Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Board and the list of apologies was noted.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2022 were taken as read and confirmed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of Gurjit Samra-Rai, Temporary Head of Service – Safer Communities and Resettlement, Leicestershire County Council, which set out the spend plan for the Domestic Abuse Act funding. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 3’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)           The Domestic Abuse Act funding from year 2 would go towards a Leicestershire County Council Domestic Abuse team. The team was carrying out Operation Encompass which involved ensuring that the approach from schools towards victims of domestic abuse was appropriate and consistent across the county. Currently there was some variation across different schools.

(ii)         There were currently five vacancies across two service areas: Support and Intervention Workers and Engagement Workers. Interviews were taking place on 15th December 2022 and the results of these would be reported to the next meeting of the Board. In response to a question from a member reassurance was given that there was confidence that these vacancies would be filled.

(iii)        As a result of year 1 funding a support worker for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller victims of domestic abuse was now in place.  A support worker based at the Leicestershire LGBT+ centre had also been recruited but was not yet in post.

(iv)       All Providers under the Domestic Abuse Act had to provide quarterly Key Performance Indicator and Monitoring Information to demonstrate the outcomes achieved for the victims/ survivors of Domestic Abuse and progress in meeting outcomes. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) required an annual report from tier 1 local authorities setting out how the duty under the Domestic Abuse Act had been met. Additional information further to what was required in that report was collected to enable the level of progress in Leicestershire to be understood. It was agreed that a report would be brought to a future meeting of the Board setting out the impact the Domestic Abuse Act funding had made in Leicestershire. 

(v)         A member raised concerns that there was a lack of available accommodation in Leicestershire for victims of domestic abuse especially given that accommodation was already being used for asylum seekers, refugees and Ukrainian guests. It was questioned whether additional accommodation could be found and whether the demand for domestic abuse victims was fully understood. In response it was explained that a Needs Assessment had been conducted which involved collecting data from numerous agencies and engaging with survivors of domestic abuse. The Needs Assessment had identified that there was not enough accommodation in Leicestershire per 1000 people. It was acknowledged that it was hard to find rented accommodation and most victims did not want to reside at a refuge. A tender exercise was being prepared in order to commission further dispersed housing and possible refuge accommodation.

(vi)       A list of relevant contacts was kept with regards to domestic abuse and this list was reviewed regularly and would be circulated to partners.

RESOLVED:

That the status of contracts update be noted.

The Board received a presentation from Holly Wild, Service Manager, Jenkins Centre regarding the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Service and Partner Support Service. A copy of the presentation slides is filed with these minutes.

In response to a question about whether the success of the Service could be measured it was explained that individuals that took part in the Service could be monitored for 6 months after they had been involved with the Service.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the presentation be noted.

It was noted that consideration was being given to whether the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Boards for Leicestershire and Rutland should merge. It was clarified that Rutland were interested in the merger as their Board was not well attended however no formal decision had been made. A further update would be provided at the next Leicestershire Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board meeting.

It is proposed that meetings of the Board take place on the following dates all at 9.00am:

Friday 17 March 2023;

Friday 30 June 2023;

Friday 29 September 2023;

Friday 15 December 2023.

RESOLVED:

That future meetings of the Board take place on the following dates all at 9.00am:

Friday 17 March 2023;

Friday 30 June 2023;

Friday 29 September 2023;

Friday 15 December 2023.