Issue - meetings

 The committee to consider recently developed protocols for raising awareness  about domestic violence between young people. To follow

The Head of First Response shared with the committee the protocols used by Social Workers to aid working with young people that have been experiencing domestic violence. The protocols and links to relevant information and contact points were put in one place for Social Workers to access and use when dealing with cases involving young people and domestic violence. They further helped build awareness of the issue of domestic violence between young people. The need for the protocols had arisen following a past Ofsted inspection which had raised questions about how reports of violence were taken forward when reported by young people. The committee were interested in the details of this specific case and it led them to seeking an understanding about the level of focus a Social Worker has on young people and older children in a family where domestic violence is apparent and they are part of a plan.

The committee wanted further assurance that the practices developed following the Ofsted inspection continued.  The committee noted that the domestic violence co-ordinators, Deirdre Cregan and Michelle Robertson were currently undertaking training with council and partners on raising awareness of Domestic Violence and could provide this presentation to the committee.  There were monthly workshops delivered to Social Workers to maintain the awareness of Domestic Violence issues.  There was also the opportunity to complete service audits to monitor how Social Workers were dealing with reports of domestic violence amongst young people.

 RESOLVED

1. That Deirdre Cregan and Michelle Robson provide a presentation on the training activities being undertaken with partners and Social Workers regarding raising awareness of Domestic Violence to committee in July.

2. That the Head of First Response complete an audit on cases where domestic violence is reported to examine the focus of the Social Worker on the children in the family and whether it is equal for all ages.