. MAR reported that she had attended sessions in schools given by Police School Liaison Officers and Tai Hafan, both of which had been successful but it was still the school’s choice as to what PSE sessions were delivered and when. CA confirmed that the sessions given by MFCC were also dependent on the schools being receptive. It was suggested that school governors may be the way to convince schools of the importance of ‘Safer Relationships’ training. Action: MAR to investigate when and how to deliver awareness raising to Governors and/or Teachers. ‘To promote resources to support the development of services specifically for children and young people who are the victims of domestic abuse.’ The links with the YOT and YISP are not yet strong enough and it was discussed whether drama productions could be a way of making it more acceptable to young people. Lorna McQuillam, Police Youth Liaison, had previously produced a play focusing on Bullying/Domestic Abuse which had used drama students to perform in Colleges and Schools and which had proved very successful. The Young Farmers main Rally in July/August was also being used as an awareness raising event for Bullying and could possibly be utilised as an awareness raising event for DA too. MAR would be happy to provide a stand plus freebies and information at any event being staged by member organisations. MAR updated the group on the Counselling for Children and Young People in Powys. The Kooth.Com website is now up and running for all young people in Powys, whether in school or not. There is also a 1-to1 service coming into effect later in the year. PF added that Powys Mediation was supplying an interim service and Area 43 would be commencing service in July 2009. ‘To promote the training of any professionals working with children and young people in education, youth work, social care and the voluntary sector to give them the skills necessary to enable them to recognise domestic abuse and respond appropriately.’ MAR reported that the DA Training had one more session to deliver but that previous sessions had gone well with attendees from diverse organisations. Training for magistrates had also been delivered at three separate venues and that this was a huge step forward to ensuring that courts had a greater understanding of domestic abuse cases. Unfortunately all cases still present as Assaults (Common, ABH or GBH), Criminal Damage or ASB rather than DA and that magistrates are not informed of the full facts before they are asked to make a decision. However magistrates are more likely to ask for more information now than they were previously. ‘To deliver an annual programme of awareness raising events, involving the media wherever possible and to ensure that raising awareness is an ongoing process.‘ MAR emphasised that members should highlight any local events where she could provide a presence in order to raise awareness. The Regional DA Forum usually made a point of highlighting White Ribbon Day, which could be echoed locally with events in Brecon, Newtown and Llandrindod but more advertising needed to be done prior to the event to ensure a good turnout. AM said it was essential that information on services and events was distributed as widely as possible and that it was incumbent on all members to circulate the information throughout their own networks. ‘To support the development of agency’s capabilities to collect information on domestic abuse and for them to commit to share this as part of ongoing monitoring to establish the true extent of the problem.’ Members asked what type of information was already being collected. MAR explained that the Police now supplied quite detailed information around domestic incidents, plus providers supplied annual reports containing facts and figures around the support delivered in the county. The All Wales Helpline also supplied figures on calls received and where in Powys the calls were from. All this information was relayed to the CSP Data Analyst for collation. She was also factoring in information from other areas of reporting, such as substance misuse and reporting on the overlap of services. Action: MAR to distribute the Data Reports. PG asked whether it would be possible to show outcomes from a sample of incidents; whether the victims had engaged with a support agency, whether any further action had been taken or whether the victim had been given ample information in the first instance. Action: MAR to liaise with Police and Agencies to explore the possibilities.
3. Actions
MAR to invite Steve Davies, PDAC, and/or Juliet Still to the next meeting. MAR to investigate with the Powys CC IT department whether it would be possible to make a DA site the default for schools computers temporarily. MAR to investigate when and how to deliver awareness raising to Governors and/or Teachers. All members to circulate the information (Directories, Event information, Training information, etc.) throughout their own networks. MAR to liaise with Police and Agencies to explore the possibilities of sampling outcomes. MAR to distribute the Data Reports
6. AOB
Margaret thanked all those present for attending and making such a valued contribution. The meeting closed at 12.00. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 29th September 2009 at Committee Room B County Hall in Llandrindod Wells at 10 am. Main Forum Meeting 15th June 2009 The Gwalia 10am
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