Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To seek approval for a new Domestic Abuse Policy.

Recommendations

The meeting resloves:

1.1     To approve the new Domestic Abuse Policy.

Resolved

(1)            That the new Domestic Abuse Policy be approved.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to seek approval for a new Domestic Abuse Policy.

Resolved

(1)          That the new Domestic Abuse Policy be approved.

Reasons

The new Domestic Abuse Policy outlines the Council’s role and responsibilities and how residents receive advice and support.

It provides an overview of what residents can expect from the Council when they approach the Council for support with domestic abuse and how the Council will ensure that their circumstances are handled confidentially, sensitively and non-judgmentally.

It provides an overview of the housing support that is provided by the Council, particularly through the housing options team, housing register and through the Sanctuary Scheme, which provides additional security measures to properties.

It outlines the multi-agency role and multi-agency arrangements that the Council is part of and that are in place within Oxfordshire to coordinate responses, provide support and monitor perpetrators.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to bring forward a Domestic Abuse Policy. The Council has statutory duties in delivering housing services and participating in multi-agency arrangements regarding victim and perpetrator management, however, there are no statutory duties to have a domestic abuse policy. The Council is aiming to achieve an accreditation in recognition of its practice and focus on this area, and a policy is an important part of achieving this. This option is therefore rejected.