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Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Partnership

Annual Report 2018-19

Shabana Kausar Violence against Women and Girls Strategic Lead Shabana.kausar@rbkc.gov.uk

August 2019

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Contents: Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..Page 3 Annual Review at a Glance………………………………………………………….Page 5 Achievements and Outcomes by Strategic Priority………………………Page 6 Journey of a Survivor…………………………………………………………………..Page 35

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1. Introduction The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy: In April 2015, the VAWG Strategic Partnership for the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (LBHF), the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the City of Westminster (WCC) launched a three-year VAWG Strategy. The Strategy was written after considerable consultation with survivors, service users, stakeholders from a range of statutory and voluntary organisations as well as elected members across the three councils. The Strategy details how the Partnership will deliver a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) to VAWG; it keeps survivors and children at the centre of its aims and objectives, whilst also holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The Strategy is focused around the following seven strategic priorities:

It includes a 53-point action plan which provides the framework for the VAWG Partnership to deliver against its agreed objectives. This report provides a summary of progress against those actions in 2017-18. The Strategy has since been extended until March 2020: VAWG 2018-20 Addendum. The VAWG Strategic Partnership and Governance Structure: The VAWG Strategy is subject to regular review and consideration by the VAWG Strategic Board, which was established in 2014 with senior representation from voluntary, statutory and community organisations working to tackle VAWG across the three boroughs. The Board is tasked:

• To ensure the voices and experiences of survivors of VAWG are reflected throughout the Strategy and Action Plan via regular consultation and feedback;

• To monitor progress of targets and objectives against the Shared VAWG Action Plan and assess whether actions and activities, including of the 6 VAWG Operational Groups, are achieving the required outcomes;

• To establish the overall impact of the strategy via quality assurance and performance monitoring frameworks;

• To promote effective links with the work other Strategic Partnerships including the Adult and Children’s Safeguarding Boards and Health and Well-Being Boards;

• To incorporate new legislation, policy and guidance alongside ongoing understanding and assessment of local need and recommendations from Domestic Homicide Reviews and serious case reviews; and

• To report regularly on the progress of the Strategy to each of the three sovereign borough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, for which VAWG is a priority area of business.

Access Response Community Practitioners

Children and Young People

PerpetratorsJustice and Protection

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The Board is chaired by a local authority Executive Director and includes senior officers from the police, children’s services, public health, adult services, community safety, housing, chairs of 6 operational groups, specialist VAWG services and additional voluntary organisations. The Board is influenced by six Operational Groups that each have a coordinator and a chair and work to detailed action plans based on the seven strategic commitments. The groups are:

These groups provide detailed feedback via coordinators to an Executive group, which meets regularly to monitor the action plans, share information across the Partnership and raise issues and trends to the Strategic Board which have developed in the three boroughs. Fig 1: VAWG Partnership Governance Structure

HousingSpecialist Services

Children and Health

Risk and Review

HarmfulPractices

Modern Slavery &

Exploitation

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2. 2018-19 VAWG Annual Review at a Glance:

Campaign as part of Anti-Slavery Day Oct 2018

Children supported this year: Angelou: 249 directly & 1029 indirectly

WGN: 333 one-to-one counselling Health Partnership Education: 139

school staff trained in WCC

Annual VAWG Partnership Conference: Perpetrators, Prevention, Protection & Prosecution: 60 attended

Funding received to deliver a ‘Whole Housing Approach’ to domestic abuse. Strands below:

Funding received to deliver ‘IRIS’ domestic abuse training for GPs and develop a ‘Whole Health Approach’ to domestic abuse

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3. Achievements and Outcomes by Strategic Priority

PRIORITY 1: ACCESS

The three borough VAWG Partnership is committed to providing high quality services which are accessible, flexible and available in a timely

way to a wide range of survivors. The Partnership will ensure that access to services is Easy, Early and Quick.

Action/Deliverable Outcome

1.1 Online directory of frontline services regularly updated (angelou.org); Angelou contact details regularly included in MARAC briefings, inductions and workshops to practitioners; Information about specialist services is disseminated among health and social care staff across the Shared Services Area Website has been updated

Greater awareness of what is available amongst residents and professionals; Improved access to specialist services; Increase in referrals to Angelou

1.2 Specialist workers continue to be co-located at various settings: • Victim Support IDVA based in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

• Ongoing co-location of Advance/DVIP in Children’s services in LBHF

• Impact project: co-location of Advance, Victim Support and STADV team in H&F police

• Advance IDVA based at LBHF housing • Advance DV worker based with RBKC Families Forwards team

Increased workforce confidence in responding to VAWG and increase in referrals to Angelou

1.3 Specialist services working in partnership with rough sleeping teams and their commissioned services to improve access and response for street homeless victim/survivors; successful DCLG bids for SafeSpace Model, Housing First and mobile advocacy, and BME refuge space via IKWRO and DCLG funding

- The coordinator has also developed and facilitated a Housing First for women practice forum, in partnership with Homeless Link and Threshold Housing First for women. Both events have been well attended by Housing First practitioners from across the country and enabled providers to share knowledge and best practice around using the Housing First model to support women. The green room has received 48 referrals 15 of which have required a MARAC referral.

Increased multi-agency working; Improved outcomes for multiple vulnerabilities; Longer, more focussed support; This will improve access and response to women with multiple needs

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Advance have received 33 referrals of which 19 have been contacted and 18 engaged with the service, of these 11 were in supported accommodation and 7 were rough sleeping.

1.4 NHS England Sharepoint includes map of all FGM services in the three boroughs; Clinics and hospitals have leaflets on FGM, all info also on LSCB website. Leaflets for Imperial Trust are available in English, Somali and Arabic. 6 weekly training takes place for midwives at Imperial Trust, including one off training to trainee midwives. Training is delivered by the FGM Team, including the specialist midwife, social worker and therapist.

Increased awareness of FGM support by practitioners and increase in referrals to services, including FCS by travel clinics and private GP surgeries and hospitals; Increase in professionals asking for advice and training; Increase in women receiving support in the three boroughs; Increased awareness of child protection and FGM

1.5 The FGM clinics provides a holistic intervention to women affected by FGM and proactively safeguarding female children through early risk assessment and education. There are 3 FGM clinics across the three boroughs that use the same holistic model. The FGM clinic is supported by a multi-disciplinary team who work together to consider the health and wellbeing of the mother, as well as potential risk to her future child and any other children in the family. The team consists of a specialist midwife, a child protection social worker, a trauma therapist and Health Advocates. At the St Mary’s Clinic that has a high number of Brent Women attending, partnerships have been created with the Barnardo’s social worker with the aim of meeting once a month to discuss cases, referral pathways, engagement etc.

More women and families will benefit from an integrated approach to FGM; More vulnerable people getting services across London, including Brent which has highest number of FGM cases; Increase in community confidence in services

1.6 There are 2 Freedom programmes running in the three-borough area, one of which is delivered by Advance and another by Westminster Children’s Services.

On-going support for women recovering from an abusive relationship; Women can continue to access services after crisis stage; Increase awareness of and access to specialist services; Increase in community confidence in services

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1.7 Hestia run the Butterfly group. The Butterfly Project is a community-based women’s group run by survivors for survivors, it provides support for women who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic abuse. They have run 74 sessions with 153 attendees over the year.

Advance ran Pattern Changing group work programme, peer support and creative sessions, film club, solicitors’ sessions for service users, yoga, focus groups and feedback sessions where access and barriers were discussed, and plans actioned to improve the services and access for service users.

Galop provides support for survivors from LGBT communities. Galop provided advocacy and support for survivors in LBHF (49), RBKC (41) and WCC (47). They also provided support through their National LGBT DV Helpline: LBHF (22), RBKC (7) and WCC (10).

PRIORITY 2 – RESPONSE

The three borough VAWG Partnership will ensure that survivors are believed and not judged and that services are consistent, personalised, confidential and lead to survivors feeling and being safer in both the short and long-term. Provision both from specialist and statutory partners will be reviewed and the effectiveness of the three borough VAWG multi-agency response will be measured via sector-based data and performance monitoring in both specialist and non-specialist sectors.

Action/Deliverable Outcome

2.1 Continued to deliver high quality specialist service provision, despite significant resource challenges; including:

• The Angelou Partnership provides specialist VAWG support

• Pan-London Services such as Victim Support, Rape Crisis and Ascent

• Independently coordinated MARACs

• Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts available in each borough

• Perpetrator interventions in H&F although other boroughs can spot purchase.

• FGM Project

• MSE response

Survivors are believed and supported; Survivors accessing services are better supported.

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• Advance’s co located projects: social care, housing and impact Imperial Trust.

• Galop’s DAP

• Housing First – MHCLG

• Meeting Survivors Where They Are (MSWTA)

2.2 Angelou Partners have seen an increase in supporting survivors with additional need and/or experiencing multiple disadvantage. AP supported 385 clients around their mental health needs (10% increase compared to last year), 114 clients around their problematic substance use (15% increase compared to last year) and supported 105 clients with physical and learning disabilities (10% increase compared to last year). Compared to last financial year, in 2018/19 there were also 28% more clients who required interpretation services.

LBHF received the highest number of referrals, with similar referral levels for RBKC and WCC. Most service users were aged 18-55 years and over half of the services users had children. 53% of cases were very high risk, while 27% were medium and 20% standard risk. 20 men and 5 service users who identified as transgender were supported by Angelou (2 who identified as male and 3 who identified as female). Where ethnicity was known, 55% were from an ethnic minority background. 1029 children were indirectly supported by supporting their non-abusive mother.

The Angelou website was visited and re-visited 1000 times over the last three quarters of the 2018/19 year by viewers. (due to technical issues around the website move to a new site the data from quarter one 2017/18 is not available). In 2018-2019 Angelou delivered co-located projects within Housing, Social care and as part of the IMPACT project for Hammersmith & Fulham. In addition, they provided a Social Care project in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Woman’s Trust Woman’s Trust is part of the Angelou Partnership and receives independent funding from a variety of sources to provide individual and group counselling and a range of follow on support including workshops and therapies. During the last financial year, Woman’s Trust

Improved operational response that keeps the voices and experiences of survivors at the centre

Spotlight on Angelou

Partnership Outcomes:

Percentage of women reporting increased safety and feelings of safety: Baseline 65% 2016-17: 95% 2017-18: 89% 2018-19: 90%

Women report a reduction in abuse due to support & advice: Baseline 67% 2016-17: 96% 2017-18: 95% 2018-19: 95%

Percentage of VAWG cases where risk is reduced at case closure following support of service: Baseline 62% 2016-17: 95% 2017-18: 89% 2018-19: 92%

Women and girls report improvement in quality of life: Baseline 55% 2016 -17: 78% 2017-18: 89%

2018-19:91%

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received 466 referrals this financial year across the three boroughs (up from 406 in the previous year). DA Refuges provided by Hestia Hestia runs all 9 local authority funded refuges in the three boroughs and in the last financial year, they supported 182 women (50 in RBKC, 34 in LBHF and 98 in WCC).

2.3 Pan London Services Excellent service provision via Pan London funded organisations such as Victim Support, Rape Crisis and Ascent, which work closely with Angelou to ensure clear referrals pathways and an effective response to survivors matching need with specialism. Rape Crisis In the North London Rape Crisis Service, Solace Women’s Aid supported 39 women from WCC, 0 from LBHF and 20 RBKC clients in 2018/19. They provided a holistic range of trauma-informed specialist sexual violence support including independent advocacy through the Criminal Justice System. 2018/19 saw the rolling out of a restructure in the specialist rape teams in the MET Police which led to delays in investigations and coupled with stagnation and attrition in the Crown Prosecution Service decision making has resulted in women requiring their service for longer periods. The Criminal Justice System is currently averaging around 2 years and conviction rates for London are at 3% (London Rape Review July 2019). Their specialist therapeutic counselling including long term therapy, pre-trial therapy, body therapies and group work is offered at safe spaces across Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. They also offered a helpline service to the three boroughs with 63 hours per week of confidential emotional support.

Ascent Ascent is a projected of the London VAWG Consortium which is funded by London Councils. It offers a range of support and advice to organisations looking to support those affected by VAWG. Forty-seven organisations were supported (11 in RBKC, 13 in LBHF and 23 in WCC).

Victim Support Via the Pan-London DA contract funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, Victim Support provides an IDVA in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and one DVPO case worker, who works with medium and standard risk DA cases where a DVPO has been issued, in all three boroughs. Victim Support’s Multi-Crime service supports victims of DA where this risk is assessed as low or

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standard risk. In RBKC Victim Support worked with 277 service users (where data was provided: 218 women, 41 men); In WCC, they supported 321 service users (where data was provided: 244 women, 55 men) and in LBHF, it was 408 total (where data was provided: 298 women, 58 men). The total number of people supported by Victim Support in 2018-2019 in all three boroughs was 1006 (6% increase on 2017-18). St Mary’s Health IDVA Project (a Pan London Project): The independently funded Advance project based at St Mary’s hospital which supports survivors across London attending the hospital located in Paddington in Westminster. The Advance Health IDVA also provides bespoke training, consultations and ongoing support and guidance for medical professionals.

2.4 Meeting Survivors Where They Are (MSWTA): The service looks to support victims/survivors who have additional and complex so that fewer victims will reach crisis point and the needs of victims and survivors with the most complex needs or experiencing multiple disadvantages are met. A team of 5.6 front line workers supported survivors focusing on their intersectional needs:

Organisation Annual Referrals: 1,148

Advance 670

Galop 27

Al Hasaniya 23

Woman’s Trust 294

Women and Girls Network 134

MSWTA works above existing support provided through the Angelou Project. MSWTA enables staff to spend longer working with survivors who have additional needs which require more long-term wrap around support.

2.5 The FGM clinic continues to provide a multi- agency response to pregnant women and families affected by FGM through a team comprising a specialist social worker, midwives, health advocates and psychological support. During April 2018- March 2019, 114 women where seen in the FGM clinics across the 3 boroughs. Not only are women supported around their physical health but can also access emotional and therapeutic services through the team counsellor.

More areas will benefit from this knowledge and experience base; Project will continue in three boroughs in this financial year; More women will be supported

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St Mary’s Hospital - 42 Queen Charlotte’s Hospital -31 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital- 41

2.6 Westminster Housing Options Service (HOS): Currently 2 DA customer service offices at HOS in Westminster; Continued to train front-line HOS staff in DA awareness and referring to MARAC; Westminster HOS contract has IDVA post and work towards DAHA accreditation written into it; Westminster HOS had amended interview and call centre scripts to include links to Angelou website for correct signposting; Positive partnership working between housing and LGBT specialist services.

Increase in identification and referrals to specialist services (MARAC and IDVA); Increase in understanding of DA and confidence in identifying and supporting cases; Correct and timely identification; Placing someone in area of safety; Liaison with other professionals and appropriate info-sharing; Improved response and coordinated working

2.7 Modern Slavery and Exploitation (MSE):

Outcomes:

• More joined up response between partners to MSE with a welfare (not prosecution) focus on survivors • Increased identification of potential victims of trafficking (including by rough sleeping services and

health professionals); Increased identification and support by non-NRM specialist services; Coordination of the partnership aids the collaborative response to MSE;

• Increased communication and dissemination of material between partners; • and to increase awareness of MSE across the three boroughs and to establish referral pathways in

partner organisations.

The three boroughs, with STOP THE TRAFFIK, have employed a Modern Slavery & Exploitation Partnerships and Community Coordinator began in post in June 2018. The post has been overseeing the following: • Coordinate the MSE Group, a multi-agency partnership that meets quarterly (73 members from 37 organisations, of which 25

regularly attend meetings)

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• Keeping an up to date service directory: https://angelou.org/human-trafficking • Developing a local MSE Adult Referral Pathway in line with Duty to Notify (s.52 Modern Slavery Act 2015) to improve the

internal response • Delivery of training to frontline teams: A total of 330 multi-agency professionals were trained over the year to understand the

different types of exploitation, barriers to disclosure and how to respond. One of the partners in the MSE Group is Rahab, a RBKC based charity, which provides outreach support to those affected by prostitution. In the period April 2018- March 2019, Rahab supported 285 individuals through various services. 60 of these were cases of potential modern slavery and of these, 7 were identified in RBKC, 5 in Westminster and 2 in Hammersmith & Fulham, with the remainder pan-London. In the three boroughs, the nationalities of the victims/survivors of modern slavery were primarily Brazilian, Pakistani, Chinese and Albanian. Similar to Rahab, Tamar is an NGO providing outreach work with women affected by prostitution in Westminster. They met 364 clients in the period January - December 2018, the majority of whom were Chinese. Both Rahab and Tamar, have continued the welfare visits to vulnerable women, both independently and with police teams. Rahab carried out 69 welfare visits and Tamar visited 73 addresses during this time. The charities were also involved in a welfare pilot, developing a local partnership model with MPS BCU AW Safeguarding and RBKC council for improved identification and support of individuals affected by prostitution and exploitation. Another partner in the MSE Group is Caritas Bakhita House, a specialist refuge for female survivors of modern slavery and is based in the three boroughs. In the period January – December 2018, they housed and supported 22 female survivors of trafficking and modern slavery with ages ranging between 17 and 70. Nationalities included Romanian, Albanian, Nigerian and Vietnamese. The Passage, a homeless charity in Westminster, employed an Anti-Slavery Coordinator to lead on raising awareness of modern slavery in the homeless sector. Since the creation of the role in June 2018, The Passage has supported 25 potential victims of modern slavery from countries including Romania, Brazil, Ireland and the UK. The Passage also led a pilot project with Westminster Housing to improve access to emergency accommodation for victims of modern slavery. In addition to the training delivered by the MSE Coordinator, The Passage trained 194 professionals and Rahab trained 92 members of NHS staff. Other organisations within the partnership also delivered ad hoc training within the three boroughs.

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The Passage also put together a modern slavery handbook as an easy guide to understanding exploitation.

2.8 MARAC: Standing Together provides independent coordination of the three local authority MARACs. This coordination service ensures that the MARAC process runs smoothly, is effective and keeps the survivor at the centre of the process, whilst holding perpetrators to account and looking after the safety of any children. Westminster MARAC now has a specialist Rough sleeper representative

Outcomes: • Increased identification, referrals into MARAC and info sharing; Increased safety for victims and

increased agency responsibility for action taking; Increase in holding perpetrators accountable for their behaviour.

• Increase in referrals and safety planning for rough sleeping survivors of domestic abuse

LBHF 398 cases (348 last year) 98 repeats 379 children

LBHF Diversity data: BME referrals = 47.5%; LGBT = 3.8%; Disability = 15.8%; Male victims/survivors = 7.3% 2017-18 Volume as % of SafeLives expected volume: 124% 2017-18 Repeat victimisation rate: 25%

RBKC 294cases (256 last year) 81 repeats 262 children

RBKC MARAC Diversity data: BME referrals = 48%; LGBT = 4.1%; Disability = 14.6%; Male victims/survivors = 7.5%. 2017-18 Volume as % of SafeLives expected volume: 108% 2017-18 Repeat victimisation rate: 27.6%

WCC 357 cases (289 last year) 100 repeats 292 children

WCC MARAC Diversity data: BME referrals = 54.1%; LGBT = 2.8%; Disability = 16.5%; Male victims/survivors = 4.5%. 2017-18 Volume as % of SafeLives expected volume: 96.5% 2017-18 Repeat victimisation rate: 28%

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MARAC meetings are held monthly and are well attended by core agencies; A range of guest agencies also referred and attended; All three MARACs are seeing referrals from a broad range of referring agencies (12+ different agencies);

At the centre of the Coordinated Community response is the regular attendance of MARAC Representatives this is a standing item on the Steering Group report to support agency engagement and accountability at the MARACs.

The MARACs are well attended by core and non-core agencies and there have been 12 MARACs in each of LBHF, RBKC and WCC this year. London MARAC Coordinators Forum Standing Together continues to host, chair and administrate the London wide MARAC Coordinators forum every quarter. The meetings have covered a range of topics with guest speakers from a variety of specialist DA organisations. WM MARAC meetings Due to two meetings in the period 18-19 seeing volume of referral over 35 cases so requiring the meeting split over two days it was agreed with commissionaires that the Westminster MARAC meeting be increased to four weekly as opposed to monthly providing one additional meeting in a year to respond to demand in increase in cases. Appointment of new MARAC Senior Coordinator within team structure In Q2 a slight re-structure of the MARAC team took place to include the newly created role of Senior MARAC Coordinator. This decision was based on the year on year increase in work load for the MARAC Team Manager who coordinates RBKC meetings. With the volume of referrals significantly increasing in RBKC having a Senior role on the MARAC team has enabled the MARAC Team Manager to keep a focus on quality and innovation whilst also continuing to administrate the MARAC. Internal Quality Assurance Audit Report & Workshop – In December 2018 Standing Together engaged an external consultant with significant background and experience in delivering MARACs to review our MARAC Coordination services. Their report highlighted the following areas of good practice:

• In 2018-19 all Boroughs are meeting best practice on volume.

• Standing Together has a wide range of agencies linked into the MARAC and in receipt of papers and attending meetings.

• Inductions, briefings and workshops are carried out Coordinators to engage and encourage agencies involvement in the MARAC.

• MARAC Steering Groups review effectiveness in monitoring attendance.

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• Practical referral pathways agreed with local IDVA services are in place and being utilised by the MARAC Team to refer survivors to IDVAs in a timely way.

• Coordinators are good at championing the safety concerns of the victim/survivor and their wishes at the MARAC meetings.

• Concerns regarding the gap in referral services for male victim/survivors has been raised via contractual, VAWG and risk and review quarterly meetings. as a significant gap in local Services that needs to be addressed by the VAWG partnership.

• Detailed and high-quality accuracy of the discussion at the MARAC is being recorded. In the majority best practice is being met for the MARAC minutes generally they are impressively detailed.

• Risk factors are being highlighted and considered by Coordinators including risk factors about others at risk, mental health, disability and substance use. A broad range of risk factors are being considered in the action plans.

• Research into actions around Perpetrators has been done by the MARAC Team Manager to look into factors and differences between Boroughs.

• Coordinators raise at the end of every case at MARAC if there are no actions agreed for the Perpetrator before moving on to the next case to ensure the perpetrator is not forgotten in the action plan. Learning from the research carried out on Perpetrator actions can be used to improve practice in the Boroughs where there are less actions around Perpetrators.

• All Boroughs are performing well with regards to victim/survivors with a disability referred to MARAC. Four of the Boroughs are performing within best practice for male victim/survivors referred to MARAC. The LGBT referrals are above London and National averages in the Tri- Borough.

The risk and review steering group is in place covering all three boroughs and reports sent once a quarter that contain performance monitoring on key indicators of the MARAC. The reports also highlight particular issues and show a high level of commitment from the MARAC coordination service to further improve and develop the MARACs. Team Around Me Westminster MARAC is piloting the ‘Team Around Me’ approach to professionals’ meetings for complex repeat MARAC cases where traditional risk focussed approaches have not demonstrated positive change. MARAC Health ChelWest & ICHT Referral distribution point Standing Together has continued to be the centralised referral point for all MARAC referrals originating from Imperial College Health Trust. ICHT has its own MARAC referral form and all staff send this to the RBKC MARAC inbox at Standing Together for distribution onwards to the appropriate MARAC (if not Tri-Borough) This saves busy medical staff time providing a simplified system increasing the likelihood of professionals referring into MARAC.

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The MARAC Team Manager had discussions with ChelWest NHS Trust acting on their request for a similar joint working protocol that mirrors the above process. ChelWest have been provided with their own Health@MARAC.cjsm secure inbox and updated MARAC referral form.

2.9 MARAC+ In December the MARAC team manager attended a meeting to review MARAC Plus process and protocol with the VAWG Strategic Lead for the shared services area. This meeting enabled the further streamlining of MARAC Plus process ensuring consistency between the three Boroughs. The requirements for triggering a MARAC Plus were clarified at this meeting as well as thresholds, responsibilities and expected seniority of agency representatives involved in the MARAC Plus process.

2.7 DAWS (Substance Misuse service) have linked with Angelou and the service has a hub in each borough and a nominated DA lead; Advance attend a quarterly meeting with the substance misuse providers to ensure joint working, improving the response, training one another and facilitating co-location.

Coordinated partnership working for clients with multiple disadvantages.

2.11 Specialist Services group continues as a forum for agencies to share best practice amongst voluntary/ non-statutory organisations and improve awareness and information sharing.

Practitioners are sharing good practice

2.12 DVIP: Completed the MOPAC Pilot and continued to deliver Al-Aman and collocated activities in H&F and WCC; Offered training to a variety of professionals (see 6.1 under Perpetrators for additional deliverables)

Increased workforce confidence in responding to perpetrators; Supported perpetrators to change behaviour via 1:1 and group interventions

2.13 Children and Health Operational Group (CHOG)/C&H Coordinator (CHC) at STADV:

Outcomes:

• Ensure that victims and survivors can influence service development by including survivors’ voices in all consultation; Increased partnership working with GPs

The CHOG Coordinator left on 31/03/18 there was a gap while recruitment decisions were made. The new coordinator started in October 18 and since then CHOG meetings have been revived and are well attended. The CHOG had worked to develop a Theory of Change and agreed a data set. It also had presentations about DA and substance mis sue and also the new Pathfinder project

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within the 3 boroughs. The Acute Trust Coordinator has trained 269 staff members this quarter. In addition, training was provided to 49 staff at Royal Brompton The CHOG coordinator:

• Attended the Westminster Early Help Strategy Launch and contributed pledges to progress this work.

• Delivered a DA and Children presentation to the Hammersmith and Fulham Education partnership meeting in March

• Contributed to the midwifery curriculum focus group at Kings College London in February.

• Supported the Safe and Together Round table discussion in March.

2.14 Housing Operational Group (HOG) and Housing Coordination at STADV: Good practice shared amongst professionals locally and nationally The Housing Operational Group met 3x in 201819 and held 1 review meeting to consult members on the group’s theory of change. The HOG looked at two key themes this past year:

• Economic abuse as a distinct type of abuse and how this creates barriers for accessing and maintaining safe and secure housing. Speaker: Nicola Sharp Jeffs from Surviving Economic Abuse

• Introduction to the Whole Housing Approach by Standing Together The Whole Housing approach project

Westminster Council were awarded funding from MHCLG on behalf of a consortium of partners to deliver the ‘Whole Housing’ approach in three project sites (three boroughs WCC, RBKC & LBHF, Cambridgeshire and Stockton). The Whole Housing approach was developed by DAHA and considers all housing tenure types and the options available to survivors to help them access safe and secure housing. It also considers the enforcement and positive engagement options available to housing providers to hold perpetrators to account. The project team will produce a ‘Whole Housing’ toolkit to describe the ideal routes to safety for each tenure, the housing options available that can facilitate this and considerations for how to implement the response based on best practice happening across the project sites and the UK. Delivery partners include:

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The following diagram shows the domains of the Whole Housing

model. The circles in yellow are the areas we will be focusing on for

the MHCLG funded project.

The Coordinator has represented the group at the Pan-London

VAWG and Housing Operational and Strategic Groups. As well as

presenting on the tri-borough work at several conferences and

meetings.

Over the past few years research has emerged that has suggested

that typical domestic violence responses do not always work for

women affected by multiple disadvantage, and that this group

face considerable barriers in accessing refuge and other domestic

abuse focused services (Jumping through Hoops, Breaking down

the Barriers). Conversely, we also know that homelessness

services often cannot provide the woman only response that

women have said works for them (Mapping the maze). Both

sectors have worked largely in silo, however, there is growing

recognition of the need to work together and form partnerships, if

we are to get the response right for this vulnerable group of

women.

The Outreach Advocacy-Multiple Support Project: delivered by Advance.

The Outreach Advocacy service provides outreach support for homeless women affected by domestic abuse and multiple

disadvantage. The service offers flexible outreach support for up to 20 homeless women at any one time (rough sleeping, in hostels

STADV DAHA team Safer London

Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) LBHF, WCC & RBKC Cambridgeshire Women’s Aid

Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC)

Stockton Council Advance

Refuge (CCC)

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or supported housing) affected by domestic abuse, as well as other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and multiple

disadvantage.

There is no fixed support offer - the outreach advocates are able to provide individually tailored, wrap around support for women,

guided by what the women themselves see as their priorities. They are flexible on meeting locations and timings and able to support

clients to appointments with a range of different partner agencies. Their VAWG specialism enables them to effectively assess need

and risk and carry out specialist safety planning with clients to reduce risk from domestic abuse/VAWG, mental health and substance

use issues.

The Green Room: delivered by St Mungo’s

St Mungo’s provide a wide range of services for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness across London and the South East and

West.

The Green Room project is a pan London women’s night centre specialising in VAWG and targeting London’s most vulnerable female

rough sleepers. It is open 365 nights of the year between 4.30pm and 7.30am for up to 12 women per night referred by any pan

London referral agency for female rough sleepers experiencing any form of VAWG. Women with no recourse to public funds, dogs

and multiple needs that typically act as barriers access are accepted.

From 4.30pm each afternoon the services women practical services (food, showers, washing and a clothing store) alongside gentle

activities to focus on strengths, promote wellbeing, the mind body connection and self-care (arts and crafts e.g. mindful colouring

books, pampering, listening to music and watching films). The target length of stay is two weeks, but this is flexible to allow time to

find a route off the street. Specialist workers identify move on from the street during the day, in partnership with referral agencies. A

specialist domestic abuse worker is able to support women around specific DVA/VAWG needs.

The Housing First and Homelessness Project at Standing Together Against Domestic Violence

Standing Together Against Domestic Violence support organisations to work together to ensure local systems truly keep survivors safe, hold abusers to account, and ultimately prevent domestic abuse from happening in the first place.

The Housing First and Homelessness project works to improve cross sector understanding between the homelessness and domestic

abuse sectors, ultimately aiming to fill the gap in support for homeless women affected by VAWG and multiple disadvantage.

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2.15 Westminster DA Consultant: Sharon Bryan is the Domestic Abuse Consultant for Early Help and Children’s Services and is employed by Westminster City Council. She is based at the 3 main children’s centers in the borough – Bessborough Family Hub, Queen’s Park Children’s Centre and The Portman Early Childhood Centre. Sharon works across all risk levels and also works with women who self-refer from the children’s centers who are not known to children’s services in order to provide early intervention. Sharon worked intensively with women through risk assessment, safety planning, practical and emotional support and empowerment, referral and presentation to MARAC and crisis work. Sharon provides case consultation with social care staff and Early Help practitioners.

Increased support for survivors and children; Increased workforce confidence in Westminster Children’s services. Increased empowerment for women through the Freedom Programme, who can form peer support relationships with other women who have experienced domestic abuse.

2.16 Domestic Violence and Mental Health Project at STADV: The project coordinator has used a policy assessment framework to assess the DA policies for two mental health trusts and written a report detailing; the findings from the assessment, implications for project next steps and added value of the work. The coordinator has also held the second project steering group (28th Sep) with project partners wherein the plans for a December workshop and further training sessions were discussed and agreed. Although the MH project coordinator had originally intended to assess multiple trust policies including; domestic abuse, safeguarding adults and safeguarding children policies, the time taken for assessment, data analysis and report writing meant it was only possible to assess the domestic abuse policies.

Improved operational response that keeps the voices and experiences of survivors at the centre; Improved inter agency working and workforce confidence in responding to mental health, DA and multiple needs.

2.17 Acute Trust Project (Chelsea & Westminster Trust; Imperial College Health Trust) at STADV: The Acute Trust Project focuses on coordination of domestic abuse response at Chelsea and Westminster (CWH) The Acute Trust Coordinator has trained 269 staff members this quarter. In addition, we provided training to 49 staff at Royal Brompton

Improved identification and response for patients experiencing domestic abuse and accessing services at these Trusts; Ensure staff

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35 Health MARAC representatives have been trained this quarter. Number of referrals to MARAC from Health Professionals this year:

Q1 27 Q2 37 Q3 29 Q4 37

are responding to domestic abuse safely and appropriately; At CWH identification of domestic abuse increased: 215 cases of domestic abuse were identified in the hospital. This is a 41% increase since Q4. There were 51 referrals made to the CHH Victim Support IDVA in Q4.

2.18 Pathfinder across the 3 boroughs

Outcomes:

• Creating a mechanism by which to distil and promote effective and innovative practices and support their implementation;

• Identify best practice models and practical examples being created and adopted across the country –including research, policy, commissioning, resources, staffing, training across primary and secondary care settings;

• Hold working groups to distil best practice models, materials, policies, IT innovations and funding methods to share throughout the Pathfinder partners

• Promote learning and best practice from early innovators; Provide practical guidance and support about how to adapt and embed these best practice solutions into their specific settings

We were delighted to be successful in our bid to be part of the National Pathfinder project, leading innovative approaches to working with VAWG in the health economy. A local lead has been appointed and a steering group brought together to oversee the work. The Pathfinder project will enable us to implement the IRISi project across K&C and share practice around developing a DAL network across health trusts without national partners

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2.19 Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs): From 2018-19, there were 9 DHRs at various different stages of completion. The purpose of a DHR is to establish what lessons are to be learned regarding the way in which local professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard victims. RBKC has one published DHR (Robert and Clare) and has two pending DHRs. One near completion and soon to be sent to the Home Office Quality Assurance Panel, and another nearing final panel meeting. Both are expected to be completed in Autumn 2019. LBHF has three DHRs. Two DHRs are close to completion and to be submitted to the Community Safety Programme Board for sign off, and the third being slightly delayed due to a change in report chair and author. WCC also have three DHRs. One has been submitted to the Home Office Quality Assurance Panel, and two are still pending. All are expected to be completed by Winter of 2019. As there are a number of DHRs being published at the same time, a DHR Task and Finish Group has been set up to look at how the learning can inform systems change and have a long-term impact. This group is planning on holding an event later in 2019, and also developing a DHR Protocol which will outline best practice in relation to: • Commissioning a DHR; • Conducting the Review; • The Overview Report; • Completion of a report and sign off, and; • Dissemination and Learning

The recommendations and action plan within the DHR have been considered by the Risk and Review group and will be circulated to the CSPB.

A multi-agency DHR Task and Finish group has been put together to focus on the themes emerging from all DHRs and to coordinate learning. Once the other DHRs are completed, we will hold an event to consolidate all recommendations and learning across the three boroughs.

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2.20 Making Safeguarding Personal Making Safeguarding Personal is a core objective running throughout the strategic plan of the Safeguarding Adults Executive Board (SAEB). The six principles of safeguarding are applied and inform the ways in which professionals and other staff work and are included within the SAEB/VAWG joint working protocol. We have launched an ambition plan with service users to support co-design in safeguarding to include event planning, multi-agency awareness campaigns, national videos to develop community awareness: with a focus on abuse, hoarding, self-neglect, scams and fire safety and delivery of training programmes to ensure their story is told. Making Safeguarding Personal is embedded across all board member organisations and within all subgroup activity.

2.21 The Victims Programme Coordinator (VPC) has been in post since September 2017. This post is responsible for the project management of Impact and contributes to the VAWG response locally.

The VPC has contract managed the WGN ‘Respect’ project working with young women affected by, or at risk of, exploitation and serious youth violence as well as the Victim Support ‘Safe Space’ project for young people affected by domestic abuse. The VPC Coordinates the Community MARAC, which has been operating since January 2018 to deal with high risk and complex cases of anti-social behavior, and over a third (39%) of cases in 18-19 had VAWG as a factor.

The VPC has continued to support the coordinated community response to VAWG in H&F by representing the Council across key forums. This has included the R&R, MSWTA, Harmful Practices, DHR subgroup, Training Group, etc. The role has overseen the completion of three DHRs.

PRIORITY 3 – COMMUNITY

The three borough VAWG Partnership prioritises tackling VAWG making the three-borough area a safer place for women and girls. As a result, residents, especially non-violent/abusive members, take responsibility if they encounter abuse and know how to help family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. The VAWG Partnership is committed to ongoing communication, community engagement, prevention and awareness-raising of VAWG issues.

Action/Deliverable Outcome

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3.1 Blooming Strong events held in November 2018:

Outcome: Increased awareness of DA in the community

We ran our Blooming Strong Campaign again to mark November 25th

UN day for the elimination of violence against women and as part of our 16 days of activism.

This year we expanded the project and sent campaign packs out to 16 other areas as well as across London. We had 26 local Nominations for a Blooming Strong Flower, all of which were delivered during the 16 days.

3.2 In partnership with Midaye, a women’s wellbeing day was hosted by Family and Children’s Services, the event focused on mental wellbeing in pregnancy including issues around FGM and safeguarding. Mandatory reporting forms part of the training offer to all professionals and organisations working with Children and Families.

Increased awareness of mandatory reporting; Increase in referrals and support to services; Increased confidence/trust in CFS; Increase in community members disclosing FGM

3.3 Modern Slavery and Exploitation Anti-Slavery Day Campaign: For Anti-Slavery Day on 18th October 2018, the MSE Group placed 5 A1 and 340 A3 posters around the three boroughs, alerting the public to the signs of human trafficking. The councils and police also posted about the indicators of Modern Slavery on social media, receiving 44 retweets and 46 likes between them.

Increased awareness of MSE in the community across the boroughs

3.4 Operation Makesafe is ongoing MET wide response to CSE in public spaces. Operation Song Troop is the three-borough strand of this project which focused on raising awareness with hotel groups, taxi companies, sexual health staff and licensed premises.

Increased awareness of CSE in the community, including taxi drivers

3.5 Safety Across Faith and Ethnic Communities Project STADV: The project began in July 2016 and received three-year funding from Esmee Fairbairn Foundation in March 2017. A new initiative to empower communities to be a part of the coordinated community response to domestic abuse.

Safety Across Faith and Ethnic Communities (SAFE) Project

SAFE Communities is a three-year project run by Standing Together Against Domestic Violence, seeking to tackle domestic abuse and gender-

based violence by working with and learning from grassroots ethnic and faith communities. Building the capacity of institutions, communities

and women means these groups could become better equipped and more effective in tackling domestic violence and abuse (DVA).

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The infographic shows 27 meetings and events from October 2018 to March 2019, along with the project coordinator’s assessment of them. Two thirds of the meetings had under 10 people, including several one-to-one conversations (counted as ‘speaking’). There is evidence that the project sits at the intersection of DVA, faith, BME and local government.

PRIORITY 4 – PRACTITIONERS

The VAWG Partnership will continue to lead on the development of good practice for professionals working in the three borough area and will concentrate on providing a package of VAWG training and sector based support for practitioners alongside encouraging innovation in service delivery within a multi-agency context.

Action/Deliverable

4.1 Angelou Partners/Advance training:

Outcomes: Increase in workforce confidence in responding to VAWG; Increase in referrals to specialist services; Increase in survivors receiving improved response

Angelou Partners conducted a range of inter-agency training to hundreds of professionals including community safety teams, duty teams, housing teams, substance misuse frontline professionals, mental health professionals, courts and the professionals within the CJS.

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Galop: • Awareness sessions at the 2018 VAWG Partnership conference and to health professionals, estimated (approximately 100

professionals) • 1 to 1 meeting with an estimated 50 professionals, e.g. drug/alcohol, health, CJS, social services, housing and other

voluntarily/VAWG and LGBT+ services • Outreach at London Pride and other events, such as White Ribbon Advance:

• Advance delivered MARAC training to 30 professionals in partnership with STADV.

• The Substance misuse IDVA attended safeguarding surgeries at DAWS to enable client’s access domestic abuse services and to provide case consultations to professionals.

• Social Workers were trained in Housing Options for Survivors of Domestic Abuse (14).

• Risk identification and safety planning delivered to Family Support staff (9).

• One-to-one consultations with Social Workers in RBKC (10)

• One-to-one consultations with Housing Officers in LBHF (29)

4.2 Impact project and co-location of coordinators in H&F and Westminster. There is a Criminal Justice IDVA at Charing Cross Police Station (previously Acton Police Station) 5 days p/week, alongside the Impact Project Manager (x1 day p/week). Both SDAC Coordinators are also co-located at Charing Cross Police Station (previously Acton and Belgravia). The co-location of specialist domestic abuse provision and coordination in local CSUs has been significant in improving multi-agency working between CJ partners and improving outcomes for survivors.

The co-location of the Impact team and SDAC Coordinators has supported improved knowledge around the specialist court, multi-agency working and enhanced referral pathways. This has been further developed through one-to-one inductions with officers and whole-team training with the CSU. Co-location has also supported the transition to the BCU.

4.3 Continued availability of free safeguarding/DA training through LSCB Increased knowledge and skills base in the workforce; Increased confidence in responding to VAWG; Increased use of Safelives DASH-RIC

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4.4 Standing Together have delivered training to a variety of professionals across many different fields This includes bespoke and multi- agency MARAC training. Multi agency training on awareness, Skills and working with a trauma informed approach. Targeted training with Housing, Health and Community professionals and leaders and with the LSCB about the safeguarding implications of working with domestic abuse and coercive control

Increased knowledge and skills base in our workforce; Increased confidence in responding to VAWG; Increased use of Safelives DASH-RIC; Increased referrals to specialist services; Have increased engagement in MARAC, more willing to share information and have greater understanding of risk indicators. Improved the identification and response for patients experiencing domestic abuse and accessing services at these Trusts; Improve staff skills and confidence around dealing with domestic abuse and hospitals have the leadership and structures which support a robust response.

4.5 An FGM assessment tool and guide was developed to support social workers with assessments and improve interventions. Social Workers are able to access Quarterly LSCB Harmful Practice Training, focussing on FGM, Forced Marriage and so called ‘honour-based violence’ .

Increased confidence in social workers responding to FGM and asking more refined questions about this as an issue; (Measure distance travelled in terms of content of professional conversations)

4.6 Three Borough Annual Conference: The theme of the conference was ‘Perpetrators: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution.’ Through a series of speakers, panel discussions and workshops, the one-day conference bought together around 60 professionals from a range of backgrounds to explore best practice in holding the perpetrator to account and partnering with the victim/survivor.

Priority 5 – CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The VAWG Partnership will ensure that children and young people are supported if they witness or are subject to abuse and understand healthy relationships and acceptable behaviour in order to prevent future abuse. The three borough Partnership will prioritise both prevention of violence and abuse and provision of support for Children and Young People.

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Action/Deliverable Outcome

5.1 Angelou supported 249 young women and girls and indirectly supported 1029 children by supporting their non-abusive parent. 39 young people were supported around historical child sexual exploitation. Children additionally supported by all co-located projects including Advance Social Care Projects: 380 children (of which 162 children were indirectly supported through the social care collocated projects).

Support for children and young people affected by VAWG.

5.2 Women and Girls Network

Outcome: Increased awareness of VAWG with young people; direct support for those affected; support for professionals who work with them.

Through the Angelou Partnership and MSWTA provision, WGN has supported 701 women, girls and professionals across the three boroughs, with 146 of those being YW and girls under the age of 18. 24% of the women and girls they worked with during this period identified as BME and 18% have presented with multiple needs, especially around mental health. WGN has delivered the following additional work which is outside of the Angelou and MSWTA funding in the three boroughs:

• 333 one to one counselling sessions (funded by London councils (Ascent project) and MOPAC (Rape Crisis funding).

• 3X 8 weeks ‘Moving Forward’ group work programme in H&F (Funded by LC-Ascent project)

• 8 workshops for YW& girls at the Pupil Referral Unite in H&F and additional 1-2-1 advocacy for 4 YW (H&F LA CS specific funding which came to an end in July)

• Through MOPAC funding, between December 18 to March 19, WGN’s ISVA service have been able to provide one off informed choice sessions to clients who are on the ISVA waiting list or are thinking of reporting SV to the police. The sessions were designed to explain the CJS process to clients, inform them of the options available to them and provide information on additional support services available. 30 women from across the three boroughs were supported via this provision.

• The MOPAC funded London Survivors Gateway, a partnership between the 4 London RCCs, Galop, SurvivorsUK and the Havens, has been operating since October 2018. Between October 18 and March 19 the Gateway received 51 referrals from the three boroughs. Of these, 92% were relating to a female survivor. More than half of referrals came from the police.

5.3 Domestic Abuse Prevention Programme for Schools: Health Education Partnership (HEP) HEP are coordinating Domestic Abuse Prevention Programme for Westminster Schools in 2018-2020. As part of this, 139 school staff received domestic abuse INSETs. The training reached 7 primary and 3 secondary schools. Between 91-96% of attendees either

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agreed or strongly agreed with training feedback statements (in relation to increased knowledge, skills and confidence).

5.4 Increase in police school’s team – 1 Police Sergeant and 8 FTE PCs in H&F. Increase in intelligence flow from schools to school officer which leads to more targeted support in schools.

5.5 Specialist social care Advance IDVAs/DVIP worker in LBHF and IDVA in RBKC. Specialist therapeutic programmes for children and young people such as Talking Without Fear, Standing Tall, DV Practitioner within CSS Westminster

Increased identification and earlier intervention; Increased workforce confidence in responding to DV, including holding perpetrators accountable; increasing safety planning for victims and children

5.6 Continued work of the YP IDVAs within Angelou: • Ongoing liaison with Healthy Relationships Adviser at Centrepoint. IDVA met to

discuss the service and referral criteria/pathway etc. and provided her with resources so she can safety plan with clients and monitor risk.

• Ongoing liaison with Westminster Peabody Transitions project keyworkers (youth housing project).

• EPIC CIC – IDVA met with group work facilitator at EPIC CIC to discuss the service and referral criteria/pathway etc.

• IDVA delivered a Healthy Relationships and DA Young Mum’s Group.

• Minerva Peer Mentors: IDVA has given training to the Minerva Peer Mentors on DA and included a section on YP project (as they have a YP keyworker too, who I have linked in with).

• Women & Girls Network: IDVA has made links with Team Manager to encourage effective collaborative working and referred clients to WGN YP Project.

• MARAC Workshops: IDVA has attended these and co-facilitated with STADV, raising awareness of YP project and specifying we take referrals for women & girls aged 13+.

• IDVA has attended three ways meeting with YP Services to engage clients e.g. Peabody Transitions project, Centrepoint’s Healthy Relationships Adviser.

• IDVA has sent information and resources to social workers, mental health professionals, care teams, and youth centres.

Increased identification and earlier intervention

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5.7 Training has been delivered to schools across the 3 boroughs on request. Information and leaflets on FGM were included in the Education circular across the 3 boroughs. The ‘No more Whispers’ Project (Performance Art Theatre) was delivered to 4 schools across Hammersmith and Fulham to Year 7,Year 8 and Year 9’s students.

Increased identification in schools and prevention

5.8 We held 3 successful CHOG meeting which focussed on Domestic Abuse and substance misuse, the Pathfinder project from the Tri Borough Pathfinder Capacity Builder. There was good attendance. 75% of core members attended (12 out of 16). We have updated the Theory of Change for the CHOG and will look to reach out to partners to see whether the core group members need to be updated to reflect changing roles.

Prevention and support to children and young people who have experiences of domestic abuse

Priority 6 – PERPETRATORS

The three borough VAWG Partnership will ensure that perpetrators of all forms of VAWG are held to account and are supported to reform. Action/Deliverable Outcome

6.1

Outcome: Perpetrators held accountable for their actions and given opportunities to change behaviour.

DVIP provided a variety of interventions with perpetrators across the three boroughs in the last financial year:

• The Al-Aman service is funded by RBKC, London Councils and the Lottery and offers community outreach with Arabic speaking and minoritised communities. This includes a perpetrator programme adapted to the cultural and language specific needs of Arabic speakers, an open access as well as a perpetrator programme linked women’s support service offering a range of support services to women experiencing gender violence. In 2018-19, Al-Aman supported 15 men; 10 were new referrals in addition to 5 existing clients from the 2017-18 financial year. 70% of men referred were engaged with the perpetrator programme which was delivered on a 1-2-1 basis. Overall, 85% of men who were engaged on the programme have either completed or were actively involved and participating on the programme at year end.

• Al-Aman worked with 30 women and engaged with 86% of those referred engaging with ongoing support during the year.

• A perpetrator programme with integrated support services in LBHF and Westminster. In LBHF the integrated support work was delivered by Advance.

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• Cafcass spot funds perpetrator programme and linked support service provision which is available to families going through the family court system nationally.

• A children’s therapeutic service funded by a grant from Children in Need.

• YUVA: A City Bridge funded service responding to child to parent violence and intimate partner violence amongst YP aged 11 – 18. The service includes a behaviour change element and an integrated support service for parents, carers and/or partners. The service received 7 referrals from across the boroughs: 4 for parents support service and 3 for young people intervention work.

• All the parents referred engaged with the service and completed the intervention. 2 of the 3 YP engaged and completed.

• The service also delivered training to 25 participants at the three borough VAWG conference.

Referrals Children’s Services Self-Referrals CAFCASS Total

LBHF 31 3 1 35

RBKC 2* 1 1 4

WCC 16 1 1 18

*Lower numbers have been attributed to DVIP specialist practitioners not being co-located with Children’s Services in the borough.

DVIP also provides service for children:

Referrals Children’s Therapy Service Individual Therapy Service Total

LBHF 27 12 39

RBKC 2 1 3

WCC 1 1 2

6.2 H&F Social Care project includes co-location of DVIP specialist workers. Increase in workforce confidence in FCS in responding to perpetrators and holding them accountable; more cases getting support

6.3 Work in schools across the three boroughs continues to take place to raise awareness of VAWG and to work actively in a more proactive preventative capacity. This includes work by partners such as the Health Education Partnership (HEP) who trained 139 school members of staff across Westminster.

Working with children and young people in schools in a preventative capacity and supporting them to challenge harmful beliefs and attitudes.

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Priority 7 – Justice and Protection

The three borough VAWG Partnership will deliver justice and protection for survivors and their families according to their needs within a criminal and civil justice framework and also within a wider social context.

Action/Deliverable Outcome

7.1 Criminal Justice Response to DA and Sexual Violence: Below are the details of domestic abuse offences, incidents and sanctions detections and sexual violence offences and sanctions detections:

2018-19 DA Offences DA Incidents DA Sanctions Detections

WCC 2128 3308 385 RBKC 1288 2060 248 H&F 1883 3091 416 Total 5299 8459 1049

2018-19 SV Offences SV Sanctions Detections WCC 1234 74 RBKC 394 32 H&F 619 25 Total 2247 131

6.4

Outcome: Increased opportunities to work with perpetrators and hold them to account

Increase in convictions have remained high in the Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts and Safe bail conditions implemented for all perpetrators in court; Advance and STADV worked on this with CJS partners During the year we have seen pre-sentence reports available for 75% (DDVC) & 72% (SDVC) of cases and the conviction rates pf 69% (DDVC) and 70% (SDVC) with Early guilty please at 43% (DDVC) and 40% (SDVC) respectively The move to Westminster magistrates for both courts (Tuesday & Thursday) has settled now although the change from Borough Policing to the joint BCUs has caused some disruptions as officers and CJS Partners moved office base during January – March 19.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1

DA SDs

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1

SV SDs

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

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7.2 Basic Command Unit (BCU): The Metropolitan Police have rolled out the BCU model across London which means that the current 32 borough model has been condensed to 12 Basic Command Units. Policing in RBKC, LBHF, and WCC have been bought together in February 2019 to form the Area West BCU which will share current officers, buildings and resources. This will bring associated opportunities and challenges and will be monitored.

7.3 IDVA support in the Courts Voice of victims represented and feedback to victims done in a timely manner

7.4 Better/safer sentences for cases sentenced in the SDAC Survivors are more satisfied with court outcomes; Kept safer

7.5 Commitment secured from CPS for dedicated prosecutors in DA courts Better CJS outcomes from consistency, knowledge and experience of prosecutors in court

7.6 STADV continue to sit on the LCJB VAWG Delivery Board Recognition of local good practice; Easier transition to new court

7.7 The Impact Project, alongside the SDACs, continues to be an example of best practice around the criminal justice response to domestic abuse. DA convictions for Hammersmith and Fulham were 75.7%, the highest across the Met for 18-19. Two criminal justice IDVAs and the both SDAC Coordinators are co-located within Charing Cross Police Station. In 18-19, 168 referrals were made to the CJ IDVAs (11% increase compared with 17-18) and engagement was at 90% of those contacted. One woman said about the support she received: “They really understood. They let me know any outcomes really quickly. They didn’t make me wait.”

Strengthening the criminal justice response to survivors and improving professionals’ knowledge and understanding. Outcomes for survivors:100% of women reporting feeling safer; 100% feeling supported by the and 100% being assessed as being at reduced risk at case closure.

4. Journey of a Survivor: Sara Case Study

The Angelou Partnership provide a range of support for survivors of abuse. Additional funding was received from the Home Office to work with women who had additional needs and were facing multiple disadvantage. ‘Meeting Survivors Where They Are’ is a project which looks to provide long-term, trauma-informed support for women through adopting an intersectional approach. Below is the journey of Sara (not her real name) and they support she received: