Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment Survey (2023)

Tell us about your experience

Consultation status Archived

Start date: 2023-05-10

End date: 2023-06-12

Results 2023-07-17

Category:

Ward:

Activity closed. Results published.

Background

The Domestic Abuse Act (Part 4) requires all unitary local authorities to assess the need for accommodation-based support in its area, prepare and publish a strategy for the provision of such support, and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy.

Domestic abuse includes a wide range of experiences from feeling controlled, manipulated, or emotionally abused, through to physical, financial, or sexual abuse. It can affect anyone regardless of race, age, sex, gender, or sexuality.

In 2021, we commissioned a Needs Assessment to help us develop our Icon for pdf Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy 2021-2023 [903KB] . This accompanies our existing Domestic Abuse Strategy 2020-2023 [978KB] . As both strategies are coming to an end, we need to undertake a new Needs Assessment to be able to develop our new overarching Domestic Abuse Strategy for 2023-2027. We've commissioned consultants Davis and Associates to carry out a survey and other engagement activities.

Why we want your views

We want to hear from people aged 16 and over who either currently live in West Berkshire or have done so in the last three years, and have experienced any form of domestic abuse. We'd like to know whether you received the support you needed, and what improvements you think we could make to the ways we help people experiencing domestic abuse.

It's by hearing from local people with lived experience of domestic abuse, that we can make the changes needed to make our services even better.

How to take part

If you'd like to take part, please complete the online survey by midnight on Monday, 12 June. It should take about 10 minutes.

If you have any questions about the survey, please email Danielle Davis (Davis and Associates) at danielle@davisandassociates.co.uk

Where to find help and support with Domestic Abuse

If you feel you would like help, support or advice in relation to domestic abuse and it is a non-emergency, you can contact the West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Service provided by Berkshire Women's Aid who support people who have or are experiencing domestic abuse in the following ways:

Helpline: 0808 801 0882

Email Berkshire Women's Aid (BWA) at helpdesk@bwaid.org.uk

Visit the Berkshire Women's Aid (BWA) website at berkshirewomensaid.org.uk

Call 999 if it's an emergency and you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger.

What happens next

Your anonymised feedback will be used as part of the West Berkshire's Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment, which will inform the development of our new Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023-2027 and corresponding action plan. The new strategy and action plan will be subject to a public consultation later in the year, and once finalised will be published on our Strategies, Policies and Plans webpage.

What you told us

We received 56 responses to our online survey to hear from residents of West Berkshire about their experience of domestic abuse and getting support. People felt that there were barriers to getting support for domestic abuse, with 32% of victims/survivors not disclosing the abuse to a professional and 42% not disclosing to anyone in their community. We also heard about the positive impact of local specialist support services, with victims/survivors commending the emotional and practical support provided to them.

The main message was that more must be done to break the stigma of domestic abuse. Stigma around domestic abuse exists nationally, but it felt particularly pronounced in West Berkshire. A coordinated community response has to involve the wider community in helping to create societal change and ending domestic abuse.

What we did

We’ve used the feedback we received to inform the draft West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023-2027, which will be subject to a public consultation in spring 2024. The Coordinated Community Response is integral to the strategy, emphasising the imperative of collective action in addressing domestic abuse within West Berkshire. The four key priorities of the strategy are as follows:

we will act before harm, preventing domestic abuse before it occurs
we will identify domestic abuse as early as possible and increase the safety of those experiencing it who are at risk of harm
we will identify and stop those that cause harm
we will work to empower survivors to recover, thrive and live free from harm

The effective implementation of the strategy relies on a robust governance structure led by the West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Board. To maintain an active and responsive approach, the Board convenes on a quarterly basis. This regular schedule ensures ongoing oversight, facilitates collaboration, and allows for prompt adjustments to emerging needs or challenges.