Newark and Sherwood District Council has taken its first steps to achieve Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance accreditation

The district council has committed to doing more to tackle domestic abuse and provide extra support to survivors of abuse.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has now taken the first steps to achieve Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance accreditation, a benchmark for how housing providers across the UK should respond to domestic abuse.

Firstly, the District Council will have to undertake an audit of its policies, procedures, and practices, ensuring that they support those experiencing or surviving domestic abuse.

Secondly, it will commit to training its entire workforce to increase awareness of the signs of domestic abuse, and how to support survivors.

Councillor Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I am pleased that the District Council is working towards the DAHA accreditation and implementing a Council-wide approach to supporting those vulnerable within our community.

“I have already met with Officers at the District Council along with the Nottinghamshire Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Angella Kandola to discuss progress and to reaffirm our commitment ensuring we work together to tackle domestic abuse.

“The work we are doing to attain DAHA accreditation will mean that our entire workforce will know and understand the signs of Domestic Abuse and will mean people can provide safe disclosure to our staff. It will undoubtably improve the outcome for those who have had to suffer in silence.

“The District Council is absolutely committed to tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls in Newark and Sherwood – we understand the impact this can have on people, and we don’t want them to suffer in silence any longer.

“Even the small changes we can make will help those suffering from domestic violence. Listening to the specialists share tangible actions with us means that we know we can make even more changes for those suffering in Newark and Sherwood and the accreditation will help us implement so much more than we already know about.

“We know that this particular time of year can be difficult as reports and incidents of domestic abuse increase during the Christmas period.”

The District Council is working alongside the domestic abuse specialist Christie Conroy from the charity Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid to achieve the accreditation.

On average it takes a Council around 18 months to achieve the accreditation and the District Council have already made huge strides in outlining its plans to achieve this in Newark and Sherwood.

Christie Conroy said: “We want to ensure a joined up, holistic approach to tackling domestic abuse. For instance, a housing repairs team may see signs of abuse in the home such as holes in a door or wall, whereas someone on reception may sense that a visitor to the Council has an air of fearfulness.

"It’s about being aware of what to notice and what to do and say to someone if you suspect they could be a domestic abuse survivor, and how to hold perpetrators to account for the abuse.”

If suffering from domestic violence, people can contact Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid by calling 01909 491330 or by visiting their website www.nottswa.org.

Or Equation by calling 0800 995 6999 or by visiting their website www.equation.org.uk or the 24-hour Freephone Helpline at 0808 800 0340.

If in immediate danger call 999.