Data Local Authorities collect on child victims of domestic and sexual abuse - Find a freedom of information request

This request aims to help us understand how and what data Local Authorities collect on child victims of domestic and sexual abuse. We are also keen to understand how commissioning works on a local level, and how you support co-commissioning of victims' support services among different partners such as those in education, health, justice and social care. 

Between the financial year of 2020-2021, what were the number of:

A: child victims of sexual abuse

B: child victims of domestic abuse

C: child victims of domestic abuse where they were in an intimate abusive relationship

To note: We will accept the following but please make it explicit with regards to the source of the data provided: 

D.The number of child victims reporting incidents to the police 

The number of child victims referred to services in your area 

The number of children on a child protection plan due to either sexual or domestic abuse  

 Between the financial year 2020-2021, what was your overall budget for providing domestic abuse and sexual violence services?

2A) What proportion of that total spend was dedicated to supporting Children and Young People including those in an abusive intimate relationship?

2B) Can you provide data for those supported which is disaggregated across protected characteristics?

2C) What proportion (if any) of the total budget was spent on child advocates i.e., CHIDVA, CHISVA, YPVA?

3) Can you demonstrate having a commissioning strategy which meets the needs of children and young people who have suffered domestic and or sexual abuse in collaboration with other commissioners of similar funds within your locality for example an OPCC?
 

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

1 a. 22

b. 165

d. Please contact Lincolnshire Police for this information https://www.lincs.police.uk/rqo/request/ri/request-information/rip/request-informationpolice/

2.a. b. The spending isn’t recorded in these category types so this data cannot be provided

c) LCC didn’t specifically commission CHIDVA, CHISVA etc as mentioned in the FOI however in the year 2020/21 LCC did receive funding from the MOJ that funded one FTE CHIDVA post.

3. Yes. For the domestic abuse strategy see attached and for the children’s see below

Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership commission specialist domestic abuse services, including support for children and young people who have suffered domestic abuse as follows;

Specialist Support Interventions for Children and Young People

This service element shall be available to children and young people aged 5 to 16 years of age associated to the non-abusive parent/primary caregiver accessing specialist intervention support.

The aims of specialist support for children and young people are to:

• Ensure children and young people accessing the service are able to access support to live their lives free of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence, abuse or even death.
• Risk assess and produce age-appropriate safety plans with all children and young people who have been exposed to domestic abuse accessing the Service.
• Deliver personalised packages of evidence-based 1:1 and group therapeutic interventions, that focus on the needs of the child or young person, their safety and consider factors such as age and vulnerability.
• Help children and young people understand their experiences and develop resilience against this trauma having a significant and long-term impact on their mental health or general wellbeing.

The service will work with a wide range of Children's Services teams to ensure that children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and/or are a Care Leaver receive a joined up and holistic approach to meeting their needs, ensuring that support offered by the Service is designed to identify and meet gaps in, and does not duplicate, current and future provision.  Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities as well as those who are Care Leavers can access the service up to the age of 25.

The OPCC are part of the Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership as well as the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership and work closely with partners to inform and agree commissioning of services.  With regard to sexual abuse/violence they currently have a Victim’s Strategy with LCC being one of the stakeholders. The Strategy supports victim’s of crime including children and young people.

Should you require the attachment mentioned above please contact customerinformationservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the below reference number and this can be provided.