4.1 We work with local and countywide partners to make the response to domestic abuse and sexual violence as joined up as possible. Norwich City Council is a member of the Norfolk County Community Safety Partnership’s (NCCSP), Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Delivery Group (DASVG), the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) and the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) and has collaborated to create a joined-up strategy, responding to Domestic abuse and sexual violence and abuse.
4.2 Norfolk partners have developed a Support in Safe Accommodation Strategy. This is based on an assessment of accommodation and support needs and is reviewed regularly.
4.3 We recognise that no single organisation will have a complete picture of the life of a family or individual living with domestic abuse but may have insights that are crucial to their support and safety. We recognise the importance of working collaboratively with other agencies to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and to contribute to an effective Co-ordinated Community Response. Examples of other partners include (but are not limited to):
- The police
- Health providers
- Specialist domestic abuse support agencies
- Independent Domestic-Based Violence Advocates (IDVAs)
- Legal advisory services
- Victim support services
- Education
- Social Care
- Learning Disabilities Partnership (LDP)
- Gypsy Traveller Liaison Officer(s) (Where required)
- Other housing partners
(Further details about information sharing and consent is provided in Section 5).
4.4 Some staff receive enhanced training and act as Domestic Abuse Champions. They are available to offer support and advice to colleagues in relation to good practice. Their role is also to raise awareness of domestic abuse and ensure staff know how to access support.
4.5 Staff from our housing, communities and environmental health teams also attend multi-agency working groups and panels on a regular basis and share information internally between teams. Partnership groups include:
- Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board
- Norfolk Domestic Abuse Partnership Board
- The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Group (DASVG)
- Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Senior Management Board
- Domestic Abuse Partnership Perpetrator Approach (DAPPA)
- Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
- Norfolk Domestic Abuse Related Death reviews (DARDR’s – formerly known as Domestic Homicide Reviews)
- Norfolk Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Problem Solving Group-Adults
4.6 Staff also take advantage of opportunities to participate in regional and national discussion forums through attendance at Regional Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance events and through participation in the National Housing Federation’s Domestic Abuse core group.
