Agenda item

1.         The Leader introduced the report on the extension of the Domestic Abuse Act Framework and associated commissioned services and reminded Members that Kent County Council has statutory responsibilities under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to assess local need, publish a domestic abuse strategy, and commission support for victims of domestic abuse and their children in safe accommodation.

2.         Ms Victoria Tovey, Assistant Director of Integrated Commissioning, and Rachel Westlake, Senior Commissioner, presented the report. Ms Westlake explained that the Domestic Abuse Framework sets out how grant funding is used to meet the Council's statutory duties and is currently in place until 2027. The proposed extension would align the framework with the newly confirmed grant funding through to March 2029. The report also sought approval for a ten-month continuation of the Council's domestic abuse support services from April 2027 to January 2028. Work was underway to develop a new Kent Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Service, bringing together multiple funding streams and service elements into a single coordinated service.

3.         Further to questions and comments from Members the discussion covered the following:

(a)       Members welcomed the report and sought clarification regarding funding contributions from district and borough councils. Officers explained that although KIDAS operates countywide, West Kent authorities have separate local commissioning arrangements. Ms Westlake clarified that in West Kent, KIDAS provides refuge support and support for high-risk domestic abuse cases, while locally commissioned services support medium-risk cases.

(b)       A Member asked how easy it was for victims of domestic abuse to access support through KIDAS and about the balance between self-referrals and professional referrals. Ms Tovey explained that awareness was promoted through a dedicated website, social media campaigns, partnership working, workforce training and a single point of access. Ms Westlake added that many refuge referrals are self-referrals, while police make the largest number of referrals overall. She also noted that relocation some distance from a victim's home area is often necessary to ensure their safety.

(c)        Asked why the continuation contracts were proposed for ten months, ending in January 2028 rather than at the end of a financial year, Ms Tovey explained that the timescale had been determined by working backwards from the anticipated procurement and mobilisation requirements for the new service. She advised that the extension would provide sufficient contingency and continuity while allowing the new arrangements to be fully implemented. She confirmed that a further Key Decision on the recommissioning exercise would be brought to a future meeting of the cabinet committee.

(d)       Regarding the differing end dates for the Domestic Abuse Framework and the continuation of the KIDAS and SASS contracts, Ms Westlake explained that the framework governs the use of the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant and therefore aligns with the confirmed funding period to March 2029. The service extensions, however, are intended only to provide continuity until the new integrated service is operational. She confirmed that the framework and service costs are funded through grant funding and partner contributions, including Public Health funding, and do not place additional demands on the Council's core budget.

4.         RESOLVED that the Cabinet Committee endorses the proposed decision to:

1.      Approve extension and update of the framework arrangements, to reflect consolidated funding arrangements, set out in the report for ongoing management of the DA Act Funding 2027-29.

2.      Approve  the extension of Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) including Referral, Assessment and Triage service and services delivered under contract SS 16041 up until 31 January 2028 (10 months). 

3.      Approve the extension of Safe Accommodation Support Service (SASS) contract SC 220255 up until 31 January 2028 (10 months).

4.      Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health to, in consultation with the Leader, Corporate Director for Finance, Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education, to revise and update the Domestic Abuse Framework as necessary to reflect the consolidated Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant funding arrangements, and to make minor operational amendments, provided these remain within scope of the approved Framework criteria, associated grant terms and the council’s statutory duties. 

5.      Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health to, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education, where applicable depending on affected portfolios, to administer any further Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant  monies under the funding/governance framework put in place by this decision, including the determination of Officer Decisions to progress activity via the framework.  

6.      Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to take all necessary actions to implement this decision, including but not limited to negotiating, finalising the terms of and entering into contracts or other legal agreements, and to approve variations to existing contracts (including KIDAS and SASS) to incorporate additional or enhanced activity, subject to the securing of additional external funding.