1 / 17

Inspecting for Quality in Domestic and Sexual Violence Service Provision

Inspecting for Quality in Domestic and Sexual Violence Service Provision. Women’s Aid Safeguarding Survivors and Services regional events February/March 2009. Outline of the session. Who are we & what do we do? How can housing inspection help?

ilana
Download Presentation

Inspecting for Quality in Domestic and Sexual Violence Service Provision

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Inspecting for Quality in Domestic and Sexual Violence Service Provision Women’s Aid Safeguarding Survivors and Services regional events February/March 2009

  2. Outline of the session • Who are we & what do we do? • How can housing inspection help? • domestic & sexual violence in housing inspections • things we look for including possible housing options • Comprehensive Area Assessment • Positive practice • Questions & suggestions

  3. Who are we? • Housing Inspectorate • Part of the LGHCS directorate • Other parts of AC also look at DV & sexual violence • Carry out Housing Inspections and Advice & Assistance work • Housing Associations: short notice & full • Local Housing Authorities • ALMOs • Supporting People ALAs (incl counties) ends 03/09 • Key Lines of Enquiry – what are they? • New areas of regulation & inspection will be determined by CAA & TSA (will explain later) • Extension of short notice inspections

  4. How can inspection help? Domestic & sexual violence in housing inspection: • Part of all housing inspections via the diversity, strategic housing, housing management & Supporting People KLOEs: • Strategic approach? • Understanding safeguarding responsibilities? • Partnership working – planning & delivery? • Effective procurement & commissioning? • Timely & sensitive advice & signposting? • Range of support? • Clear message on stance –zero tolerance? • Partnership response? • Evidence of positive outcomes for all?

  5. What we look at:strategic housing & housing related support (Supporting People) • Understanding needs; regular review; revision and updating • Engaging relevant partners – statutory agencies; providers; advocacy services & service users • Included in strategies that are agreed with partners & widely shared • Effective procurement & commissioning of support services • Evidence of understanding of safeguarding for adults & children – must also be able to evidence outcomes for vulnerable people • Evidence of impact on and outcomes for people

  6. Things we look for......delivery (1) • Clear, sensitive customer information • Free 24 hr national helpline widely advertised • Up-to-date policies/procedures/protocols/referral mechanisms reflecting accepted practice: • Survivor-centred, non-judgemental approach • Clear explanation and appreciation of issues • Trained staff regularly refreshed • Emphasis on help at first point of contact • Confidentiality assured • Safeguarding implications: understood & acted upon • Same gender interviews offered • Appropriate translation/ interpreter arrangements • Range of options outlined and proactively offered

  7. Things we look for....... delivery (2) • Staff trained and supported to recognise signs and deal with issues sensitively • Well-developed multi-agency working including active membership of local DV & victim support forums • Clear tenancy conditions – is action taken to evict perpetrators? How are perpetrators re-housed? • Understanding of Children’s Act implications for housing • Have arrangements been reviewed in the light of the Housing Corporation’s Behind Closed Doors?

  8. Possible housing options • Strong emphasis on offering the survivor choice, supported by risk assessment including: • Access to appropriate emergency accommodation – which meets diverse needs & complies with safeguarding • Remaining safely at home with: • Outreach/floating support • Sanctuary scheme • Link to community alarm service • Legal measures e.g. injunction/ non-molestation/ occupation orders

  9. Possible housing options (2) • Re-housing: • In the same area to maintain support network • In same LA area but away from perpetrator • Out of the area (possibly through reciprocal arrangements) • Support following re-housing for adults & children • Outcomes monitored

  10. What Local Authorities should be looking for…. Monitored through Supporting People contracts: • Accessible refuges • High standards of accommodation • Flexible options (accom for boys 14+?) • DDA compliant • Diverse needs respected and accommodated • Effective support plans • Multi agency working (Police, Children’s Services, health & social care, employment & training) • Safeguarding policies & practices in place • Value for money demonstrated • Outcomes monitored and reported

  11. Comprehensive Area Assessment - CAA • Replaces Comprehensive Performance Assessment from April 1st 2009 • Joint inspection programme involving Audit Commission, Ofsted, CSCI, Healthcare Commission, HMI Constabulary, HMI Probation, HMI Prison • Some pilots have been completed • Will consider housing, including housing related support, as a key element • Latest round of consultation completed • Final methodology to be announced February 2009

  12. CAA - focus CAA will focus on: • Areas rather than organisations • Assessing prospects for future delivery more than past performance • Outcomes for communities and in particular, those most in need, rather than outputs and process • Local priorities as well as national targets • Flag areas of concern

  13. CAA will………… Concentrate on what local people care about most: • gather intelligence about their experiences in order to assess local services • assess the quality of involvement of local people, particularly those who are vulnerable, to check whether their voices are heard and heeded; and • provide information to people about the findings from CAA so that they can be better informed about the quality of local services and better placed to exercise choice and influence decision makers.

  14. Supporting People & CAA How should we? • Raise awareness of domestic & sexual violence & their impact • Engage providers – how & when? • Capture outcomes to inform the process • Raise areas of major concern & trigger action How can we? • Empower vulnerable people to participate • Ensure vulnerable people can access the outcomes & feedback

  15. Behind Closed Doors • Published by Housing Corporation Sept 2008 • Encourages: • Strategic approach: strategy for training and raising awareness, ‘board champion’, procedure, named internal contact, staff aware of options, eviction of perpetrators, confidentiality • Work with other agencies • Accessible information • Clear guidance for staff on an appropriate response to disclosure • Practical tips and good practice examples

  16. Positive practice • Cambridgeshire CC: (Supporting People) • funded hostel for women with sons 14+ • Boston Mayflower HA: • very good manual and designated officers to advise staff dealing with customers who need help • South Derbyshire DC: • interviews done at local DV support agency following customer feedback • Birmingham CC: • ‘Pathways approach’ developed with Women’s Aid with single point of access, surgeries in some neighbourhood offices and training of DV champions

  17. Thinking/ talking pointsUseful links and references Housing Corporation publication ‘Behind Closed Doors’: http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/upload/pdf/Behind_closed_doors_20080922144742.pdf Audit Commission: www.audit-commission.gov.uk

More Related