School Based Information Sharing Pilot of Children and Young People Experiencing Reported Domestic Violence / Abuse: Evaluation Report

The 2009 report into domestic violence and abuse in Bristol commissioned by the DCSF and carried out by the NSPCC (Tay, 2009) outlines the number of reported incidents of domestic violence / abuse (DVA) across Bristol, describes available support and illustrates the impact on children and families. It also contains some key recommendations: 1. Strategic planning to commission and deliver effective, sustainable and outcome-based services; 2. Locally based accessible services; 3. Education to prevent and change; 4. Specialist services for children and young people; 5. Interventions to change and challenge gender/perpetrator behaviour; 6. Provide child, parent and carer services promoting safety and wellbeing; 7. Effective partnership working between all agencies; 8. Enable choice of safe place to stay and live; 9. Develop skilled/supportive workforces; 10. Provide quality early intervention services. Evidence in this report and local CAF (Common Assessment Framework) data, clearly indicate a continuing trend in the prevalence of DVA across Bristol. 7,000 DVA incidents are reported each year to police in Bristol with Hartcliffe being the 5th ranking ward (out of 35). Between April and June 2010 (3 months) 417 routine notifications of DVA incidents were reported to the police and the Hartcliffe Social Work Assessment Team. Over the past 2½ years, of these notifications 70% resulted in No Further Action, 4% in No Further Action with advice/letter, 5% were Allocated and in 21% the existing service from social care continued.