Working Group 1 – Support for Victims Thursday 16th July 2009 Radnor Women’s Aid Offices, Llandrindod Wells
Present Wendy Madge Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre Melanie Sharman Brecknockshire Women’s Aid Ruth Parry Wright Radnorshire Women’s Aid Bethan Williams Victim Support Lynda Rogers Tai Hafan Margaret Richards Co-ordinator 1. Apologies Rob Powell Housing Joyce Hughes IDVA Sara Humphries Tai Hafan
2. Minutes of last meeting and Matters arising MAR confirmed that the Purple Directory had now been distributed throughout the county. There were CDs containing all the directory information now available and would be distributed to Providers, PCC Information Centres, etc. It was suggested that departments such as Housing should be given one and the directory could possibly be included in the new start up packs given out to new tenants. MAR would make further enquiries regarding an article for inclusion in the Red Kite magazine and/or the Tenancy magazines. RWP reported that MFCC had had a comprehensive article in the latest red Kite edition. MAR was attending the Powys County Council Health Fairs in Llandrindod, Brecon and Newtown to promote Domestic Abuse. The Community Safety Partnership was also providing a presence at the Royal Welsh Show from 20-23 July with Domestic Abuse being prioritised. MAR would be attending on three of the four days. MAR had met with David Roffey and housing managers. As a consequence Housing was now producing a DA policy/procedure for staff and Meryl Lewis and Liz Davies would be attending the next MARAC meeting. MAR apologised that she had not made contact with Geoff Newsome at Bronllys regarding LGBT and same sex relationships. BW volunteered to meet with Geoff and make further enquiries. RWP reported that Spectrum, London had a questionnaire on their internet site and would be worth looking at for distribution around the Forum organisations. BW also said that Peter Gilbert had expertise on the LGBT issue and would be pleased to provide guidance and information. Regarding the PCC DA Policy, MAR had given a presentation to the Healthy Lifestyles Group whose members were very receptive to the idea of raising the profile of DA and of incorporating DA into various policies as the Policy Review continued. A stand-alone Policy could be introduced and adopted at the end of the Review.
3. Action Plan
‘To ensure that people are offered appropriate and consistent support and information across the county through a range of media including the internet, leaflets and directories and in a range of locations to enable secure, easy access.’ Several Funding streams had been advertised over the past few weeks, two around the provision of a One Stop Shop facility. Jane Andrews from the Home Office Crime Team had spoken to MAR and to RPW regarding the bid and had encouraged Powys to submit a bid to purchase a mobile unit to give maximum coverage across the county. It is intended that this unit would visit the more remote towns on market days or attend specific events to provide information and advice not only on DA but other problem areas such as finance, housing, legal issues, health, etc. The HO funding is for capital projects and needs to be spent by March 2010. A bid has been put together and submitted. However it appears that a very similar bid has been submitted by the SARC in Carmarthen for a mobile unit to cover the whole of Dyfed-Powys, backed by DP Police and Tai Hafan. Another funding stream for a One Stop Shop was being offered by the CJS and following a meeting between, SH, RWP and MAR, it was agreed to submit a bid with the lead agency as Tai Hafan to source funding for a mobile unit and staff to drive the vehicle and administer the service. However Tai Hafan were also submitting a bid for an OSS in Carmarthen in conjunction with other agencies and this was given priority over the Powys bid. A further funding stream was now on the table from the LCJB around Cashback for community projects. MAR is now submitting a bid to provide revenue funding for the mobile unit focusing on the benefits for the more rural communities and the hope that increased information would decrease the crime rate in the country areas.
‘To help prevent and reduce homelessness due to domestic abuse and to facilitate victims remaining safely in their homes should they choose to do so.’ ‘To help reduce repeat victimisation and harm’
MS asked whether there was sustainable funding for the IDVA post. MAR reported that the Powys CSP had committed £5K and Natalie Hardess from Ceredigion had sourced £5K from the SMATf to add to the funding. The Home Office have now assigned £10K for each county to sustain the funding until at least March 2010. There will then be a further need to source funding. However by March 2010 there will be outcome evidence and statistics to backup any additional bids at that time. MAR highlighted the improvement in the MARAC system in Powys and the fact that more agencies were now attending and making referrals. RPW reported that Insp. Rob Bates had now tasked DAO Lynsey Bowen with looking at 1 in every 6 DA cases that had been NFA to see if additional measures or training could make these cases more viable. Rob Bates was also very keen to make sure Perpetrators were made accountable for their actions. MS expressed a concern over the IDAP in Powys being much stretched for resources. LR informed the group that the programme operated out of Llandrindod Wells but MS stated that this would not be accessible for men living in Ystradgynlais who had limited transport opportunities. Courts in the south did not include the IDAP as part of the sentencing due to the idea of not setting them up to fail, taking into account the distance. It was suggested that because the Probation service is a national organisation, boundaries should not be a problem.
‘To ensure that all victims (regardless of their race, ethnic origin, language, gender, disability, age, sexuality, marital status, nationality or religion/belief) receive information regarding specialist support they may need and that diversity is reflected in any work undertaken.’
Following up the issue around Translation Services that are available, MS provided information on a Pay As You Go Interpreting Service through Language Line. It was relatively expensive at £2.49 per minute but cheaper than funding an interpreter to travel from Cardiff. RPW asked what the current position was on the implementation of the Substance Misuse Framework. MAR reported that she had attended a meeting with the CE, Mike Gregory, and the managers of PDAC. This meeting had proved very positive and a lead for DA and MARAC had been appointed – Sarah Baker at Llandrindod. The CAADA Risk Assessment was approved and Mike Gregory would adapt it for use by PDAC and then follow it up with training for staff especially around the Pathway. MAR reported that she regularly attends the Adult Protection meetings and that it was essential to formulate a Pathway provision between the DA providers and those providing services for LD, MH and Older People.
‘To promote and make accessible domestic abuse training for all professionals in order that they are able to identify domestic abuse, to signpost and make appropriate referrals.’ MAR reported that the last of the five DA training sessions had now been delivered. RPW stated that the day had been very successful and the evaluation forms had been very positive. The Powys County Council training department had now offered to provide venue and refreshment funding for two more training days. It was suggested that as the five hubs had been covered the next two should be in more remote locations, such as Machynlleth and Knighton. MAR to inform the training department of venues and dates. BW asked whether the training could be advertised to other agencies and areas. MS suggested that perhaps a future bid could be utilised to fund agencies to deliver the training more frequently. Following the training delivered to magistrates it was suggested that training for solicitors, especially those operating in the Family Courts, could benefit from similar training. RPW stated that NSPCC research showed that during 2003 – 2007 only 1% of applications for parental contact had been refused but that 27 children had been killed in the four years as a direct consequence. Concerns over CAFCASS were also raised and the lack of confidentiality practised by local solicitors. It was agreed that Injunctions and Non-molestation orders were fairly accessible and quick to obtain but that it needed the right solicitor to progress the case. Restraining orders were now being put in place as part of the sentencing.
‘To encourage employers to recognise domestic abuse as an issue so that victims are supported at work and to encourage organisations to have a domestic abuse policy and procedure.’ RPW had drawn up a list of the main businesses in Powys in order to ask them to adopt a DA Policy and had passed this to MAR. Now that Powys County Council was making moves to incorporate DA into their policies it would be opportune to contact the business world and encourage them to introduce similar policies. It was agreed to contact the companies listed and ask whether they had an existing DA policy and/or whether they would be willing to introduce such a policy. DA training and a template policy could be offered.
3. Actions
MAR to distribute the Purple Directory CDs to Powys County Council Information Centres, Agencies, etc. MAR to liaise with Dave Roffey around the distribution of Purple Directories with new Tenancy Packs. MAR to follow up the possibility of writing an article for inclusion in the Red Kite magazine and/or the Housing Association Tenancy magazines. BW to liaise with Geoff Newsome at Bronllys regarding DA in same sex relationships. MAR to liaise with Peter Gilbert regarding LGBT involvement in training, etc. MAR to confirm two further training days and advertise same.
6. AOB
RPW volunteered to feedback the progress of the group to the next main Forum meeting in September. 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 Wednesday, 21st October 2009 at Radnor Womens Aid Offices in Llandrindod Wells at 10 am.
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