The Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention introduced the report of the Director of Children, Families and Education which provided an update on the progress made by Wirral’s Domestic Abuse Alliance in delivering the Domestic Abuse No Excuse strategy and presented the Annual Report, a narrative from the frontline, on the positive impact the strategy was having.

Members were advised on the detail of the early intervention programme which had received funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver a range of services including the domestic abuse programme. The Chair of the Wirral Domestic Abuse Alliance detailed the work of the alliance which had involved a significant level of coproduction with survivors to produce the Domestic Abuse Strategy, which had brought about a number of positive changes including support for survivors navigating the child protection order process which they had identified as an issue, and the opening of the lighthouse centre for victims of domestic abuse. Further detail was provided on the ‘Drive’ programme which involved working with perpetrators of domestic abuse, where it was reported that work was ongoing with 51 perpetrators which it was hoped would have a positive impact on 56 associated victims and 108 associated children.

Members welcomed and commended the work that had been undertaken. The level of engagement in the Drive programme was discussed, where it was reported that it was a 12-18 month programme therefore it was too soon to measure its success, but that only 10 people had declined to be involved. A further discussion ensued on the need to further explore the prevalence of domestic abuse in underrepresented groups such as LGBTQ+ and BAME and it was reported that the alliance would be working with partner organisations to understand and operate the best practice for engaging with those groups.

Resolved – That

(1)   the progress made by Wirral’s Domestic Abuse Alliance in the first of its 5-year strategy be noted and endorsed.

(2)  the Domestic Abuse Annual Report be noted and endorsed.