Domestic abuse strategy

The previous domestic abuse strategy was a partnership commitment to tackling domestic abuse across North Tyneside. A detailed action plan has been in place with a number of sub groups in place over the 3 year period in order to deliver against the key priorities. Some notable achievements were:

Recognising 

• North Tyneside Council achieved White Ribbon status and has over 140 White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions.
• Safeguarding practitioner within Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
• Piloted ‘Ask me’ programme and learning embedded in further projects.
• Operation Encompass embedded in schools across North Tyneside.
• Established a multi-agency training strategy to ensure the workforce is equipped to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and act accordingly. 

Responding

• A point of contact Domestic Abuse Support service for male and female victims over the age of 16, supporting all levels of risk, including safe accommodation.
• Therapeutic and outreach support for children and young people.
• Implemented the Sanctuary Scheme which aims to enable households at risk of violence to remain in their own homes and reduce the risk of repeat victimisation.
• Implemented the Sanctum Project which provides critical support to a cohort of people for which refuge is not suitable.
• Ongoing programme of work to support those who require drug and alcohol support services in partnership between Harbour and NTRP. 

Rehabilitation

• Respect Accredited programmes across Northumbria for male perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse.
• Completed national pilot programme to work across the partnership with consistent offenders.
• Commissioned the Changing behaviour service across North Tyneside. 

Reviewing

• Survivor and victim’s forum, enabling their experiences to inform delivery.
• Provider forums, enabling their experiences to inform delivery.
• Domestic abuse related death reviews, informing learning locally.
• Improvement data collection, sharing and analysis across the partnership. 

The domestic abuse partnership has worked effectively to deliver the previous strategy and associated action plan. Many of the strategic actions are ongoing with partners committed to continuing to improve outcomes for all victims. The recent needs assessment and changing legislation have highlighted that continued multi agency action is required over the next three-year period, to deliver the refreshed strategy and tackle domestic abuse in North Tyneside.