Kent & Medway IDVA Service
Year One
Service Report
Because love shouldn’t hurt www.kentcriminaljustice.org
Foreword Having read this report I am sure you will agree that the first year results make excellent reading and leave us in no doubt that the Service is delivering the vital and often life-saving support that high risk victims of domestic abuse require. The Service has also been able to demonstrate value for money, flexibility to meet changing regional demands, improved data output and consistent standards and processes, and a significant saving to the public purse; all attributes that we believed a jointly commissioned approach would bring. To hit the ground running and deliver these results in Year One is testament to the Consortium and its team of dedicated IDVAs and support staff. However, they are not the only ones who should be congratulated as none of this would have been possible without the commitment and vision from funding partners. Our jointly commissioned approach has attracted national interest and clearly set a standard for others to learn from and aspire to. Over the year the Consortium has established links with other domestic abuse providers to deliver services in tandem and support the delivery of other services such as One Stop Shops, Freedom Programmes etc. The results are fantastic but the future is not without serious risk: •
• •
The Service deals with high risk clients and the work they do with other domestic abuse providers to try and prevent todays victim becoming tomorrows high risk client is critical in our fight against domestic abuse but the fact is, reported incidents of domestic abuse continue to rise and in these austere times there is insufficient funding to carry out the required prevention work. Despite our successes in reducing repeat victimisation and cessation of abuse, numbers of high risk cases are likely to grow. The Service is already running at full capacity. Working with high risk clients at the point of crisis is an extremely stressful and challenging environment and emotional burn out is a risk that the Consortium management have to keep a watchful eye on. Given the above, funding is likely to be insufficient in the coming few years and we have got to look to attract additional funding whether that’s from the private sector or wherever. It’s time to innovate and be creative again.
Thank you to everyone involved with the setting up of this Service. It has made a significant difference to high risk victims of domestic abuse and their families across Kent and Medway. Should you have any questions about the Service and its results or any ideas on how we can manage the above risks then please do not hesitate to get in touch. Alison Gilmour Kent & Medway Domestic Violence Co-ordinator Tel: 01622 650455 Email: alison.gilmour@kent.pnn.police.uk
Chris Turner Project Manager, Kent Criminal Justice Board Tel: 01622 652318 Email: chris.turner@kent.pnn.police.uk
Victim’s voice I broke down at work after a forced sleepless night of verbal abuse, threats and intimidation. My work colleagues were so genuine and kind but it was clear that I could not work that day I decided to go to the police station to ask for advice and I waited to be seen by the lady on the desk. I really only expected to be given a leaflet, but someone from the domestic unit came down and talked to me one-to-one. She instantly took my situation seriously and affirmed I was experiencing domestic abuse. She strongly urged me to go to the Drop In Shop. On the following Monday, under the guise of needing HRT I went to the doctor about my situation and left feeling dismissed and unheard. When Wednesday came round I went to the one stop drop in and an IDVA spoke to me, listened to my story and advised me that my situation was high risk. A lot of safety advice was offered and she gave me her mobile number and became my point of contact. I kept in contact with her, updating her on my situation and discussing how to separate from my ex-partner who was becoming more and more abusive and demanding with increased and prolonged drinking. My home was being smashed up, I was living my own secret life which was keeping me going but I spoke no word of it to my partner. In the end my partner stumbled after me with an electrical flex wanting to strangle me. The emergency services were amazing I was screaming at him, honestly believing that I was going to die. I was trapped. I was able to speak to the police away from him, and the fact that I could quote my IDVAs and Oasis significantly helped. The police listened and I could not fault them - they took him away. I knew I could no longer live with my partner, as I had faced down so many death threats from him, but now I believed he would hurt me I would no longer be able to do so. I eventually moved back into my flat, and from then on I carry on my journey with my ex-partner refusing to separate his life from mine, although he was given bail conditions. This has meant numerous calls to the police to ask for help and give statements. This has been a roller-coaster of experiences on some occasions reassuring and positive and on others, feeling dismissed and judged. However, throughout all these experiences, there has been one person who has steered me through, giving me both objective practical advice and also understanding my emotional distress, and that has been my IDVA. She has stood up for me with the police when needed, ensuring that my situation was always been taken seriously. She has helped put me with restraining orders. She has kept me emotionally strong when I had moments of weakness, showing me that I can get through this. And she has listened to me. She keeps helping me to build the road which takes me away from this nightmare and for whom I will forever be grateful and I am so glad she was there at that meeting. I admire and respect her and her knowledge and guidance and been given to me so generously. I thank her enormously. 3
Service Update Over the last ten years, services for victims of domestic abuse have been transformed. At the heart of this change is a national model which prioritises victims at high risk of serious harm or murder. The model depends upon specialist support from trained Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). IDVAs are independent from statutory services and provide emotional and practical support. They engage with adult victims from the point of crisis and mobilise the resources of numerous local agencies to keep each victim safe. Cuts to funding which have been taking place recently has left many of these vital services struggling nationally. Kent & Medway should be very proud of its innovative commitment to making safe those at highest risk of harm in this consistent service. National assessment of the IDVA role is showing that there are evidenced effects on children’s well-being as domestic abuse is safely ended in the family*. The effective coordination of other public services now happens through the work of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), where statutory and voluntary sector partners work together to share information on the highest risk cases, and coordinate safety plans to protect these individuals. Because multi-agency support is not generally successful without a close relationship with a victim, the work of IDVAs and MARACs are inextricably linked, with an IDVA representing the voice of each victim at the local MARAC. For the past year four specialist domestic abuse organisations have worked in consortium to deliver this co-ordinated IDVA service across Kent & Medway. This commissioning package has enabled, for the first time, consistent support and impact measurement to be offered for those at high risk of harm. Over the past year up to 20 IDVAs have worked through 13 MARAC meetings and 4 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts to enable 1854 clients in Kent & Medway to have access to specialist safety planning and support. The Court based IDVAs enable clients to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system more successfully. Achieving a successful justice outcome is integral to holding perpetrators of abuse to account for their behaviour. There are 2300 children living in the families referred to date, and every improvement made to a non-abusing parent’s safety and risk level is an improvement for that child’s future.
*CAADA, In Plain Sight - 2014
Making families safe
94.6%
1854
82%
successful court outcomes
new referrals
clients engaged
1292
576
2300
MARAC clients helped by KDAC IDVA
75%
of clients with a significant reduction in risk
court clients helped by a KDAC IDVA
children in families we helped
66%
85%
of clients with a successful reduction in abuse
of children with reduced risk
In the past year we have benchmarked the work that we do in a number of ways. Some of these are against CAADA Insights national dataset which allows us to see the journey our clients have made through the service and whether IDVA support meets their needs. We have realised that we capture the cessation of abuse based on the IDVA’s perception, whereas in the Insights dataset this is captured on the client’s perception of whether the abuse has ceased. In Year 2 we will change this to match CAADA’s way, and it will be interesting to see if it shifts as this will provide a valuable insight into a client’s perception versus the case worker’s. 5
Changing Lives
11%
of our clients have complex needs relating to either substance use, mental health needs and or childhood trauma.
Where emotional abuse is present this is reduced or ceased in
Where harrassment is present this is reduced or ceased in
95% of cases
97.5% of cases
Where sexual abuse is present this is reduced or ceased in
98%
of cases
Where verbal abuse is present this is reduced or ceased in
97%
of cases
Who are we helping? Gender
1808 female clients
48
male clients
over 55
unknown
16-18
46-55
36-45
18-25 Age
26-35 Ethnicity We use a wide range of categories in our ethnicity capture in order that we can understand the cultural and language backgrounds of those whom we work for in Kent & Medway. African Arab Asian Black Caribbean British Black British White Chinese Client doesn’t know Gypsy/Romany/Irish Traveller Information not available Dual heritage Polish Russian Turkish
1.2% 0.2% 6% 0.4% 1% 81.7% 0.2% 0.1% 0.4% 5.6% 0.8% 1.6% 0.2% 0.6%
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68
Outputs*
Dartford Gravesham
1854 referrals 82% clients engaged 97% 48 hour contact 82% MARAC cases
29% 74% 88% 92% 58% 100% 87% 93% 89%
Medway
20
40
Tonbridge and Malling
Maidstone Amount of closed cases:
21
Tunbridge Wells
IDVA helpline
85% of children safer 87% of children have
595 calls 87 resulting in IDVA support
4% reduction in safeguarding
''I telephoned on the weekend. The IDVA advised the victim for me and that was brilliant.�
7% safeguard intervention ended
DC Fleur Hardie
intervention
Amount of closed cases:
Sevenoaks
Parents perception of wellbeing & statutory child safeguarding outcomes
improved wellbeing
14% 62% 82% 77% 55% 79%
Amount of closed cases:
Amount of closed cases:
40% 88% 86% 75% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
47% guilty pleas at hearing 48% trial convictions 5% not guilty verdicts 1 case attrition 95% successful outcomes
31% 75% 75% 33% 50% 75% 80% 100% 60%
*Outputs are captured at case closure
Specialist DV Court
187
12% 68% 80% 89%
Amount of closed cases:
Outcomes Apri
24% 89% 85% 74% 60% 75% 86% 71% 63%
Amount of closed cases:
36 22% 77% 81% 88% 100% 86% 92% 100% 86%
Amount of closed cases:
Kent & Medway IDVA Service
il 2013 - 2014
Kent Domestic Abuse Consortium
78% 85% 79% 94% 64%
Four Kent based charities are delivering services to high risk victims of domestic abuse across the county and this data represents their first year’s outputs and outcomes...
Thanet
Amount of closed cases:
186
27% 70% 92% 90% 40% 100% 90% 100% 67%
25% 76% 95% 94% 44% 91% 83% 94% 71% Amount of closed cases:
30% 80% 93% 100% 54% 85% 85% 91% 65%
domestic abuse service
82
Swale
Amount of closed cases:
67 19% 84% 96% 93% 90% 93% 88% 100% 80%
82% 100% 60%
Canterbury
119
Amount of closed cases:
48
24% 76% 96% 92% 55% 88% 87% 100% 83%
Dover
Amount of closed cases:
48
hmark c n e b A CAAD 30% 72% 86% 100% 94% 94% 100% 100%
Ashford
Amount of closed cases:
Shepway
Information correct at May 2014
45
63% 74% 70% 45% 45% 45% 70% 70% 70%
Cessation of abuse Risk reduction Feeling safer Children’s Wellbeing Relationship with children improved Emotional wellbeing Reduced fear levels Help-seeking confidence Economic stability
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Saving money in Kent & Medway In 2010 CAADA published Saving Lives, Saving Money: MARACs and high risk domestic abuse. A report which estimated the potential savings that could be realised if the MARAC/IDVA model was properly implemented, with the right number of services all managing a full case load. Research within the needs assessment for Kent and Medway shows that there is a 1:10 cost to benefit ratio of abuse being ended through the IDVA intervention. According to CAADA the cost to the public purse of a high risk victim of domestic abuse is £10,000.
£321 million
£18 million
Cost to public services of domestic abuse in Kent & Medway
Potential cost to public services of clients referred to KDAC
£1.8 million Cessation of abuse savings
Since the commissioning of the Kent & Medway IDVA Service much more capacity has been brought to the needs of high risk victims. KDAC operate to CAADA’s recognised safe standards through the Leading Lights accreditation held by the lead agency. CAADA estimate that a substantial return on investment is realised with an adequate level of provision, and this region is in a great position compared to many areas of the country. Research shows that for every £1 spent at MARAC, £2.90 can be saved in public spending. Based on the work that has been undertaken by the KDAC IDVA Service this past year we see the following return on this investment:
£810,000 Cost of the IDVA Service
£1.9 million £650,000 MARAC IDVAs Cost
MARAC Savings 11
It’s been a busy year The first year of a newly commissioned service is a significant undertaking and the IDVAs have delivered an incredible amount whilst adapting to change and growth. Their capabilities are exceptional especially when working with such high levels of risk and anxiety. Our charities are mission led and as such we will always raise funds for services that we feel will meet the needs of families affected by domestic abuse. Commissioning KDAC partners in this way has enabled us to build this capacity to deliver additional services and this added value can only serve public interests as we do increasing amounts of work aimed at undermining the causes and consequences of domestic abuse. What do KDAC deliver in Kent & Medway? In addition to the IDVA funding we have spent the following across the region in the past year:
Counselling and Therapy services
£268,000 Early intervention and prevention Pattern changing groups Children and Young Persons mentoring Awareness in communities
£100,000 Crisis Support Refuge - Outreach - Helplines
£1,076,000
The IDVA service goes above and beyond 250 clients spoken to by an IDVA placed in the Central Referral Unit
57 of these identified as High Risk and referred into the IDVA service Full support of all local One Stop Shops offered
87
Police Officers trained in domestic abuse
54
professionals advised via the IDVA Helpline
13
Coming up World Cup
IDVAs will support clients at the point of incident during this campaign.
Domestic Violence Protection Barring Orders & Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law)
IDVAs will endeavour to support safety planning where these orders are made.
Victim Support
KDAC is committed to a capacity building partnership with this valuable volunteering organisation.
?
Safe enquiry
200 multi-agency partners to be trained in asking the question and knowing how to handle the response.
IRIS
G.P. practices to be engaged in the identification and referral to improve safety programme for patients.
6 month follow up calls
we will be following our clients up with calls to check the sustainability of their outcomes.
One Stop Shops
we will continue to staff these valuable community resources. 15
“
‘’I would like to give my IDVA a big hug!’’
‘’I rate this support 10/10’’ ‘’There has been a very positive impact across all areas of my life’’ ‘’I couldn’t have gotten through without this help’’
‘’I wish the IDVA could work with me for longer’’ ‘’This was a vital life-changing support for me’’ ‘’I want to thank you for this support, it has made a massive difference to my life’’
Images used are for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in this material is a model.
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IDVA Service Map KDAC
Kent Domestic Abuse Consortium
IDVA Service Manager Tina Alexander
Medway
Senior Administrator Belinda Rogers
Dartford Gravesham
Admin Assistant Vacant Senior IDVAs Roz Gabriel Jackie Hyland Bridget Moore Dee Neligan
Tonbridge and Malling Sevenoaks Maidstone
West Kent MARAC IDVAs Dartford & Gravesham MARAC IDVA Jackie Hyland MARAC IDVA Julia Card Maidstone MARAC IDVA Sally Notridge Medway MARAC IDVA Roz Gabriel MARAC IDVA Chermal Williams MARAC IDVA Ria Machin Tonbridge & Malling/ Tunbridge Wells/ Sevenoaks MARAC IDVA Rebecca Campion
Tunbridge Wells
Senior IDVAs Vacant
East Kent MARAC IDVAs
domestic abuse service
MARAC IDVA Bridget Moore, Lucy Timms, Ben Hilton Specialist Domestic Violence Courts Thanet & Canterbury Court Court IDVA Dee Neligan Folkestone Court Court IDVA Jennie Gardner Maidstone Court Court IDVA Rachel Levett Medway Court Court IDVA Rachel Sargent
Thanet
Swale
Canterbury
Swale IDVA Dover
MARAC IDVA Beverley Taylor
Ashford
Shepway
South Kent MARAC IDVAs Ashford & Shepway MARAC IDVA Nicola Burns MARAC IDVA Natasha Griffiths Canterbury MARAC IDVA Sadie Potterton MARAC IDVA Elaine Coia
To contact an IDVA please email enquiries@kdac.org.uk or call the IDVA Helpline on 07926 842 183.
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Funding Partners Kent Public Health Medway Public Health Kent Police & Crime Commissioner Kent Fire & Rescue Service Kent Probation Medway Council Kent County Council Ashford Borough Council Canterbury City Council Dartford Borough Council Dover District Council Gravesham Borough Council Maidstone Borough Council Shepway District Council Swale Borough Council Thanet District Council Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Tunbridge Wells Borough Council without whose support this service would not have been possible
ŠKDAC May 2014