To receive a presentation on the submitted Women’s Safety and Domestic Abuse Strategy Report. 

The Partnership Manager - Sarah Omell, the Strategic Lead Community Protection – Dave Parsons and the Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence, Communication and Strategy Lead - Shirley Beauchamp presented the submitted Women’s Safety and Domestic Abuse Strategy report and responded to Members questions. 

The Board raised the following questions:

·         had funding been applied for to fund the proposed Behavioural Change workstream for domestic abuse perpetrators;

·         what work was carried out within schools to educate children regarding online pornography;

·         how do schools educate children on the action to take if domestic abuse if witnessed at their home;

·         if a child was identified at school as a victim of sexual abuse, what action could be taken without parental consent;

·         what support could Torbay Council provide to local organisations and charities who provide support to LBGTQ+ residents within the Bay; and

·         how confident was the Team that the funds would be secured for the Drive Programme.

The following responses were provided:

·         the Team was currently investigating available sources of funding to be applied for to secure funds to introduce the Behavioural Change workstream for domestic abuse perpetrators;

·         regular visits to schools were carried out to explain to children, the dangers of accessing online pornography;

·         if a child was identified in school as being affected by domestic violence at home, then a member of the Torbay Domestic Abuse Service would visit the school to speak with the child;

·         parental consent from at least one parent had to be sought to allow for a member of the Torbay Domestic Abuse Service to speak with a child who had been identified as a victim of sexual abuse.  However, if it was identified that the abuser was a parent, then the Team could work with safeguarding and pastoral support Teams at school;

·         officers were aware of trolling being received by Intercom Trust staff since the recent announcement of biological sex ruling and suggested that Members and officers should consider what further actions could be taken by Torbay Council to support Intercom Trust and local residents; and

·         the funding that had been applied for the Drive Programme, would not all be allocated to Torbay as this scheme was for the region and collaborative work with other local authorities was being carried out. 

Resolved (unanimously):

1.    that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board request that the Director of Adult and Community Services to work with Community Safety Partnership to consider what actions they could take together to publicly demonstrate their commitment to inclusion and diversity with support from the Safer Communities Team;

2.    that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board request assurance that the recently published Relationships, Health and Sexual Education programme is being implemented in Torbay schools and that a report is brought back to a future meeting with Members of the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board along with the Portfolio Holder be invited to attend;

3.    that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board support the option 2 proposal for the provision of Behavioural Change workstream course for the perpetrators of domestic abuse; and

4.    that the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board note the content of the Women’s Safety and Domestic Abuse Strategy.