Meeting: Cabinet	Date: 18 October 2022

Wards affected: All

Report Title: Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy

When does the decision need to be implemented? N/A

Cabinet Member Contact Details: Councillor Carter, Cabinet Member for Community and Customer Services, Christine.carter@torbay.gov.uk

Director/Divisional Director Contact Details: Tara Harris, Divisional Director of Customer and Corporate Services, tara.harris@torbay.gov.uk

1.	Purpose of Report

1.1	The purpose of the report is to seek Cabinet’s approval to launch a 6-week public consultation on the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy.

2.	Reason for Proposal and its benefits

2.1	The proposals in this report help us to deliver this ambition by creating safe spaces for our vulnerable residents to thrive.

2.2	The current Strategy ends this year. In preparation for the new strategy a strategic review of the domestic abuse response in Torbay was undertaken last year. The findings were reported at an extraordinary Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Executive Group (DASVEG) meeting on 24th June 2022, where it was decided that the new strategy would continue to address both domestic abuse and sexual violence, however with an increase focus on sexual violence.

3.	Recommendation(s) / Proposed Decision

1.	That the draft Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved for a 6-week public consultation.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Draft Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy

Background Documents

Short version of review work undertaken which includes – DA Strategic System Review, MARAC Review and Listening Exercise.

Supporting Information

1.	Introduction

1.1	The current Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy ends this year. In preparation a strategic review of the domestic abuse response in Torbay was undertaken last year. The review incorporated a review of the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), the Safe Accommodation Needs Assessment as required by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DAA21) and a lived experience listening exercise. All the recommendations have been incorporated into the findings to inform the direction and focus of the new Strategy.

1.2	The findings from the Call to Action sexual violence project that Torbay Council participated in last year (with people with lived experience of sexual violence, Devon, Plymouth, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon CCG and the Innovation Unit); have been used to inform the focus and direction for sexual violence. In addition data about sexual violence services and demand has been gathered to inform a local position statement on sexual violence in Torbay.

1.3	A theory of change has been devised following analysis of all the review findings, which has informed what change needs to happen, what outcomes have been identified and how we deliver them. This revealed a commonality of themes between both domestic abuse and sexual violence that are a focus for the strategy. A small number of themes specific to domestic or sexual violence are also included.

1.4	The Strategy focuses on lived experience, prevention, identification, disruption, evidence and understanding; aiming to:

Elevate responses to sexual violence to achieve parity with domestic violence over the lifetime of the Strategy

Hold those who harm accountable and not their victims

Change the narrative and address myths and victim blaming language and practice

Embed trauma informed practice and improve understanding of how trauma frames victims’ responses

Develop a robust evidence base and consistent monitoring

Broaden knowledge and understanding of what constitutes domestic and sexual violence and abuse both in the workforce and across the general public, framed in the context of relationships.

1.5	Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence needs to be considered as a whole system response across the life course. There is a risk that separating out various themes can lead to fragmentation and poor oversight of the overall strategic response. However, this is necessary as some areas of activity fit more appropriately with, for example, children’s safeguarding. It will be the responsibility of the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Executive Group to ensure connectivity and line of sight between the main Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy and related strategies or workstreams so that everything is aligned to the overall strategic direction. Changes to direction or focus resulting from legislative or policy changes will be incorporated into reviews of the strategy which will take place at regular intervals.

2.	Options under consideration

2.1	An alternative option would be to do nothing. However this was discounted as the current policy was set to expire this year and would not take account of the information gathered from the review.

3.	Financial Opportunities and Implications

3.1	None

4.	Legal Implications

4.1	None

5.	Engagement and Consultation

5.1	The ‘Are you ok?’ survey undertaken in 2021, lived experience interviews undertaken 2021 as part of strategic domestic abuse review and Devon wide work on sexual violence in 2021 have formed the basis for draft strategy. However, a 6 week public consultation will be undertaken.

6.	Purchasing or Hiring of Goods and/or Services

6.1	Not applicable

7.	Tackling Climate Change

7.1	Not applicable.

8.	Associated Risks

8.1	Domestic abuse and sexual violence rates are disproportionately high in Torbay and can have life-changing effects for those directly and indirectly victimised, it has been and continues to be a strategic priority for these reasons. An effective response can only come from coordinated efforts across the system, inclusive of our communities and the voluntary sector. Not having a strategy that unites, challenges and drives these efforts risks ineffective and inadequate responses, which ultimately would leave people at heightened risk, the perpetuation of all the harms associated which are significant and in worse case scenarios deaths.

8.2

9.	Equality Impacts - Identify the potential positive and negative impacts on specific groups

Positive Impact	Negative Impact & Mitigating Actions	Neutral Impact
Older or younger people	DA and SV are generally under-reported, but prevalence across older people is recognised but requires more insight and response. Younger people also form part of a priority group as a preventative measure to stop any abuse form happening, but also to prevent chances of repeat victimisation and negative outcomes across the lifecourse.
People with caring Responsibilities	Impact is neutral (although may link to other groups)
People with a disability	Having a disability is a known risk factor associated with being vulnerable to DA and or SV
Women or men	Women are more likely to experience DA and or SV than men. Although men are also victims too.
People who are black or from a minority ethnic background (BME) (Please note Gypsies / Roma are within this community)	The strategy seeks to be more responsive to Torbay’s diversity, in doing so will seek to ensure that people can identify with service responses and resources available
Religion or belief (including lack of belief)	Neutral
People who are lesbian, gay or bisexual	Services offers have historically been less visible and responsive to LGBTQ community – Strategy seeks to address
People who are transgendered	Services offers have historically been less visible and responsive to LGBTQ community – Strategy seeks to address
People who are in a marriage or civil partnership	Neutral
Women who are pregnant / on maternity leave	Pregnancy is an identified risk factor for occurrence of DA.
Socio-economic impacts (Including impact on child poverty issues and deprivation)	Whereas DA and SV cuts across socio-economic boundaries, there is a correlate with Torbay’s more deprived areas (in terms of reporting).
Public Health impacts (How will your proposal impact on the general health of the population of Torbay)	Domestic Abuse and sexual violence are determinants of a range of social, economic, mental and physical ills – this strategy contributes very directly to promoting the general health of Torbay.

10.	Cumulative Council Impact

10.1	None

10.2

11.	Cumulative Community Impacts

11.1	None from a localised perspective. But continued and worsening economic hardship for citizens will most likely result in increased incidents of domestic abuse.

11.2