Decision details

The purpose of the report is to create additional capacity in the Domestic Abuse team in order to better meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse
and their children. The proposals particularly strengthen support for those who are not identified as being at “high” risk, for whom the support offer is
currently under-developed creating a risk that domestic abuse will recur and/or escalate. The proposals also seek to strengthen the support offer
for victims of so called honour-based violence.

RESOLVED - That: Additional capacity be created in the Domestic Abuse Team by:
• Deleting the current post of Customer Support Officer (Grade 4);
• Creating three new posts of Domestic Abuse Engagement Officer (Grade 5), slotting in the existing Customer Support Officer to one of these roles.
• Deleting the current post of Independent Honour based violence specialist (Grade 7); and
• Creating an additional post of Senior Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (Grade 8) with a specialism in so-called honour based violence and forced marriage, slotting in the current postholder on return from their
secondment to GMCA.

Option 1 - Do not create the additional Domestic Abuse Engagement Worker posts. There would continue to be a gap in provision for victims of domestic abuse who are not identified as being at high risk. This increases the likelihood that domestic abuse will recur or escalate because there
has been insufficient preventative support.
Option 2 - Do not increase the grading of the post delivering support for victims of so called honour-based violence and forced marriage. While casework on these issues would continue, the service offer would be fragile because it depends upon a single post. The offer would not be
strengthened by delivering training and advice to other professionals, building greater capacity to address these issues across the Partnership.
Option 3 - create the additional temporary capacity

Option 1 - Do not create the additional Domestic Abuse Engagement Worker posts.
Option 2 - Do not increase the grading of the post delivering support for victims of so called honour-based violence and forced marriage.

Team members and Trade Unions are being consulted about the implementation of the proposals
There has been consultation about the proposals with the Domestic Abuse Partnership and Children's Services DMT.