Agenda item

6.1  The Service Manager (Domestic Abuse Intervention Service)  introduced the report. The Strategy provided a framework and impetus for the Council, partners, and residents, to make Hackney safer for all residents at risk from gender-based violence and domestic abuse, and women and girls in particular.  The four priority areas of the Hackney strategy mirror those of the London MOPAC Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy and the national VAWG strategy; preventing and reducing VAWG; supporting all victims and survivors; holding perpetrators to account; building trust and confidence.

6.2  The Service Manager, Domestic Abuse Interventions Service, presented to the Board, highlighting the following:

·  Eliminating Violence Against Women and Young Girls Strategy agreed by Cabinet on 12 September 2022;

·  Policy context, including improving mental health and supporting greater financial security;

·  The use of screening and intervention tools;

·  Building capacity into the system to ensure that young people can obtain the necessary assistance; 

·  Intervention at the early stages to mitigate the negative impacts on children; 

·  Prioritisation of the housing needs of victims/ survivors of domestic abuse;

·  Employers to support victims/ survivors of domestic abuse;

·  Aim to ensure that all employers in Hackney are equipped to support victims/ survivors of domestic abuse;

·  Ways of working, including collaborations and partnerships, and making the best of community resources;

·  All agencies across the Hackney Partnership to understand and work to an agreed casework pathway when addressing all forms of domestic abuse;

·  Work ongoing with the Hackney Community and Voluntary Sector, and faith and community groups to promote awareness and collaboration;

6.1  Councillor Fajana-Thomas stressed that domestic violence was a major public health problem and that it was important for the Health and Wellbeing Board to review how it was being addressed. Domestic violence could affect women’s mental health, physical health, and reproduction. In regard to the Night Time Economy, work was ongoing to make this safer for visitors and residents. Work was ongoing with Tower Hamlets on training on skills and knowledge for those working in licensed premises. 

6.2  The Deputy Director of Public Health highlighted that the Homerton Hospital had carried out a great deal of work in regard to identifying domestic violence and referral pathways. Covid 19 had disrupted much of this work, and he asked for an update on any renewed progress in this area.

6.3  Mayor Glanville stressed the good work being carried out, including the multi-generational work, work with young men on breaking the cycle and the recent event on eliminating violence. He asked for clarification on the relationship with the Money Hub to support individuals at the point of crisis and the Hackney Business Network.

6.4  Raj Radia told the Board of the initiative launched in 2021 during the pandemic encouraging those who had been the subject of domestic violence to attend community pharmacies as a safe setting. He emphasised that Community Pharmacies could always assist in this area.

6.5  The Chief Executive stressed the importance of the link between the domestic violence work and the Health and Wellbeing Board. He asked that if the strategy was successful, what metrics would be in place to measure impact.

6.6  The Service Manager, Domestic Abuse Intervention Service, highlighted that:

·  That work was ongoing with the Night Time Economy Manager to provide training related to domestic abuse;

·  Contact will be made with the Money Hub and Money Matters to consider ways to support individuals at the point of crisis;

·  Targets and Indicators were currently in place but there was scope for more health related matrices to be put in place.

6.7  Public Health and the former Clinical Commissioning Group had funded the service to deliver partnership training and to expand the capacity to respond to domestic abuse across Hackney and the City of London.

ACTION: 

·  The Service Manager, Domestic Abuse Intervention Service, to contact the Money Hub to link into work to support individuals at the point of crisis

·  The Service Manager, Domestic Abuse Intervention Service, to make contact with Raj Radia to discuss the role of community pharmacies in domestic violence

RESOLVED: To note the report.