To receive a verbal presentation from Stevenage Against Domestic Abuse and for Members to discuss possible future presentations under this topic.
Decision:
Sarah Pateman, Survivors Against Domestic Abuse (SADA), gave a presentation on the work SADA are currently undertaking and how this relates to North Herts.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 4 minutes 50 seconds
Sarah Pateman, Survivors Against Domestic Abuse (SADA), gave a presentation on the work SADA are currently undertaking and how this relates to North Herts. This included:
· The aim of the service was to empower people to make decisions on their own relationships. This meant offering support across various areas, including tailored 1-to-1 support, death and benefits guidance, legal advice and support, housing support, amongst others.
· Around 150 champions had been trained across various partner organisations, including schools, doctors and Housing Associations.
· A forum was held every 3 months, with feedback at these meetings being relayed to the board and used to shape SADA policies and services.
· Schools and nurseries in North Herts had shown an interest in training sessions.
· A referral service working with men and woman affected by Modern Slavery had been established.
· 3 training session on Domestic Abuse had been given to North Herts District Council staff in 2021 and 3 further Modern Slavery training sessions were arranged for 2022.
· Every 6 weeks a panel of internal and external stakeholders and partners would come together to discuss the non “high-risk” cases, in order to identify early intervention strategies to stop them becoming high risk.
· The pandemic had given the opportunity to expand into virtual support, which had helped people engage as service times were better suited around lifestyles and working patterns.
· A newly refurbished refuge was soon to be opened, which would offer 2 family rooms and 2 smaller rooms and this will be available for North Herts residents to use. Food would be provided to residents and, working with food banks, it was hoped this would be fresh produce, not just tinned or frozen.
· There were soon to be 24 safe spaces, with 9 in North Herts, which were homes for those fleeing domestic violence to move into immediately. These were available for dads with children, as well as women.
· An out of hours service was available for around the clock support for service users.
· Detailed referral statistics were provided on the accompanying presentation, including specific data on North Herts.
· SADA also offered a Perpetrator Support Programme, which offered 1 to 1 support to those who had a history or were identified at risk of committing domestic violence.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor David Levett
In response to questions Sarah Pateman advised that:
· The perpetrator scheme was run alongside prison, youth and other services to identify where the perpetrators are and refer them into the scheme.
· Most of the users of this service are referred from other organisations, but some are self-referred.
· Most stay beyond the 8-week programme and some were still involved now having been referred from the start of the scheme in 2013.
Councillor Claire Strong thanked Sarah for her presentation and noted that the work they were doing was vital, albeit disappointing that it was required. She requested that the presentation and contact details for SADA be shared with other Members not on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee via MIS.
Councillor Nigel Mason commented that the presentation was very enlightening and was positive to hear that support services were out there. He also expressed disappointment that this service was required.