Domestic Abuse Service

In 2016 the OFSTED joint inspection focused on Domestic Abuse and identified key areas of development. The inspection highlighted a need across services for earlier intervention with a more victim focused approach and response to domestic abuse. A need for increased provision to support victims in crisis and a development in the offer of more long-term emotional support was identified. The inspection high-lighted gaps in support for children and young people living in households where domestic abuse was present or young people who were currently or have been in a domestic abuse relationship. Gaps were also identified in the need to hold perpetrators accountable for their behaviours and to offer a platform for change through engagement and intervention.

Salford Community Safety Partnership worked closely together to review the needs of the City and in response funded an independent needs analysis in 2019. The needs analysis confirmed gaps identified in the joint inspection and completed a mapping exercise across the city to review DA partnerships, commissioned provision delivery and community-based service delivery.

In response to the findings and in the context of Covid 19, additional funds were sourced to increase Salford victim’s services offer. This involved the Partnership increasing IDVA hours, phone lines and support to families in refuge. The Partnership supported in extending contracts and implementing specialist roles to address key need.

Pilot projects were launched in the City to support children and young people affected by domestic abuse within Salford through the delivery of 121 support, groups, counselling, and support for young people who use harm.

A pilot was also launched to support perpetrators of abuse through assessment of risk and intervention, offering a platform for change through group and 121 support.

The Community Safety Partnership identified the need to increase the delivery offer to address domestic abuse across the City and also considered the statutory duty to address the new Domestic Abuse Act. A new Domestic Abuse Commissioning Strategy was developed for the city of Salford with a jointly commissioned Lead Provider model for the delivery of all domestic abuse services across the City.

The joint delivery model for the service will be broken down into 3 with subcontracts, managed by one lead provider. The importance of effective partnership working is vital to ensure the delivery of the specification and will be a key area of interest in review of all applications.

The lead provider is responsible for creating a theory of change, a delivery model to address needs identified in this service specification and an outcome framework model which would be populated by their core service outcomes and subcontractors attached to the contract.

The lead provider would need to ensure that they deliver quarterly reports through the implementation of Safe Lives ‘insights’ which are measurable, tangible and commission focused. The lead provider will be accountable to the commissioning lead and the Tackling Domestic Abuse Board.