Vale domestic abuse referral service shortlisted for UK housing award
A housing scheme providing the right support at the right time for victims of domestic abuse in the Vale of Glamorgan has been shortlisted for a national award.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Domestic Abuse, Assessment and Referral (DARRC) service has been recognised in the UK Housing Awards’ “Innovator of the Year” category.
Launched in 2018, the bespoke service aims to reduce the number of repeat incidents of domestic abuse by identifying, at the first instance, which avenue of support is most suitable for the resident.
By doing this, the Council not only hopes to achieve an improved support pathway for the service user, and improve efficiency by working closely with partner agencies, but also lower the risk of the incident escalating.
Cllr. Andrew Parker, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“The scheme provides those who have experienced domestic abuse with a service specifically tailored for them.
“Our assessment and referral service is increasing the safety of our residents, and decreasing the likelihood of their personal circumstances worsening, by identifying their specific needs and connecting them with the appropriate support.”
From the initial police referral, the service makes contact with the victim to offer housing support, target hardening, advocacy support, or to signpost them to specialist support services such as Atal y Fro, Taith, financial support services, and Citizens Advice.
The referral team can also liaise with diverse health services for any complex needs that are identified, and communicate with teams across the Council – from Education to Children’s, Adult and Health services.
During the service’s first six months, over 1100 referrals came in, with 89% of those assessed and referred to the appropriate professionals for support.
This represents a vast improvement over the previous service, and has eliminated inappropriate referrals through improved communication between teams, who now focus on early identification and intervention.
The UK Housing Awards is one of the biggest and most prestigious awards in the housing sector, giving housing associations and local authorities the chance to showcase the outstanding work they have achieved over past year.
This year’s ceremony will be held on 01 May at Grosvenor House in London, with the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Domestic Abuse, Assessment and Referral (DARRC) service competing in the “Innovator of the Year” category.