In partnership with

1. The pathfinders and modernisation: Working towards a regional approach to the delivery of domestic abuse housing services Ann Dann, North Wales Supporting PeopleJulie Nicholas, Gwent Supporting People In partnership with

2. Thepathfinders and modernisation: Working towards a regional approach to delivering domestic abuse housing services Cymorth Cymru; Nuts & Bolts of Domestic Abuse Llandrindod Wells, 02.02.2011 Ann Dann; North Wales Supporting People Julie Nicholas; Gwent Supporting People

3. Contents • The National Project Initiation Document • Research and findings 2009 • The National Project Structure • The Gwent Pilot Group • The North Wales Working Group

4. Project Initiation Document • Background • SPIN/Homeless Network identified Domestic Abuse as priority area for reducing/preventing homelessness in Wales • 3 x Regional events held 2009 • Homelessness & Supporting People Teams, DA Coordinators & Support providers attended • Further research then undertaken • PID: Published January 2010 • Modernising Housing Services for those Experiencing Domestic Abuse

5. The Research Methodology • Map supply of existing DA Support services • Listen to women who have been through system • 74 women’s ‘journeys’ were submitted in total • Additional interviews with professionals: • BAWSO, Hafan Cymru & Womens Aid • Housing Options staff • North Wales Police • Domestic abuse support unit • Social Workers

6. Support Service Supply Map • Most LAs have Refuge provision • Floating Support available in many L.A.’s • Dedicated DA or Generic service • Supporting People Revenue Grant • D.A. funding £8.14m p.a. • Variety of funding levels & resources • Developed ad hoc locally • Voids in refuges nationally • 50% x refuges over 10%; 6 x refuges over 20% • Is ‘emergency’ refuge offering ‘emergency’ provision & meeting needs?

7. Service User Interviews: Refuge • Majority interviewed initially placed in refuge • Few problems reported with access • out of hours- some access difficulties • Women generally placed in local refuge • Same day & usually within hours of making call • Most of them were still placed within a week • But 1 woman waiting 4 weeks for refuge space • Refuge not meeting needs • 1 woman, 4 children, 1 room, 6 months • Issues Accessing Move-on accommodation • Complex needs; Few options

8. S. User Interviews: Homelessness • LA advice services are inconsistent: • “Homelessness were unable to find temp. accommodation for a woman who wished to leave family home, the woman commented that left her with no choice but to go home. The homeless officer said ‘well it can’t be that bad then’“ • “Ms B found the whole experience of applying for housing … personally difficult & stated that she found the way she was treated depended on who dealt with her at the LA”. • “Homeless Officer came to the refuge to do the homeless interview. She found the Homeless Officer very good and respectful of her situation.”

9. S. User Interviews: Support Delivery • The women interviewed were generally positive about the support provided : • “SJ stayed in refuge for 6 months and found the support that she received whilst in refuge invaluable, both from the support workers and from the other women.” • “I was an emotional wreck… the staff helped me reach my goals. They made me feel proud” • “A fantastic support during her time of need” • “The Freedom Programme helped the most”

10. Research Findings • Current supply developed ad-hoc in Wales • Uneven distribution & generic model • Void issues • Complex Needs & Exclusions • Questioned how services are currently configured • Issues with L.A. homelessness service • Feedback on support services positive • Incl. mutual support of other women • Refuge appropriate short-term, but not long-term • Allocation systems post-refuge work against positive outcome

11. Report Recommendations • Homelessness staff- Training requirements • Accommodation should be high quality & varied: • Existing (own) accommodation; Target harden • Emergency Accommodation; Refuge • Temporary / supported accommodation • Move On accommodation • Ensure range of appropriate & accessible support services are available to service users • Complex Needs & Children/young people • Improve partnership working

12. Project Board Project Working Group Additional measures e.g. workshops Service User group Other Actions/Evaluation sub-group Gwent Pilot Group N. Wales Working Group West Wales Pilot Cardiff & Vale Pilot Modernising Domestic Abuse Services: National Project Structure in Wales

13. Principles of the Project • Partnership working; • Project Board includes Supporting People, WAG, Support Providers, Community Safety • Focus on BME and minority group needs • Service User Consultation integral • Better use of resources to address service gaps • Regional Approach • Best approach for complex & specialist needs • Project Board/Working Group to Monitor & Evaluate • Timeframe April 2010- March 2012

14. Gwent Domestic Abuse Pilot Group Julie Nicholas Gwent Supporting People Regional Development Officer

15. Supporting People: ‘The Gwent Model’ • History of Regional SP Working since 2003 • Strategic Planning: GNME and regional SPOP • Service Evaluation: Gwent Review & Monitoring • SP Eligibility Criteria: ‘Gwent Allowable Activities’ • Gwent SP Regional Planning Group since 2008 • Gwent Development Officer Post • Gwent DA Pilot Group first met Sept 2010 • Training and service user sub-groups • Links to Gwent DA Forum

16. Current Gwent DA Services Support Units Refuge: 49 Floating Support: 117 Support Housing: 6 Total Units: 172

17. The National Strategy says: • ‘…the Welsh Assembly Government recognises that the option of staying in the home will not always be available and that in many instances victims will continue to require a networkof support services including: advocacy, temporary accommodation, refuge provision and counseling.’ Tackling Domestic Abuse: The All Wales National Strategy, Welsh Assembly Government:2005 • However very little specialist supported housing options in Gwent, other than generic refuge and floating support

18. Gwent Pilot Group • Membership • Gwent DA Providers • DA Co-ordinators • SP Representatives • Service User Group • Progress: • Action Plan in place • Link to PID action areas • Agreed local remodelling through group • Homelessness Staff Training Progress • Service User group established

19. Reporting Structure.

20. Gwent Action Plan • Training & Inter-Agency Working Opportunities • Accommodation Standards & Target-Hardening • Children's Services: Supply & Utilisation • Improve Communication • Support Service Survey in progress • Refusals/exclusions/evictions/complex needs • Cross Authority access & destination • Length of stay & Demographic information • What should Gwent supply map look like?

21. Service User Links • Service User Group • Initial meeting October 10: • Feedback to group on research findings • Assess interest in participation • Good turn out • 6 volunteers for further meetings • 2nd Meeting (South Wales) • Training and development • Participation in Homelessness officer training

22. Gwent S. Users on Statutory Services • Homelessness Services: • ‘I found them very abrupt…They didn’t want to know’ • ‘I’ve seen them having to deal with difficult people & I know it’s not easy, but they tar us all with the same brush; we’re all seen as problem families’ • ‘I wasn’t believed; you should be believed straight away’ • Social Services: • ‘They don’t look at the bigger picture, they focus on the kids not on the woman, they don’t understand the pressure the woman is under’. • ‘They don’t give appropriate support’ • Feedback about Police Service very positive

23. Gwent S. Users on Support Agencies • ‘Not much service for the kids… that was very hard’ • ‘The Freedom Programme is really important’ • ‘Lots of people don’t want to go into refuge’ • ‘I worried about who was going to be there, [in refuge], you hear about people on drugs living in these places’ • ‘First few weeks in refuge were like respite for me’ • ‘I get support for my children…definitely helpful’ • ‘I didn’t really care about the [lack of] space; I was safe in a big room with my kids’ • ‘Intensive services should come to refuge; not the woman [having to] move out to them’

24. S. User Feedback: Housing Access • No positive experiences of move-on from refuge. • ‘Need more floating support for when you leave refuge’ • ‘There’s the children and school transfer issues too’ • ‘I can’t afford to top up my rent…& you need a bond’ • ‘You are not in a long term tenancy in private rented housing; you might have to move again soon’ • ‘I was told I would have to go wherever I was offered, the children would have to move school again, I would have to leave the friends I’d made in the area, start over’ • ‘I felt dumped in a bad area’

25. Opportunities Link to Homeless leasing Service User Group Links to Kafka findings Homeless Agency Worker Training Regional Approach Specialist Service Expertise Joint Working opportunities D.A. multi-agency centres Threats Protection of existing services Revenue Funding Accessing Capital Funding Difficulty in mapping funding & costs Could be perceived as back-door cost-saving exercise

26. Next Steps in Gwent • Complete Gap Analysis • Findings will feed into regional preferred model • Take forward Action Plan • Identify Current Service Remodel options • Harness Capital Opportunities • Develop Service User Group • Deliver Homelessness training • Remodel Approval via SPRPG

27. Cymorth Cymru: The Nuts & Bolts of Providing Domestic Abuse Services North Wales S.P. Perspective Ann Dann North Wales Supporting People Regional Development Officer

28. Introduction This presentation will cover: • Journey Tracking • Commissioning Paper • Current Supply Picture • Challenges • Future Plans

29. Journey Tracking • Background • Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire – 10 service users • Agencies - BAWSO, Hafan Cymru, Women’s Aid • Interviewed - Frontline staff, individuals, agencies

30. Commissioning Paper • Background • Content • Action Plan

31. Specialist D.A. Provision in N. Wales

32. D.A. Relevant Provision in North Wales

33. Challenges • High voids in some refuges • Complex Needs • Development of Regional Schemes • Move On • Budget Cuts • S.P. Review

34. Action Plan • Expand amount of dispersed & self contained refuge provision • Training for refuge staff re high needs clients • Develop a Move On strategy • Ensure services are available for all groups • Look to develop common referral/assessment forms

35. Partnership Approach • National D.A. Project Group • National D.A. Working Group • North Wales Working Group • Service User Group • Training Package

36. Regional Links • NW SPIN • RSPPG

37. Thank you for listening