Agenda item

8.1

The Executive Director, People Services submitted a report seeking approval for the new Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy for the City and the intention to ensure seamless service provision for victims by re-commissioning the community based domestic abuse services as one contract to begin delivery in April 2019.

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-  

(a)

approves and adopts the Sheffield Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2018-22, attached to the report; and

(b)

delegates authority to the Director of Commissioning, Inclusion and Learning, in consultation with the Director of Commercial and Financial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance to:

(i)

approve the procurement strategy for the recommissioning of the Council’s community based domestic abuse service as set out and in line with the report;

(ii)

thereafter to enter into contract(s) for the services as set out and in line with the report; and

(iii)

take all other necessary steps not covered by existing delegations to achieve the outcomes outlined in the report, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Children and Families and Health and Social Care; and

(c)

notes the correction to the report substituting Councillor Peace for Councillor McDonald.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The wording of the draft strategy has been agreed by the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, the People’s Portfolio Leadership Team, the Safer and Sustainable Communities Partnership Board and the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategic Board. It has been consulted on widely with stakeholders, including service users. It will provide a strategic framework for addressing issues that have an impact on thousands of people every year in the city, put prevention at the centre of new developments and drive improvements in responses across services.

8.3.2

Consultation with service users has informed the recommendation that the community based domestic abuse services are recommissioned as one contract to begin delivery in April 2019 in order to provide seamless support from disclosure to recovery from abuse.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

The alternative would be to not have a Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy for the city. This was rejected as these are important issues which have an impact on thousands of people across the city every year. The issue is referenced in the Corporate Plan and is recognised as an issue the city wishes to address. Strategic direction for this area of work is therefore essential.

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, People Services

9.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Safer and Stronger Communities

8.1

The Executive Director, People Services submitted a report seeking approval for the new Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy for the City and the intention to ensure seamless service provision for victims by re-commissioning the community based domestic abuse services as one contract to begin delivery in April 2019.

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-  

(a)

approves and adopts the Sheffield Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2018-22, attached to the report;

(b)

delegates authority to the Director of Commissioning, Inclusion and Learning, in consultation with the Director of Commercial and Financial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance to:

(i)

approve the procurement strategy for the recommissioning of the Council’s community based domestic abuse service as set out and in line with the report;

(ii)

thereafter to enter into contract(s) for the services as set out and in line with the report; and

(iii)

take all other necessary steps not covered by existing delegations to achieve the outcomes outlined in the report, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Children and Families and Health and Social Care; and

(c)

notes the correction to the report to substitute Councillor Peace for Councillor McDonald.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The wording of the draft strategy has been agreed by the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, the People Services Portfolio Leadership Team, the Safer and Sustainable Communities Partnership Board and the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategic Board. It has been consulted on widely with stakeholders, including service users. It will provide a strategic framework for addressing issues that have an impact on thousands of people every year in the city, put prevention at the centre of new developments and drive improvements in responses across services.

8.3.2

Consultation with service users has informed the recommendation that the community based domestic abuse services are recommissioned as one contract to begin delivery in April 2019 in order to provide seamless support from disclosure to recovery from abuse.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

The alternative would be to not have a Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy for the city. This was rejected as these are important issues which have an impact on thousands of people across the city every year. The issue is referenced in the Corporate Plan and is recognised as an issue the city wishes to address. Strategic direction for this area of work is therefore essential.