Issue - meetings

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development submitted a report in respect of the draft East Herts Domestic Abuse Policy, which had been written following on from recommendations made by the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Board at the 2019 Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (HSAB) self-assessment day.

The Chairman said that the policy had been considered by the Leadership Team and the Local Joint Panel (LJP). The union (Unison) had said at LJP that this was a very good policy. She referred to a duplication in the form of a typographical error that had been corrected in paragraph 7.1 of the policy.

The Chairman said that a point had been made by Councillor E Buckmaster at LJP in respect of forced marriages. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development had said that the matter of forced marriages was covered by the Safeguarding Policy.

Councillor Ruffles said that he had been a specialist for a long time in this area through his work with victim support and he agreed that this was an excellent policy. He said that when selling the policy, there should be encouragement in respect of supporting victims of male on male abuse as statistically and proportionately, male on male abuse was higher than in heterosexual situations.

Councillor Ruffles emphasised the importance of encouraging people living in all situations to trust and speak out and share information, with a particular focus on the less well recognised potential abuse situations.

Councillor Curtis said that he had read the documents and he thought it was an excellent policy. He referred to section 10; Monitoring and Policy Review, with a particular emphasis on how Officers would be monitoring how the Authority would be ensure that the policy was adhered to.

The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that Officers could commit to updating the Committee annually in respect of progress on adherence to the policy or an annual update in respect to key points.

Councillor Dumont sought clarification as to whether Councillor Curtis felt that three years was not often enough before the policy was reviewed. Councillor Curtis said that even if the set policy was reviewed after three years, Members needed to know that the culture, behaviour and practices within the organisation were aligned with the policy.

Councillor Bolton proposed from the Chair and Councillor Ruffles seconded, a motion that the East Herts Domestic Abuse Policy be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the East Herts Domestic Abuse Policy be approved.

The Service Manager, Community and Wellbeing Partnerships introduced the new draft East Herts Domestic Abuse Policy for the Panel’s consideration.  The report had been drafted following on from recommendations made by the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Board at the 2019 Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board Self-Assessment Day.  The aim was to ensure that the Council had a policy which focussed on staff that might be experiencing domestic abuse and how the Council could support them and managers. 

The Secretary to the Employees’ Side said that UNISON welcomed this policy and the collaborative work undertaken with the Service Manager, especially as the Policy took on board the extension of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO’s) into the workplace as per the Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill.  The Secretary to the Employees’ Side drew Members attention to the fact that a sentence in paragraph 7.1 had been duplicated and should be removed.  She said that Unison was happy for the Council to take the Policy forward.

Councillor Buckmaster referred to the issue of forced marriages, whether or not this was connected with violence and whether this was covered by the new draft Policy as submitted.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that the issue of forced marriage was addressed in the Council’s Safeguarding Policy.

The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained that the Policy was very much a supportive policy, directed to staff and managers suffering from domestic abuse and provided clear signposting of what support was available. 

Councillor Buckmaster sought clarification in regard to paragraph 7.5.4 of the Policy which explained what action would be taken where the perpetrator and the victim both worked for the Council.  The Head of HR and Organisational Development explained the steps which would be taken in such circumstances.

It was moved by Councillor Ward-Booth and seconded by Jackie Bruce that the Draft Domestic Abuse Policy be supported.

The Panel recommend to Human Resources Committee, approval of the report, as now detailed.

          RESOLVED – that the Draft Domestic     Abuse Policy as           submitted, be approved.