'QUICK EXIT'
Action in South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire Council employ a full-time Domestic & Sexual Violence Coordinator, based within the Community Safety Team. It is the responsibility of the coordinator to ensure all local agencies understand about domestic abuse, their role in tackling it, and how best they can offer support to people experiencing domestic abuse.
The coordinator also leads the strategic developments on domestic abuse including project managing specific pieces of work such as the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs). The coordinator does not manage a case load, but is a source of information and advice to people living and working in South Gloucestershire on issues relating to domestic abuse, she can be contacted in the following ways:
Domestic & Sexual Violence Coordinator
Community Safety Team
Safer & Stronger Communities Division
South Gloucestershire Council
PO Box 2078
Council Offices
Castle Street
Thornbury
South Gloucestershire
BS35 9BJ
Telephone: 01454 868751
Partnership Working
South Gloucestershire are currently developing a new multi-agency delivery plan for domestic abuse, following the successful conclusion of ‘Everyone’s Business’ 2007-2010 A Strategy and Action Plan for Domestic Violence in South Gloucestershire.
The strategic approach to tackling domestic abuse is multi-agency, with over 30 agencies in South Gloucestershire committed to this vision, including: South Gloucestershire Council, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, NHS South Gloucestershire, Survive, Victim Support, North Bristol NHS Trust and Avon and Somerset Probation Service.
This strategic work is developed and overseen by the South Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Partnership (SGDAP), who report to the Safer & Stronger Communities Strategic Partnership, South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board, South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board and Avon & Somerset Criminal Justice Board. The SGDAP has representation from statutory and voluntary agencies as well as service-users, in order to deliver relevant and appropriate responses to domestic abuse.
A key area of work is raising public awareness of domestic abuse, and challenging myths and attitudes about it. Every November to coincide with the United Nations Day of Eliminating Violence Against Women (25th November); South Gloucestershire hosts a week of awareness raising activities for the general public and people working in the area – to raise the profile of the dynamics, causes and consequences of domestic abuse and to promote our message that it is Everyone’s Business and everyone’s responsibility to tackle and respond appropriately.
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs)
MARACs were launched in South Gloucestershire in May 2006, and whilst they remain a voluntary process, they are an example of best practice in tackling domestic abuse, and are fully supported by the Home Office.
MARACs are held on a monthly basis in South Gloucestershire and involve representatives from key statutory and voluntary agencies working in South Gloucestershire attending a conference to share information on domestic abuse cases that have been assessed as ‘high risk’ – this means there is a high risk of the victim in that case being seriously harmed. These cases are identified and risk assessed by a number of sources, including the Police, Housing Associations, Health Agencies, Voluntary Sector agencies, Probation Service etc.
Usually before a referral is made to the MARAC panel, the victim will be consulted for their consent to do so – in some cases the referral is made without consent because it is in the interests of protecting that individual to do so.
At the MARAC, the factual details and history of the case are shared, with particular emphasis on the risk factors then, guided by the Chair of the MARAC (usually the Detective Inspector for the Police Public Protection Unit), a multi-agency safety plan is developed in order to offer support and protection to that individual and their children, with the hope of preventing any further occurrences of abuse. Actions available to the MARAC panel include:
- Provision of refuge accommodation
- Recommendation for an emergency move (if in Housing Association accommodation)
- Provision of increased security for their home – window and door locks, personal alarms etc.
- Injucntions
- Opportunity to work with an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) for specialist support
- Support for children within schools & community settings
- Enhanced police awareness of case and response through a ‘Treat As Urgent’ marker on address / phone number
- Referral to and support from Children’s Social Care if appropriate
- Referral to health agencies, e.g. GP, Health Visitor, Mental Health Team etc. for enhanced awareness / support as necessary.
- Referral for support with substance misuse problems
- Enhanced multi-agency working e.g. with Anti-Social Behaviour Team
MARACs undergo regular review, evaluation and developments to ensure they are operating safely and are fit for purpose. A key area of work in South Gloucestershire is to increase the number of agencies able to make referrals to the MARAC, and with whom information is safely shared.
The ultimate aim of the MARAC is to work together to protect high risk victims of domestic abuse and their children, to reduce harm and ultimately save lives.
Please see the publications section for more information about the MARAC.
If you would like to make a referral to a MARAC please contact the Community Safety Team at South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 868751.
Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC)
In January 2007 South Gloucestershire launched a Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) located at North Avon Magistrates Court. The SDVC is part of a national scheme coordinated by a multi-agency task force of the government including Her Majesty’s Court Service, Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Home Office.
The SDVC is a ‘cluster court’, which means that every Wednesday two courtrooms are set aside to hear only domestic violence cases. As part of this process all of the Magistrates and workers associated with the court (Legal Advisors, Ushers, Prosecutors, Defence Solicitors (optionally)) have received specialist training in domestic violence.
Furthermore the Protocol developed to support the court promotes the attendance at court of a dedicated prosecutor from the CPS and Police Officer from the local Domestic Abuse Investigations Team (DAIT), along with an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), with the aim of offering consistency and continuity to victims and to ensure all possible information is available.
North Avon Magistrates Court has a dedicated Witness Suite, accessed via a separate, secure entrance, and located separately from the court. This offers victims and witnesses a safe and comfortable place to wait before attending court, to ensure they do not have to face the fear of seeing their perpetrator of friends/family of the perpetrator.
Within the witness suite there is a comfortable waiting room, small kitchenette, meeting rooms, toilet facilities, vending machine, witness service office and some space for children to play. There is also a video-link room, which means if this service has been approved for the case, the victim and any witnesses in the case (as appropriate) can provide evidence to the court via video link.
As part of the SDVC, South Gloucestershire sought funding from various sources to provide an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) service, to victims involved with the criminal justice system. The IDVA is independent from any of the criminal justice agencies, and is able to advocate on behalf of the victim; offering specialist intensive support, and ensuring they are fully informed at all times about what is happening or what might happen. Whilst the IDVA is independent they liaise closely with the CPS, Police and Probation to ensure the needs of the victim are taken into account, and information can be shared as quickly as possible with the victim for example regarding bail conditions, sentencing, evidence etc.
The SDVC is a process, which aims to embrace the needs and experiences of victims at its heart. Historically a common feature of domestic violence cases was that victims rarely wanted to progress their case through the criminal justice system, if they did there was a low attendance rate at court from victims willing to give evidence, and subsequently a low prosecution rate. The SDVC system aims to change that to make the process more transparent, inclusive and safe for victims to feel they can support it, and that ultimately more perpetrators are brought to justice.
Please see the publications section for more information about the SDVC or alternatively you can contact the Domestic & Sexual Violence Coordinator at the Community Safety Team on 01454868751.
Domestic Abuse Awareness Training
South Gloucestershire Council provide one-day multi-agency training on domestic abuse, which is currently free to anyone living or working on South Gloucestershire. Details of the 2010/2011 training is as follows:
Thursday 16th September: The Park Centre in Kingswood.
Monday 15th November: The Park Centre in Kingswood.
Friday 21st January 2011: The Park Centre in Kingswood.
Friday 8th March 2011: The Park Centre in Kingswood.