Agenda item

The VAWG (Violence against Women and Girls) update was provided by Rachel Dunley---LBB Head of Service for Early Intervention and Family Support).

There had been an interesting development in that the Housing Division had introduced a ‘DAHLIA’ flag to their Housing IT systems, to alert when a customer was a victim fleeing domestic abuse to help to manage risk and also to ensure the services provided were sensitive and appropriately delivered.

This had been implemented so that housing cases with a domestic abuse element could be identified and dealt with in a sensitive manner. The Board was briefed that the service was aiming for DAHA (Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance) accreditation by 2022. The Head of Service was pleased to inform the Board that Lydia Lewison had now joined Bromley from LB Greenwich and brought with her much knowledge and passion in relation to domestic abuse, housing and refuges.

The introduction of the ‘DAHLIA’ flag on the Housing system had been implemented so that housing cases with a domestic abuse element could be identified and dealt with in a sensitive manner. The Board was briefed that the service was aiming for DAHA (Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance) accreditation by 2022. The Head of Service was pleased to inform the Board that Lydia Lucerne would be joining Bromley from LB Greenwich in the near future.

The Head of Service provided a brief update on ‘Bromley Y’ -- this was Bromley’s ‘front door’ to mental health services for children and young people. She said that a fuller update regarding this would be disseminated via the Board’s Secretary. It was noted that the number of referrals to this service was increasing.

The Board was appraised that the Domestic Abuse Strategy was now live and that additional ‘Butterfly Cards’ were now available for anyone who needed them. These could be sourced via Jamie O’ Malley. 

The Board was asked to note the change of language with respect to domestic abuse in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The word ‘violence’ and all reference to gender had been removed. When the strategy and priorities were formally reviewed, this would need to be updated.

The Assistant Director for Public Protection and Enforcement highlighted certain areas that she would like to look at in more detail going forward, and one of these was regarding the sort of data that was being collated. She said that it was important for the Board to have access to correct data and she would like a sample of the data collected to be brought to the next Board meeting. 

A discussion took place regarding the sharing of data with the Board and colleagues and the development of an information sharing agreement alongside it. 

A Board Member requested that more awareness be made with respect to the ‘Ask Annie’ and ‘Ask Angela’ initiatives. It was confirmed that these had been a focus point in the DA Newsletter circulated via the SBPB, BSAB, BSCP, DA Operational Forum, and DA Strategic Board.

A discussion took place regarding MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) and referrals to it, as well as the roles of the MARAC co-ordinator and Chair. Both were supplied by the police. It was the consensus that more co-ordinator support was required as the number of referrals had increased. It was suggested that possibly partners could consider if they could collectively contribute towards the cost of another MARAC coordinator post. It was noted that MOPAC provided funding based on the number of domestic abuse cases that were actually reported. It was felt that in LBB, many cases of domestic abuse were not reported; if individuals felt more confident to report crimes, then the funding from MOPAC would increase. 

RESOLVED that the Domestic Abuse update be noted and that a sample of the data collected by the new software on the Housing system (regarding cases linked to domestic abuse) be presented to the Board at the next meeting.