Duties on Local Authorities
Under this new legislation there are new statutory duties placed on local authorities. These are:
- Creation of a new Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board which must contain representation of the following as a minimum:
- A representative of the relevant local authority.
- At least one person appearing to the authority to represent the interests of local authorities for areas within its area.
- At least one person appearing to the authority to represent the interests of victims of domestic abuse.
- At least one person appearing to the authority to represent the interests of children of domestic abuse victims.
- At least one person appearing to the authority to represent the interests of charities and other voluntary organisations that work with victims of domestic abuse in its area.
- At least one person appearing to the authority to represent the interests of persons who provide, or have functions relating to, health care services in its area.
- At least one person appearing to the authority to represent the interests of persons with functions relating to policing or criminal justice in its area.
- To provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in refuges and other safe accommodation. The new duty covers the following kinds of safe accommodation:
- Refuge accommodation
- Specialist safe accommodation
- Dispersed accommodation
- Sanctuary schemes
- Move on or second stage accommodation.
- To assess the need for domestic abuse support in the area, this includes:
- Advocacy support- development of personal safety plans, liaison with other services (for example, GPs and social workers, welfare benefit providers);
- Domestic abuse-prevention advice- support to assist victims to recognise the signs of abusive relationships, to help them remain safe (including online) and to prevent re-victimisation;
- Specialist support for victims with protected characteristics and/or complex needs for example interpreters, faith services, mental health advice and support, drug and alcohol advice and support, and immigration advice;
- Children’s support – including play therapy and child advocacy;
- House-related support as discussed above;
- Counselling and therapy for both adults and children.
- To work to ensure that all existing policies and new policies are written and carried in such a way as to be inclusive of the new statutory definition of domestic abuse, emphasising that domestic abuse is not just physical violence, but can also be emotional, coercive or controlling and economic abuse.