Domestic abuse policy
Introduction
Our commitment to you
We will provide an inclusive and accessible service that allows anyone experiencing domestic abuse to seek the support they need. We will ensure our response to domestic abuse is non-judgemental and that survivors are believed. We will handle all cases of domestic abuse sensitively, in a safe way, with a range of options for survivors based on impact, risk and safety.
Definition of domestic abuse
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as:
Behaviour of a person (“A”) towards another person (“B”) is “domestic abuse” if:
a) A and B are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other, and
b) the behaviour is abusive.
Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of any of the following:
a) physical or sexual abuse;
b) violent or threatening behaviour;
c) controlling or coercive behaviour;
d) economic abuse;
e) psychological, emotional or other abuse;
and it does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.
“Economic abuse” means any behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect on B’s ability to:
a) acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or
b) obtain goods or services.
For the purposes of this Act A’s behaviour may be behaviour “towards” B despite the fact that it consists of conduct directed at another person (for example, B’s child).
References in this Act to being abusive towards another person are to be read in accordance with this section.
Definition of “personally connected”: For the purposes of this Act, two people are “personally connected” to each other if any of the following applies:
a) they are, or have been, married to each other;
b) they are, or have been, civil partners of each other;
c) they have agreed to marry one another (whether or not the agreement has been terminated);
d) they have entered into a civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated);
e) they are, or have been, in an intimate personal relationship with each other;
f) they each have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship in relation to the same child;
g) they are relatives.
As part of the new definition children are explicitly recognised as victims if they see, hear or otherwise experience the effects of the abuse.
What happens when you disclose domestic abuse to us?
Whenever we receive a disclosure of domestic abuse we will believe you and we will not judge you. We give you the time and space you need to tell us what you want to share, in the way you want to share it. We always take reports of domestic abuse seriously, and we will always act on them. We will then tell you what we are going to do next.
If you are speaking to a member of staff who is not part of our Strategic Housing Delivery team we will ask you if you are happy for us to pass your information on to one of our Neighbourhood Managers (ASB) who are specially trained in supporting survivors of domestic abuse and best placed to support you.
If you agree to this: we will agree with you the safest time and place for our Neighbourhood Manager (ASB) to make contact with you. We will also open a case within 24 hours of your report.
If you do not agree to this: we will record your initial report on our customer management system and encourage you make contact with us for further support when you are ready. We will take no further action at this time.
Process for determining the support you need
The support we offer will be tailored to your individual circumstances and will only be what you want. We will start by completing a DASH risk assessment with you. This will help us to understand the level of risk you are at. The level of risk based on a scoring system in combination with specific behaviours which evidence has shown are likely to cause significant risk of harm.
If the DASH risk assessment demonstrates that you are at high risk of harm, a referral can be made to Specialist Abuse Services Peterborough or specific to the area you live in.
In addition, a DASH score of 17 (in Cambridgeshire, 14 elsewhere) or on professional judgement of the Neighbourhood Manager (ASB) based on the information shared, we may make a referral to the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). MARAC is attended by police, probation, specialist domestic abuse services, housing, social care, drug and alcohol services amongst others. It is a formal way of sharing information, including the voice of the survivor, for the highest risk cases. Through MARAC we agree a safety plan and any actions that each agency has responsibility to complete within agreed timescales.
In the case that the DASH risk assessment demonstrates that there is a standard or medium level of risk, a referral can be made to outreach providers or the Peterborough Victim’s Hub (Peterborough residents) as appropriate for work to be completed.
If you have not yet reported the abuse to the police we will discuss this with you, and support you if you wish to make that report.
We will only make referrals to third party organisations with your consent.
In all cases we will also consider safeguarding implications in relation to children or vulnerable adults and follow our Safeguarding Policies in these instances.
What support can we offer?
We can support people experiencing domestic abuse with a range of possible options:
- Access to refuge
- Referrals to specialist services / legal support
- Target hardening such as window alarms, security lights, locks, and dummy CCTV
- Transfer to another property on emergency grounds
- Transfer to another property via a reciprocal housing arrangement
- Changes to a joint tenancy (may require a court order)
- Support to accommodate the perpetrator away from the family home
- Action against the perpetrator
- Access to food and utility support
- Access to support for white goods and furniture
- Access to support with finances and making benefit claims if required
A combination of options may be used to best meet your needs in conjunction with support from specialist services, including the police, as appropriate. This should always be led by you once you understand the options available.
We particularly acknowledge that if you share a joint tenancy with the perpetrator, it will impact you options to leave the perpetrator and the home. Therefore, we will consider options such as offering alternative accommodation on a case-by-case basis.
We always follow court orders such as property transfer orders and occupation orders that support survivors to remain in their home and comply with any changes to tenancy/ occupation as set out in those orders.
If you, as the survivor, are forced to leave your home, we will advise you around benefit claims, security in and around the home and impacts on other members of the household.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places additional duties on Local Authorities as all eligible homeless victims of domestic abuse automatically have ‘priority need’ for homelessness assistance.
All applications for a transfer to alternative accommodation with us should be made in accordance with our Emergency Transfer Procedure.
Cambridgeshire has an operational domestic abuse housing reciprocal arrangement in place, supported by local authorities and housing providers. Survivors can be supported to move within the county via this arrangement where the move is not needed so immediately that refuge or temporary accommodation is sought.
Perpetrator Management
We wholly hold perpetrators accountable for domestic abuse and will work with survivors to understand their wishes in respect of any action against the perpetrator, always bearing in mind the principles of good risk management.
We will work to support any action the police may take to bring perpetrators to justice and support ongoing management of those offenders through a multi-agency approach including Multi-Agency Public Protection offenders and those open to the Cambridgeshire perpetrator panel.
We will support with referrals to specialist support services who can assist with access to legal advice and assist with obtaining civil orders such as non-molestation orders, occupation orders and property transfer orders.
The Housing Act 1996 provides for direct action by a landlord to evict perpetrators remaining in the property when the person who has experienced the abuse has had to flee.
In exceptional circumstances, we may agree to accommodate the perpetrator of the abuse away from the family home where it supports a reduction in risk, enables the family to remain in their home and supports overall safeguarding such as a child in need or child protection plan.
CKH Lettings will actively screen incoming tenants and work with the Strategic Housing Delivery Team to identify perpetrators of domestic abuse, and refuse any inappropriate nominations from the local authority, such as nominations for properties in close proximity to another resident who the perpetrator has abused.
We will support access to perpetrator programmes where available.
Further information:
Who is responsible for managing the Domestic Abuse Policy?
Legislation and regulation
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021
- Housing Act 1996
- Equality Act 2010
Information sharing
CKH has access to the OASIS database to update MARAC cases/ actions which is a secure online database with restricted access.
All referrals to external support agencies such as Women’s Aid are completed with consent of the survivor.
The Safeguarding Adults at Risk and Child Protection policies and procedures set out separate information sharing guidelines which must be adhered to.
Supporting agencies
Police emergency: 999
Police non-emergency: 101
Access to safe spaces to seek help: https://uksaysnomore.org/safespaces/
Peterborough Women’s aid: 08454 103 123
Cambridge Women’s Aid: 01223 361214
Samaritans: 01733 312727 or 08457 90 90 90
NSPCC: ChildLine: 0800 1111, adults concerned about a child: 0808 800 5000
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Victim and witness hub: 0800 781 6818
The Elms Sexual Assault Referral Centre: 0800 193 5434
Male Advice enquiry line: 0808 801 0327
Mankind: 01273 911680
Respect for men helpline: 0845 1228609
Victim support’s male helpline: 0800 328 3623
Galop (LGBT support): 0800 999 5428
Karma Nivana: (forced marriage and honour based violence): 0800 5999 247
PEGS (adolescent to parent abuse) https://www.pegsupport.co.uk/
Monitoring and review
The Domestic Abuse Policy was written and approved in January 2021 and will be reviewed every three years – next review January 2025.
Other related policies
- Emergency Transfer Procedure
- Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure
- Child Protection Policy and Procedure
- Anti-Social Behaviour Policy and Procedure
- Data Protection Procedure
- Allocations policy and procedure
What you can expect from CKH
- We will listen to you and treat you with respect.
- We will take time to understand your circumstances and what you are asking of us.
- We will make it easy to access our services in a way that works for you.
- We will let you know what you can expect from us. If we say we will do something, we will do it and keep you informed.
- When other organisations have more expertise to offer support we will signpost you to them.
- Above all, we will treat you as an individual.
Feedback
If you are unhappy about a decision regarding this policy, please talk to us as soon as possible. You can contact us by telephone 01733 385000, by email customerfirst@crosskeyshomes.co.uk or in writing to
CKH Customer Central, Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1DT. See our website for more details and our full complaint policy.