Domestic abuse

Protecting victims from future harm by working with partners to identify secure accommodation and provide victims and their children with support once accommodated.

Providing a Sanctuary Scheme for households at risk of domestic abuse and provide enhanced home security measures to enable victims to remain in their own homes.

Ensuring that individuals accessing Council services who disclose they have been victims of domestic abuse are signposted to available support and how to access it.

Having robust procedures in place to be followed by staff when victims of domestic abuse approach the Council for support.

Working with the Kent Police Child-Centred Policing Team, education providers and partners working with young people to help children and young people to recognise signs of domestic abuse and VAWG and how to access help and support early on.

Providing appropriate staffing and work with partner agencies to deliver the One Stop Shop Service enabling victims to receive free advice, information and support from a range of services under one roof One Stop Shops – Domestic Abuse (domesticabuseservices.org.uk)

Working in collaboration with the domestic abuse commissioned service providers and voluntary sector agencies in Gravesham to ensure that victims and their children consistently receive the best support available.

Minimising potential risks to victims by making appropriate referrals to and supporting the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process.

Attending and having an active role in the multi-agency North Kent Domestic Abuse Forum.

Working with key partners to deliver an annual conference and social event with a target public audience from Gravesham’s communities identified as under-reporting to help reduce stigma and cultural barriers that may be preventing victims of domestic abuse and/or VAWG from seeking help and advice.

Collaborating with partner agencies working directly with young people to safeguard young women and girls against the risks of exploitation and harm.

Work toward attaining the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation to improve the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse through the introduction and adoption of an established set of standards and an accreditation process.

Ensuring that Council staff and Members receive appropriate training to identify domestic abuse and how to support victims.

Ensuring that all new staff receive domestic abuse and safeguarding training as a standard part of their induction into the workforce.

Delivering Bystander training to Council staff to enable them to challenge unacceptable and inappropriate behaviour and bring about attitudinal change to reinforce messages defining the boundaries of unacceptable behaviour.

Continuing to deliver the Council White Ribbon Campaign Action Plan to prevent VAWG including through staff training to challenge behaviour that perpetrates gender inequality and encouraging staff to become White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions.

Supporting the annual 16 Days of Action #SeeKnowSpeakOut Campaign between 25 November-10 December with a programme of daily messaging events to promote broader awareness of domestic abuse and VAWG, services available and to encourage reporting both by victims and third parties.

Using community engagement events as opportunities to raise awareness domestic abuse and VAWG issues and provide information about services available to support anyone experiencing these issues.

Recognising that both domestic abuse and VAWG can occur outside the home, taking steps to improve personal safety in public spaces through practical improvements including CCTV, enhanced lighting and redesigning public spaces.

Delivering the Safer Streets Project and working with local businesses to provide Safe Spaces within their premises which can be used by anyone finding themselves in a vulnerable situation to access help and support.

Offering Bystander training to local businesses (particularly the hospitality sector) so that staff feel equipped to safely challenge unacceptable behaviour that they witness.

Working with local businesses, Kent Police and the G-Safe Business Crime Reduction Initiative to deliver the Best Bar None Project to improve standards of personal safety within licensed premises.

Raising awareness of and promoting the uptake of the Kent Perpetrator Programme available to Gravesham residents (victims of domestic abuse and their partners) to help perpetrators who want help and support to change their behaviour.

Working with Kent Police and domestic abuse services to better understand victims’ decisions for withdrawing from a prosecution against their perpetrator and identify and address any gaps in support that could be filled to prevent this and the risk of repeat victimisation.

By supporting law enforcement partners in holding identified perpetrators to account to increase the level of successful prosecutions and convictions of offenders of domestic abuse and VAWG.

Ensure that Council procedures and policies are robust to reflect that domestic abuse and violence against women and girls will not be tolerated and that perpetrators are held to account.