Key information
Executive summary
The Police and Crime Plan made a number of commitments to tackle domestic abuse within the priority of Violence Against Women and Girls. This includes continued funding and support for Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) provision in London. Also, to work with the GLA, local authorities, the voluntary sector and housing providers to improve the availability of refuges and other safe accommodation for victims and survivors.
DMPC Decision PDC 174 re-states that MOPAC will commission a pan London Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) service to help keep victims, particularly those at high risk, and their children safe from harm. The Deputy Mayor has approved an indicative 3 year resource requirement of £24,135,365 for the provision, development and improvement of specialist victim services. This includes IDVA provision in London.
A Decision is needed to extend the two existing contracts that comprise the response to victims of Domestic Abuse:
1. To agree the allocation of £1,499,700 to extend the Victim Support contract for nine months from 1st July 2017 till 31st March 2018. This will allow MOPAC officers time to evaluate and review the current service in order to develop future commissioning options.
2. Agree an 18 month extension of the Safer London Housing grant currently funded £342,690 (£171,345 per annum) for the period June 2015- June 2017. An extension from 1st July 2017 – 31st December 2018 will allow Safer London to support and consult MOPAC in delivering commitments around Housing and Domestic Violence. Also, to develop work with the GLA on Housing Moves, access to refuge provision for victims of Domestic Abuse and facilitating the VCS in gaining access to capital funds made available by the Mayor.
Recommendation
The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is asked to:
1. To agree the allocation of £1,499,700 to extend the Victim Support contract for nine months from 1st July 2017 till 31st March 2018 to provide the current Pan London Domestic Violence service.
2. To agree the allocation of £171,345 to extend the Safer London contract for 18 months from July 2017 – Dec 2018 in order for them to continue working with MOPAC to deliver a programme of activity around Housing and Domestic Violence.
Both pieces of activity are detailed in the budget decision attached to DMPC Decision PCD174 which underpins delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.
Non-confidential facts and advice to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC)
1 Introduction and background
1.2 MOPAC commissioned the Pan London Domestic Violence service in 2015 in order to provide additional capacity around Domestic Abuse provision across London.
1.3 The service has supplemented the existing number of 115 IDVAs within Local Authorities by 40.5 IDVAs and 16 Caseworkers. The additionality brought each London borough in line with the Safelives recommended level of IDVA provision .
1.4 The demand for the service is high with 5,208 new referrals throughout the first year.
2 Issues for consideration
2.2 Co-locations of IDVAs alongside other service areas has been a particular achievement. The innovation of co-locating IDVAs in healthcare settings and also police stations are two of the most notable successes. We know that the co-location of IDVAs in hospital in particular is an extremely effective model for reaching victims who may have not previously engaged with support services, or reported to the police.
2.3 There has also been significant success in developing Housing policy with relation to Domestic Abuse through Safer London’s work programme, which sits as part of the overall Pan London DV funding arrangement.
2.4 DMPC PCD 174 sets out a commitment to review how universal services can better support specialist services in delivering provision to victims. The extension requested in this Decision will allow time and capacity for a full evaluation to inform this (which is due in Autumn 2017). It will also allow time for wider stakeholders to feed in to the final options appraisal with regard to future delivery and commissioning arrangements.
Recommendation
2.5 This Decision recommends that the current service provider (Victim Support) is commissioned to maintain the Pan London DV Service for an additional nine months. This will ensure consistency of service, maintenance of staffing levels and sufficient time for full consultation and service development.
2.6 This Decision also recommends continuing the work of Safer London, focusing on housing needs for victims of Domestic Abuse. Key deliverables will include:
Maintaining the Pan London Reciprocal, also working towards a sustainable future model.
Developing existing work around Move On from refuge provision, as well as focusing on those that are not in refuges.
Working with MOPAC, London Councils and the GLA to progress Housing and Refuge solutions with the voluntary sector.
3 Financial Comments
3.1 As per Decision DMPC PDC 174 the table below sets out MOPAC’s total financial commitments for Integrated Victim Services against the specified areas of work over the next three years. This includes the allocation of the Ministry of Justice’s Victims’ Grant and details MOPAC’s additional funding for the provision of victim and witness services for London.
3.2 It is estimated that a further £7,322,363 of additional funding from other sources will contribute to the delivery of specialist services through over the three-years of the resource plan. The Integrated Victims budget for 2017 – 2020 provides for £1,999,600 FY 2017/18 for the Pan London DV Service. This is made up of £1,124,600 from Ministry of Justice and £875,000 from MOPAC core budget. The total cost of the extension is £1,499,700. This is less than the amount allocated through the victims budget as it is pro-rata over nine months.
3.3 As part of this allocation £171,345 is apportioned to Safer London for an extension of the existing grant for 18 months towards delivery, design and development of refuge solutions.
4 Legal Comments
4.1 MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.
4.2 Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides an express power for MOPAC, as a local policing body, to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to help victims or witnesses of, or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.” Section 143(3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate.
4.3 The powers in section 143 were given to MOPAC following the Government’s response to the consultation Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses (2 July 2012) in which it set out a package of reforms to the way in which support services for victims of crime are to be provided.
4.4 The recommendations in this decision are in line with the legislation.
4.5 Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, approval of the strategy for the award of individual grants and the award of all individual grants (for crime reduction or other purposes) is a matter generally reserved to the DMPC (paragraph 4.8). The release of funding in accordance with the proposals set out in this decision form is accordingly to be approved by the DMPC. The delegation of responsibility for the finalisation of planning and contractual/grant arrangements, including relevant terms and the signing of agreements, to the Chief Executive Officer for activities to the value of £499,000 or less, is in accordance with the general power of delegation in section 5.
5 Equality Comments
5.1 The service was originally commissioned on the basis of meeting the needs of London’s diverse communities, including those with specialist needs and those that are harder to reach. The original decision 2014 143(?) outlines the equality considerations that have been made throughout the previous commissioning process.
5.2 The VAWG Strategy Refresh 2013-17 Community Impact Assessment and Imkaan report ‘Beyond the Labels’ outline the impact of domestic violence on different groups. Women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence and these documents highlighted that for certain groups of women the risk of violence is even greater due to aspects such as ethnicity, faith, culture and age. These documents were considered in developing the original approach for the Pan London DV Service.
5.3 To fulfil their role, providers must have an understanding of local demographics, including the client base; the under-represented groups; the specific needs of different groups; and any service barriers that exist. MOPAC also expects providers to demonstrate how their services, including referral and integration with other local services and partners where appropriate, will meet this need and will ensure accessibility and maximum value for all victim groups identified.
5.4 In addition, in April 2013 the Government amended the domestic violence and abuse definition to include those aged 16-17 years, in recognition that young people experience relationship abuse to the same extent as adults. Service providers are also expected to outline how their services will meet the needs of young people.
5.5 Whilst women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence, service providers will also be expected to outline how they will deliver services for men in addition to provision of women-only spaces and services that we know that women and girls value, and that make them feel safer, protected and understood.
5.6 A concern was raised that commissioning a pan-London domestic violence service may make it difficult for smaller specialist organisations to compete with larger generic providers and may lead to loss of diversity of different organisations responding to need of diverse local communities across London. The sub-regional commissioning model was developed to address this, but this issue will be considered again as part of the Police and Crime Plan commissioning plans which is based on two clear principles:
• Victims First – putting victims at the heart of everything we do.
• Reducing inequalities in communities – a focus on setting an agreed standard and addressing the disparities we see across the city.
5.7 In order to address the inequalities that exist in London, MOPAC has three targeted priorities directed at those people who are disproportionately affected by crime. The priorities aim to provide specialised services that safeguard the most vulnerable in society and reduce evident existing inequalities. These priorities are reflected in MOPAC’s victims’ commissioning plans over the next three years, as set out in this decision form. They are:
• Keeping Children and Young People Safe
• Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls
• Standing together against extremism, hatred and intolerance
5.8 MOPAC is clear that the outputs from this commissioning plan will provide a better service to all victims whilst having a greater positive impact on certain groups in society who are disproportionately vulnerable to and affected by crime.
6 Background/supporting papers
DMPC Decision 174.
Signed decision document
PCD 212