Agenda item

Tina McElligott, Director of Childrens Social Care presented the report and noted that it provided the board with an overview to the Safer Communities Partnership Board on three key areas of Family Services delivery that cross over into the Community Safety Strategy, which are:

• Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women & Girls

• Violence, Vulnerability & Exploitation

• Reducing Re-Offending

Key highlights from the report were noted as:

Barnet’s rate of DA incidents is 12.1 per 1000 population (12 months up to the end of August 2022). Barnet has the 3rd lowest rate of reported DA incidents in London.

There were 728 Domestic Abuse Violence with Injury offences recorded by the police in Barnet in 12 months up to the end of December 2022 (a decrease of 1.9 % compared to the previous year). 69 suspects were identified and charged by police.

An assessment of the domestic abuse MARAC referrals over last quarter from October 2022 to December 2022 shows that:

• 31.1 % of victims in the cohort had a reported mental health need. There is currently good engagement however this can be improved

• 5.7 % victims had a reported alcohol misuse need.

• 5.7% had a reported illicit substance misuse need.

• 6.6% (n=8) referrals were for child-to-parent violence

• 6.6% of DA MARAC cases included a request for a Clare’s Law (Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme)

In Q3 a total of 33 multi-agency practitioners and managers attended domestic abuse & VAWG Training. Some additional funding has been agreed in December which will enable the domestic abuse consultant to continue and develop and implement the strategy. They will remain in post until the end of the strategy which is an extremely positive development for the service.

Family Services 0-19 Early Help Services deliver multi-agency Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) training which shares tools and interventions for direct work with children and families. The training explicitly identifies the escalation of parental conflict to domestic abuse and the need for safeguarding and support to be put in place and the team are now rolling-out a further three years of training with additional funding that has been received for continuation of the programme.

Family Services 0-19 Early Help Services delivered one Women’s AVA CODA Group in Q3. In total 15 parent victims (mothers) were invited to the sessions and 8 completed the full suite of sessions. Positive feedback was received from all the parents that attended the sessions and the parents have requested a monthly ‘Coffee Morning’ as a follow up each term.

Barnet Council has committed to working to end male violence against women by becoming White Ribbon (WR) Accredited on 11 April 2022. The WR steering group continues to meet monthly and implement the 3-year action plan.

Barnet Solace DA Advocacy and Support Service (SASS) received 248 referrals in Q3 2022/23 (this figure does not include Jewish Womens Aid data. This is still a high number of referrals, however is lower than the previous quarter reporting.

There were 97 homelessness approaches to Barnet Homes due to domestic abuse in Q3, 2022/3. Of these, 31 were provided with temporary accommodation. Housing options include refuge accommodation, sanctuary installations to make victims homes safer, move to private sector properties, move through the North London DA reciprocal scheme and for single applicants housing in the private rented sector.

The One Stop Shop (OSS), led by Barnet Homes in partnership with Barnet council, Solace Women’s Aid, Asian Women’s Resource Centre, private solicitor firms, Barnet Magistrate and Cyber Care. received 105 referrals in Q3, 202/23 and 72 individuals engaged with the team. New partners are joining the OSS including a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) advisor from the Asian Women’s Resource Centre, a Welfare Benefit Advisor from Boost and the Barnet Wellbeing Hub.

The Rise Perpetrator Programme is commissioned by Family Services and is aimed at reducing re-offending and repeat victimisation. The service successfully bid for a further 3-year contract starting in January 2023

Barnet Council has signed up to the Mayor’s Women’s Night Safety Charter. The plan will include how we will work with local partners and businesses to create a network of safe spaces across the borough. This will include a communications campaign and training.

International Women’s Day 2023 events will be taking place across the borough, the council and its partners will coordinate communications and information about the various celebrations and events taking place.

Overall, the rate of violence against the person rate in Barnet in the reporting period is 4.9 per 1,000 population. This is a decrease of 6.6% since November 2022.

A Restorative Justice Coordinator started in post in December and will support roll out of training in conflict resolution skills to schools and community providers. It will also complement the restorative justice work taking place in the Youth Justice Service which is supporting victims to meet with those that have perpetrated crime against them allowing space for reflection, apology, and reparation.

 The Violence and Vulnerability Team have held a series of practice forums across children’s and adult services to provide space for reflection and encourage learning. Two sessions were held in Q3 including ‘considering SEN in adults and adolescents’ and ‘addressing how all men and boys can work towards ending violence against women, changing culture, and understanding the White Ribbon movement.

The next piece of work is looking at the strategic needs assessment in the borough, documents included provide all the information needed.  Cllr Conway – women’s celebration, a small pot of funding for community groups across the borough and comm safety walks may pick up specific things specifically around women and girls.

The Safer Communities Partnership Board to considered and noted the progress being made to reduce offending and tackle exploitation and violence, including violence against women & girls.