Agenda item

Report of the Director  for Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader).

Considering a new policy to apply to all Haringey Council tenants, leaseholders and those approaching the Council due to homelessness because of domestic abuse: The Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls policy.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) introduced the report which sought approval of the new Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Policy for  Council tenants and leaseholders and those approaching the Council as homeless sets out an aim to improve the safety of those asking for assistance from our housing service affected by domestic abuse and other abuses that come under the ‘Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)’ umbrella including men and boys. This covers Council tenants, leaseholders and those approaching the Council as homeless. 

The Deputy Leader highlighted that this was the last day of the ‘Sixteen days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign. She emphasised the Council’s commitment to supporting the safety of victims of gender-based violence and it’s zero tolerance toward domestic abuse to residents in their properties as well as those approaching the Council as homeless.

She stated that the Policy outlined the Council’s commitment to meeting the social and emotional needs of those experiencing domestic abuse. It also outlined response times, and the nature of the support given to victims of domestic abuse and survivors to enable them to make informed choices. An ‘all-staff approach’ had been employed so that every staff contact with residents was maximised to ensure the safety of victims.

Insights from the Resident Voice Board had been instrumental in shaping this policy. The Board had consisted of 15 residents of diverse tenures that reported into the Placemaking and Housing Board. The Cabinet Member expressed her gratitude to those who contributed as this had ensured the policy better reflected the need of communities.

In response to questions from Cllr Chandwani, Cllr Hakata, and Cllr Cawley – Harrison, the following information provided.

-       In response to questions about the monitoring of the effectiveness of the approach and whether the results could be brought to Cabinet for discussion, the Cabinet Member stated that monitoring occurred through their partner at Hearthstone.  All-staff training was key to make every contact with the Council (contractor, repairperson etc) count toward the safety of the victim. The Hearthstone Manager stated that data was collected and monitored across the borough and in partnership with many organisations. Insight could be given as to how housing staff were signposting to other agencies and how they were recording data, and also making sure that other agencies were recording contact too.  She was working on special accreditation for the service to ensure policies were stringent enough. She added that The Social Housing Regulator would also monitor contact. 

-       A question was raised as to how the Council could ensure that its approach toward the victim was consistent across the services as often those experiencing, or who were survivors of domestic abuse, were in financial debt which may affect Council tax debt etc. It was highlighted that these services may put additional pressure on the victim in their approach to recover debt. In response to this, the Cabinet Member emphasised that cross Council and multiagency working would be essential. She also stated that if a resident came into the service, they would be assigned a key worker who could act as point of contact. The key worker would then work across teams to ensure services knew of the right approach and the resources available to survivors and those experiencing domestic abuse.

-       A question was raised as to how the service would ensure that men experiencing domestic abuse were not overlooked by staff and tenants. In response the Cabinet Member emphasised that the service was open to men experiencing abuse. She stated that this had been included in the training and the ‘every contact count’s approach.

-       Discussion turned to interventions for perpetrators and how that sat with the zero-tolerance approach that could hold perpetrators to account. The Hearthstone Manager responded that a ‘victim/survivor centred’ approach had to be taken, and their wishes had to be respected. She emphasised that often - taking action against perpetrators was not the safest thing for the victim and was against their wishes. The Violence against Women and Girls Lead clarified that the zero-tolerance approach meant that the behaviour of the perpetrator must not continue. She listed a range of different behaviour-change interventions for perpetrators that yielded good outcomes and were encouraged as part of the service.

RESOLVED

To approve the draft Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Policy for Council tenants and leaseholders and those approaching the Council as homeless to come into effect from 20 December 2024.

Reasons for decision

This newly drafted Council policy will update the current Homes for Haringey (HfH) version following insourcing of HfH into the Council. The policy was published in 2019 prior to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 becoming law. The updated policy will outline the Council’s aim to improve the safety of those asking for assistance from our housing service affected by domestic abuse and other abuses that come under the ‘Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)’ umbrella including men and boys. This covers Council tenants, leaseholders and those approaching the Council as homeless.

The new policy will help the Council meet the Social Housing Regulator’s consumer standards, specifically the Neighbourhood and Community Standard and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

  Alternative options considered.

We could continue to have an outdated policy in place for this service. This option was rejected because it would not meet the Council’s needs or those of its tenants, leaseholders or those approaching the Council as homeless. Introducing this new policy will assist the Council to meet the Social Housing Regulator’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard requirement to deliver fair, reasonable, accessible and transparent policies. This option would also not meet our commitment to introduce updated policies in the Housing Strategy 2024 ? 2029 and the Housing Improvement Plan 2023.