Agenda item - Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy and Action Plan

28.1    This item was introduced by Anne Clark, Strategic Commissioner for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and by Cllr Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & youth Services.

28.2    Ms Clark outlined the VAWG strategy, emphasising the significant contribution of VAWG to physical and mental ill health and to health inequalities. Cllr Daniel explained that, although Violence Against Women and Girls is the term used, the VAWG strategy in fact includes everyone. The biggest challenge is in shifting support from crisis to prevention whilst still meeting demand for crisis services. Priority areas include a focus on people who repeatedly feature at MARAC (multi agency risk assessment conference), delivering better staff training, and supporting the safe childhood campaign which targets the sharing and solicitation of explicit contact via smartphone. Cllr Daniel also told the Board that Cllr Sam Parrott has been appointed as lead member for VAWG.

28.3    Tanya Brown-Griffith noted that Health Counts data shows a worrying rise in the suicide rate for women and girls. Services are well aware that suicide is often links to VAWG. Ms Brown-Griffith asked what health partners can do to support VAWG work. Ms Clark responded that priorities would include a greater focus on suicide, recognising that VAWG prevention is also suicide prevention. For example, of the 6 current domestic assault related death reviews, 3 relate to suicides. A second priority would be to ensure that routine enquiry happens across health services.

28.4    Tom Lambert asked about VCSE input into MARAC. Ms Clark replied that there is considerable sectoral input. Precisely which VCSE organisations are involved will vary as it depends on which organisations are supporting or have referred individual clients, but the list includes Switchboard, CGL, RISE and the International Women’s Network.

28.5    Alan Boyd asked what was done to pick up public voice when developing the strategy. Ms Clark replied, explaining that the VAWG team had worked with a wide range of groups to ensure that the strategy was informed by survivor experience.

28.6       Monica Fletcher asked how the VAWG work is informed by data. Ms Clark responded that the strategy is underpinned by data from MARAC and from individual services. However, better mechanisms are required for collecting data. Ms Fletcher commented that the Board needs to think about how the health and care system collects and uses domestic assault data.

28.7        RESOLVED – that the Board notes the Preventing and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy 2025–28, and progress in delivering the action plan for its implementation; and supports the proposed role for health partners in supporting delivery of the strategy, as set out in section 2.8 of this report.