Wandsworth Council has been recognised for its “robust” response to domestic abuse.
Wandsworth is one of five boroughs to have been accredited by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance.
Following a two-year project and a five-day assessment period, the Council's Housing and Regeneration Department has been awarded the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation Chartermark.
According to the Home office, one in four women and one in six men will suffer domestic abuse at some time in their lives, and police recorded crime data shows an increase during the pandemic.
DAHA aims to transform the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse through an accreditation process which assesses individual housing providers and supports them to improve their practices.
As part of the council’s commitment to tackling domestic abuse, the council worked with DAHA to improve their strategy for tackling domestic abuse.
Cllr Jonathan Cook, who is Cabinet Member for both Housing and Community Safety said the council worked hard to combat a “hidden menace”.
He said: “Council staff make thousands of connections with residents every day and knowing how to support someone dealing with domestic abuse is crucial. With around 20 per cent of the population suffering from domestic abuse at some point, it’s everyone’s responsibility to be aware of how to support their customers, friends, family and even to seek help for themselves.
“I am extremely proud of the feedback received from DAHA and of our ongoing work to help combat this hidden menace.”
The council’s Housing and Regeneration Department has also created domestic abuse champions in each of its frontline teams.
These 18 members of staff have received enhanced training on how to respond to domestic abuse and will be on hand to offer assistance to colleagues, promote awareness and conversations about abuse and ensure best practice across the department.
Domestic abuse can take many forms, including physical or sexual violence; threatening or coercive behaviour; and economic or psychological abuse carried out by a partner, ex-partner or family member.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact 999 if you are in immediate danger or dial 101 for non-emergencies. You can also contact Wandsworth Independent Domestic Violence Advocate: 020 7801 1777 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm) or email vs.wandsworth@victimsupport.cjsm.net
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