Decision details

To decommission an 18 unit women’s refuge delivered by a commissioned service provider in line with the strategic plan for Safe Accommodation for those fleeing Domestic Abuse.

Government guidance requires local authorities to effectively commission services based on a local strategy informed by a robust needs assessment. Local authorities are required to consider the specific accommodation-based support needs of all victims in its area, including those with particular protected characteristics, and/or multiple complex needs. Relevant safe accommodation includes refuge accommodation, specialist safe accommodation, dispersed accommodation, second stage accommodation or other accommodation designated by the local authority, registered social landlord or registered charity as domestic abuse emergency accommodation.

An independent assessment of local domestic abuse provision took place in 2021 and has formed the basis of commissioning plans which are being taken forward through the Domestic Abuse Strategic Group and as part of a wider programme of commissioning of accommodation and support based services.

Services for victims of Domestic Abuse will be recommissioned within the next 12 months. Meanwhile, in view of the fact that the Bournemouth Women’s Refuge is not effectively meeting the original commissioned need and owing to increasing costs of these services in the short term, decommissioning will ensure the remaining Poole refuge service and other support-based services, can continue. In the longer term this means we will be able to mobilise our new commissioning plans which will increase the quality of accommodation and choice to meet the needs of families fleeing domestic abuse.

Do nothing – Additional resources are required to sustain the service. There is no allocated budget in 2024/25 to fund the level of uplifts requested. The provider has indicated they would need to reduce staffing or close the service if a negotiated uplift was not provided.

Provide additional uplift resources to maintain service offer

The Council has made budget provision available in 24/25 and onwards through the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to uplift supported housing contracts to which inflationary increases have not been applied for many years. Despite this investment, an additional £44,000 (17%) has been requested by the provider to continue the service across the two refuges. The service no longer meets the needs of families/individuals in terms of the quality, layout and facilities of the accommodation and the service experiences voids as a result. Maintaining the status quo would not provide good value for money or support the Councils commissioning plans for this needs group.

Continue the service with a reduced level of staffing

This will have an impact on the level of needs the service can support, the quality of support delivered and potentially increased voids as a result of not being able to accept the vulnerable people the service currently accommodate. These additional risks are high and therefore not recommended.

Decommission both services

Supporting the implementation of a decommissioning plan will ensure resources are prioritised for supported housing services which better meet local needs and support wider recommissioning plans.

The recommendation to decommission the Bmth refuge and retain the Poole refuge recognises the value in having a range of supported accommodation options for families. For some the existing refuge provision will meet their needs. The recommissioning plan to provide a range of self-contained accommodation options with support will ensure BCP Council can meet the identified needs of families including:

·       victims/survivors with higher levels of need due to mental ill-health and substance use

·       larger families

·       victims/survivors local to BCP who do not want to flee the area but cannot safely access refuge, including older victims

·       male victims

·       victims needing accessible accommodation

·       others who are unable to be accommodated in a shared building