Decision details

Cabinet received a report which sought approval for the draft Housing Services Domestic Abuse Policy.

Housing Services’ current Domestic Abuse Policy was part of the Authority’s Anti-Social Behaviour Policy.  Housing Services were aiming to achieve accreditation from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) in the autumn of 2019.  One of the DAHA’s national service standards related to policies and procedures and required housing organisations to create a ‘stand alone’ Domestic Abuse Policy.  

In March 2016 the Government had published the new Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (VAWG).  The strategy committed to ongoing reductions in the prevalence of domestic abuse by:

•           Breaking the intergenerational cycle of abuse

•           Giving greater attention to the risk of becoming a perpetrator

•           Challenging attitudes and beliefs about abuse

•           Improving awareness among children and young people about healthy relationships   

The DAHA was a partnership between three agencies i) Standing Together Standing Against Domestic Abuse; ii) Peabody; and iii) Gentoo.  These three agencies had a longstanding commitment to tackling domestic abuse and promoting best practice.  The DAHA’s mission was to improve the housing sector’s approach to domestic abuse through the established set of eight national domestic abuse service standards, which brought together best practice in responding to domestic abuse in the housing sector. 

The housing service had also signed the Make a Stand pledge.  This pledge had been developed by the Chartered Institute of Housing in partnership with Women’s Aid and the DAHA and had been created to encourage housing organisations to make a commitment to support people experiencing domestic abuse.  Number one, out of the four commitments under the pledge, was to put in place and embed a policy to support residents who were affected by domestic abuse.  

The proposed Policy, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, aimed to ensure the Authority’s customers should not live in fear of violence, abuse or harassment from a partner, former partner or any member their family.  Anyone reporting domestic abuse to the Authority would be treated in a sympathetic, supportive and non-judgemental way.  Any disclosure of abuse would be taken seriously and advice and assistance given to support victims.  The service would take action against perpetrators of domestic abuse where it was safe and appropriate to do so.  In addition, the service would assist perpetrators who wished to positively change their behaviour by helping them access advice and support.  The aims of the housing service were set out in the report.   

The Elected Mayor thanked staff for their work done around the Housing Services Domestic Abuse Policy.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to approve the Housing Services Domestic Abuse Policy as set out in the recommendations at paragraph 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to approve the recommendations subject to amendments, or reject the recommendations and request officers to consider the Authority’s response to this matter further. 

Resolved that the Housing Services Domestic Abuse Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved. 

(Reasons for decision: Housing Service’s Domestic Abuse Policy currently forms part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy.  The housing service is aiming to achieve accreditation from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, which requires housing organisations to create a ‘stand alone’ Domestic Abuse Policy.

The housing service has also signed the Make a Stand pledge which requires the service to put in place and embed a policy to support residents who are affected by domestic abuse.

The policy has been developed in accordance with good practice guidelines and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance’s eight national service standards.  It sets out how the Authority’s Housing Service will assist and support any person experiencing or threatened with domestic abuse.  The policy has been produced in consultation with tenants, residents and stakeholders.)