Coordinated Community Response

1
Co-ordinated Community Response

• Colin Brotherston
• Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator
• Sarah Mainwaring
• Partnership Director

2
Domestic Abuse
Definition
any incident of threatening behaviour, violence
or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual,
financial or emotional) between adults who are
or have been intimate partners or family members,
regardless of gender or sexuality
3

• An in-depth look into the elements that make up a
  co-ordinated community response to tackling
  domestic abuse, how they exist at the moment and
  where we should be going in future.
• Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC)
• Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

4
Domestic Abuse
Levels
New SYP recording practice for DA Apr
2006 2007 reporting levels relatively stable,
average 207 per month ½ offences serious enough
to be crimes Barnsley has an improving arrest
rate (43 from 31 Apr-Sep07 and 06) Barnsley has
fewer reports of DA than Sheffield and Doncaster
and has the highest arrest rate per incident
5
Crimes and Incidents of Domestic Abuse from
April 2006 December 2007 South Yorkshire
6
Domestic Abuse
Victim
More likely to be female and current/former
partner of the offender Repeat victimization and
reluctance to report incidents Harmful impact on
children in the family Reliance on other
services as a consequence of domestic abuse Often
presenting with other symptoms such as
depression, anxiety
Victim Need Support to victims (emotional,
financial, sexual health) Early identification
of domestic abuse Accessible services
7
Domestic Abuse
Offender
Under the influence (min 43 - PILOT) Often
evidence of stress/anger management, personal
issues insecurities Experience of abuse as a
child Previous repeat domestic abuse offending
not successfully prosecuted at court lack of
evidence etc
Offender Need Effective Offender
Management Effective CJS processes for Domestic
Abuse MARACS, SDVC, SYP targets
8
Domestic Abuse
Location
Behind closed doors, not a community issue Links
to lower income groups, unemployment and low
educational achievement but not exclusive to
these groups DA apparent in disadvantaged
areas Reported from areas with high reports of
crime and anti-social behaviour Top 3 SNT for
reports
Royston SNT
Central Royston SNT
Dearne SNT
9
Domestic Abuse
Location
Lundwood
Athersley North
Q What makes reporting more prevalent in these
areas? Q or What makes victims more likely to
report? Q Finite resources direct to the more
problematic areas (we know about)? Q Development
of localised MARACS in known problematic areas?
Bolton-on-Dearne
10
Domestic Abuse Intervention
Victim
Domestic Abuse Case worker Sanctuary Scheme
(Pilot) Directory of Services Multi Agency
Training (Social Services and PCT Funded) Multi
Agency Information Sharing Protocol MARACS (Multi
Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) Specialist
Domestic Abuse Courts (Co-ordinated Community
Response) Domestic abuse Policy Education Pack
for Schools Tenancy Agreement Clause
Handout in pack
11
Domestic Abuse Intervention
Victim
Accident and Emergency Information
Sharing Safeguarding Children Board. Specialist
Trained Domestic Abuse Officers Freedom Programme
for Women Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator CJSSS Refuge
Satellite Properties Domestic Abuse
Forum Service Level Agreements for partner
agencies Common Risk Assessment
12
Domestic Abuse Intervention
Victim
Counselling (PCT Funded) IDVA (Independent
Domestic Abuse Advocate/Advisor) ISVA
(Independent Sexual Abuse Advocate/Advisor) Woman
Safety Worker (Probation) Victim Support Trained
Volunteers Victims Support Witness
Service Pathways Volunteers Skyguard
13
Domestic Abuse Intervention
Offender
MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment
Conference) MAPPA (Multi Agency Public Protection
Arrangements) Directory of Services Multi Agency
Information Sharing Protocol Specialist Domestic
Abuse Courts (Co-ordinated Community
Response) IDAP (Integrated Domestic Abuse
Programme) Anger Management _at_ Mind One to One
Counselling Education Pack Tenancy Agreement
Clause Christmas Campaign
14
Specialist Domestic Violence Courts

• 7 SDVC systems were trialled nationally
• The SDVC programme was developed following
  several independent evaluations
• Also evaluated the role of the Independent
  Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)
• And, the MARAC process.
• CJSSS

15
Findings of the SDVC Evaluation

• Enhanced the effectiveness of court and support
  services for victims
• Made support for victims and information sharing
  easier
• Improved risk management of victims and children
• Led to greater accountability of the perpetrator
• Improved victim participation and satisfaction
• Increased public confidence in the CJS

16
What is a SDVC?(Co-ordinated Community Response)

• 11 Components make up the work of the SDVC.
• Multi-agency partnership with protocols
• Multi-agency risk assessment conferences
• Support for victims (IDVA)
• Training of front line and criminal justice
  staff
• Early identification of victims

17
Continued

• Court listing/arrangements
• Diversity issues
• Childrens Services
• Court facilities
• Perpetrator programmes
• Data Collection

18
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference

• The Role of the MARAC in the SDVC
• Why MARACS?
• Financial Impact
• What is the cost of an average case
• How this saves money
• How to refer
• National perspective
• Barnsley perspective

19
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences

• To share information to increase the safety,
  health and wellbeing of victims adults and
  their children.
• To determine whether the perpetrator poses a
  significant risk to any individual or to the
  general public.

20
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference contd

• To consult jointly, construct and implement a
  risk management plan that provides professional
  support to all those at risk and that reduces the
  risk of harm.
• To reduce repeat victimisation.

21
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences contd

• To improve agency accountability and
• To improve support for staff involved in high
  risk Domestic Violence cases.

22
What is the cost of an average case

• 4 police callouts
• 8 GP visits
• 6 prescriptions
• 4 A E attendances for minor wounding
• 2 A E attendances for serious wounding
• 12 nights in refuge
• Police involvement in S39 Prosecution

23
What is the cost of an average case

• Other CJS involvement in S39 prosecution
• 10,000

24
What is the cost of the MARAC
25
Net Saving

• Total annual cost for MARAC assuming 10 partner
  agencies, lead agency and IDVAs 71,000
• MARAC could review up to 400 cases a year
• Running costs are equivalent to approximately 7
  average high risk cases

26
National Perspective

• 275 IDVAs trained to date
• Should support an average of 75 Clients a year
  20,000 victims and 30,000 children affected
• MARACs implemented in 70 areas around the country
• Service standards being introduced to ensure
  consistency

27
Progress to Date

• Over 70 areas are now running MARACs
• They will review approximately 15,000 cases in
  the next year
• Of these, over 20 have been running for over 6
  months
• Repeat victimisation nationally is under 30
• Repeat victimisation in Barnsley is?

28
Progress to Date

• Repeat victimisation in Barnsley so far is under
  9
• The estimated saving in the next year to the
  public purse is 70 million

29
Step by step guide to MARAC

• South Yorkshire Police collect the referrals
• Chaired by DI Clive Westlake of Barnsley Public
  Protection Unit
• 1st MARAC, Wednesday 4th April 2007
• Thereafter first Wednesday of the month
• Agenda 8 Days before the conference
• Research takes place.

30
The Meeting

• The role of the chair
• Confidentiality
• The case list
• Minutes are taken
• After the MARAC
• The role of the IDVA
• Before the next meeting.

31
Agencies Involved in MARACS

• PCT
• BHNFT
• Police
• Probation
• Pathways Domestic Violence Group
• Social Care (Safeguarding Children and Adults)
• Berneslai Homes
• Victim Support
• LEA
• YOT
• Mental Health Services for Older People
• CAFCASS
• DIP
• BADAS
• CRI

32
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR SHARING WITHOUT CONSENT

• Data Protection Act 1998
• Common Law
• Human Rights Act, Article 8
• Crime and Disorder Act 1998
• Section 29 Data Protection Act
• Schedule 2 3 DPA
• Human Rights Act Articles 2 3
• BALANCING PRINCIPLES
• Respective risks to those affected
• Pressing need
• Need to know of other agencies
• Public Interest Disclosure