Annual Report 2024

Right Care, Right Person (RCRP)
Across the UK, the Right Care, Right Person approach assesses if the police are the most appropriate service to respond. 
While many incidents may need the police, in some cases other services may be more appropriate. When it comes to Mental Health, concerns for welfare and walking out of healthcare facilities, health and social care staff have the experience and training to provide the relevant physical and mental health support and may be the right service to attend.
 
The aim of RCRP is: 
• to get the person or people involved the right help as soon as possible;
• to prevent further distress to the person; and
• to allow the police to focus resources on preventing crime, protecting life and property and keeping public order.
Police forces using this approach have already benefitted by being able to provide more appropriate responses. 
Partner agencies, which include the police, have signed a National Partnership Agreement. We work together with partners to: • ensure people get the right support. We hold regular meetings to allow knowledge sharing and improved services. 
This agreement is between: 
• Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 
• Home Office 
• NHS England 
• National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) 
• Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) 
• College of Policing 

When the police can help 
If we are the most appropriate service, we will attend when there is: 
• an immediate risk to life of a person 
• an immediate risk of serious harm to a person 
We’ll still respond to reports of crime in the usual way. 
We will always attend when we are the right service to respond. We assess every request against things like threat, harm, risk, and vulnerability. The Right Care, Right Person approach becomes part of this process. 

Since May 2023 in North Yorkshire, we have:
 Invited the College of Policing to ‘Peer Review’ our progress and acted on suggested next steps such as:
• Utilising our service directory to offer briefings to over 560 services and organisations across North Yorkshire
• Engaging with Independent Advisory Groups and allocating a dedicated communication SPOC
• Developed a dashboard to assist with collation of qualitative and quantitative data.

 Established the RCRP Working Together group.
•        Established to ensure that care is being delivered – to review RCRP cases from a holistic position and share learning / understanding.
•        Over 100 professionals on the invitation list and a group of committed professionals
•        Includes lived experience.
•        Jointly chaired by NYP and TEWV.
•        Identifies as the tactical/operational external performance group.
 
Force Control Room Training
 •        A rolling programme to provide updates on RCRP, our next steps and where we are in our delivery.
•        Implementation of a RCRP tool kit when taking calls.
•        Working through a tabletop exercise based on an actual MH related call. This gives the staff an opportunity to think about THRIVE+ the NDM and look for any serious threat or risk within the call log.
•        The FCR NHS MH Triage team are working alongside control room is then able to update on the outcome of the incident discussed and give some insight into other options open to MH services for that specific example. It also highlights the advantages of RCRP.

Moving forward we have:

 Established a Joint Agency Strategic Governance Group 
•        First meeting scheduled in September
•        Formalisation of internal and external governance processes & Joint agency policy creation
•        Work together to embed RCRP across all calls for service.

REACH Project
 
The REACH Project is a nationally recognised, award-winning, housing first based approach, working with individuals who have experienced homeless within Scarborough. The project recognises that rough sleeping is not just a “housing” issue, and that over time people can become ‘street attached’ due to their multiple disadvantage, resulting in service access challenges, multiple accommodation losses, criminality, and repeat traumatisation. 

The REACH project has a foundation of partnership working across North Yorkshire Council, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Mental Health Trust, IDAS, North Yorkshire Horizons and Beyond Housing.  The team provides an expert team around the person, working and supporting those receiving support through harm minimisation, trauma informed care and assertive outreach approaches.  The hope is to better support the person to feel safe and connected within their home and community so as to achieve their goals.   
Housing First is an evidence-based approach to successfully supporting homeless people with high needs and histories of entrenched or repeat homelessness to live in their own homes. This model provides a stable, independent home and intensive personalised support, intervention and case management to people with multiple and complex needs. Housing First is a different model because it provides housing ‘first’, as a matter of right, rather than ‘last’ as a reward.

Established in 2021, REACH currently provides secure accommodation to 18 people, all of who have complex multi-faceted needs. What makes this project unique within North Yorkshire is that the property provided to a tenant remains with the individual throughout their journey, or until they no longer wish to reside there, providing a stable foundation from which they can build upon moving forward. The project is also unique in its multi-agency approach to the care of those the team work with, offering tenancy management, holistic support and mental health and substance use intervention within one service offer. 

The team within REACH, due to its forward-thinking multiagency commissioning approach, holds expertise and specialism in Housing, Mental Health, substance use, harm minimisation to work collectively and responsively where the person is at; physically, psychologically, and emotionally.  To date we have assessed 70 cases accepting 26 of these individuals into the project, with whom we have worked with to house and remain included in the community.

Meet the Team:
The Team consists of a Team Co-ordinator, Consultant Psychologist (Part time), Mental Health Nurse, Dual Diagnosis Nurse, two holistic support advisers, rough sleeper co-ordinator, homeless accommodation support officer, and a domestic violence officer.
 
Pen Picture of Our Typical Client Profile:
The people who are assessed for access to our service, have significant histories of street living, having lost multiple tenancies over their lifetime.  All the clients have significant early and life trauma and abuse experiences which have significant impacted on their personality and relational approaches to others, understandably, as a result.  All have dependant drinking and/or drug use patterns, with varying attempts to address these issues.  Criminality and periods in prison for acquisition crimes, aggression, violence, and other significant offences is commonplace.  A high proportion of our clients both male and female are both victim-perpetrator and perpetrator-victims of domestic violence. 
It is common for a REACH client to have been discharged from or barred from access to multiple services for their needs, including community, charity, primary and secondary care services, have no duty to house, and for males clients to have been excluded from domestic violence services when a victim, due to being a perpetrator in the past. 
Safeguarding concerns are significant, with clients often being victims-perpetrators of ‘mate crimes’ and well as being exploited by and towards others.  
All have been rejected by their communities, with some having experienced those in positions of public power, requesting they are not housed in their area, despite the person wanting to live there due to being close to supportive others, services or family. 

Areas we focus on with the person:
Building relational connection through assertive street outreach
Providing a tenancy and supporting the person to work towards this being and feeling like their home
Holistic assessment
Psychological formulation of need
Asset based interventions. 
Trauma informed care
Mental Health assessment and intervention. 
Harm reduction advise.
Continuity of care (Appointments offered based on need, with daily appointments being common).
Trauma Informed Care interventions
Trauma stabilisation and relational engagement
Holistic support with bills, tenancy management and life skills.
Advocacy for the person to others and the system.
Consultation to the system to support and understand the person’s needs.
Carer support. 
Facilitating service access
Offering drug and alcohol screening, advise and service access. 
Support to access sexual health and treatment for sexual health conditions.
Medication support and management. 
Tenancy sustainment

Conclusion:
The team works with those who are street attached, at high risk of death due to their substance use, mental health, and vulnerability.  They have all experienced high levels of multiple disadvantage, exclusion, trauma and abuse. 

Our clients are rejected by most, accepted by few. 
We are REACH and what we do is give, often forgotten and not wanted people, a house to build into a home with expert support and relational care around them to scaffold their development and change. 
 
 

North Yorkshire Council Local Engagement & Community Safety Team work on and jointly commission services for survivors of domestic abuse and their families, in collaboration with the Police Fire and Crime Commissioning and City of York Public Health teams.
In line with the findings of the national mapping work undertaken by the DA Commissioner Nicole Jacobs and our own multi-agency DA Strategy for 2024 Commissioners have invested over £8m in new commissioned services.
This will Build upon on the successful achievements of our joint commissioning arrangements developed in 2019, we have continued to work together to ensure services are available for all victims, survivors, perpetrators and their children, through simplified pathways to support, and to create a more sustainable, multi-agency ‘Whole System Approach’ to domestic abuse.
 
The services available from April 2024 include:
• Central Referral Hub which will be the first point of contact for all victims, survivors and children and young people affected by domestic abuse. This will ensure that everyone has access to consistent advice and support, and then, where needed, allocation to an appropriate intervention most suitable to meet their individual needs. The Hub will also provide triage, immediate advice, support and safety planning as required.
 
• Safe Accommodation with tailored 1 to 1 emotional and practical support for up to 1 year in a safe and secure environment through a variety of purpose-built Refuge premises and dispersed Safe Accommodation throughout North Yorkshire and the City of York for all those fleeing domestic abuse, and their dependent children up to the age of 16 years.
 
• Safe-Haven scheme providing short-term emergency accommodation and respite opportunities for up to two months with host families; this will be particularly beneficial for those who may not be able to live in refuges, do not have access to public funds or live in rural communities.
 
• Resettlement support for a period of up to 3 months following move on from the accommodation including onward referrals and/or liaison with other support services as appropriate.
 
• Sanctuary Scheme and Target Hardening alongside specialist support and advice to enable victims, survivors and their children to remain safely in their own homes if they choose to do so.
 
• Community-based Domestic Abuse Practitioners (also known as IDVAs) to provide specialist 1-to-1 emotional and practical support, supported group work and peer support networks, onward referrals and/or liaison with other agencies and support services as appropriate, including support through any police investigation and/or court proceedings.
 
Support for Children & Young People affected by domestic abuse
Delivered by Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) support is available for children & young people aged 10 to 16 years who have been impacted by domestic abuse within the family, and/or are displaying inappropriate or unhealthy behaviour (also known as Child/Adolescent to Parent Violence or Abuse “C/APVA”) as a result of the domestic abuse they have experienced.
 
Support is also available for older young people displaying abusive behaviours within their own intimate relationships with other young people; those under 10 years or over 16 years up to their 18^th birthday will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Support is available for all genders and regardless of sexual orientation.
 
Our achievements to 2024
 
Key outcomes of our whole family service that support children and families through intervention to break the cycle of abuse;
 
Supported 163 Children
35 Parent Support Groups
6 groups for young people
Supported 254 Parents
Online Training for 300 professionals
 
Domestic Abuse Community Services outcomes
 
31,539 Referrals received
15,092 Individuals completed online domestic violence awareness training
12,704 Individuals supported by IDAS Hub Team
5770 Adults supported by our community teams
137 Moving on from domestic Abuse Groups
97% of Individuals reported feeling safer
64% reported an increase in their mental health
 
Safe Accommodation
971 People provided with items to help keep them safe in their own homes
321 Adults accommodated
268 Children safely accommodated
30 Young people gained a level 1 Sports Leadership and First Aid Certificate
99% of victims and survivors would recommend the service received
96% supported to improve and develop self-esteem
90% supported to maximise their income and receive the correct benefits
81% disclosed an improvement in their mental health
81% disclosed an improvement in their outlook and attitudes
 
“Space to Share” North Yorkshire Children’s Therapeutic Service is for children aged 5 to 17 years, who have experienced domestic abuse and live in the North Yorkshire area. The service is only suitable for children who are no longer experiencing domestic abuse and are in a safe and secure environment.
 
In 2023-2024 our therapists supported 48 children and young people, offering up to 24 sessions of therapeutic intervention per case. For some this was extended, where it was in the best interest of the child
The service supported, 22 children and young people who identified their gender identity as being male, 25 female and 1 non-binary and the average age was 10 years.
There were measured improvements in children and young people’s wellbeing and resilience using SDQ’s (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and this was completed by both the child and parent. Case Studies and Client Satisfaction Questionnaires were also used to capture the voice of the child and in evaluating the impact of the support delivered. We were able to also report on social value this year with our clients in service reporting a four-fold increase on feeling equipped with the skills to feel socially included. This is further supported by SDQ outcomes and the pro social score measuring the ability for positive social behaviour, seen in our cases improving.
 
North Yorkshire and York Multi-Agency Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024-28
 
The new multi-agency strategy was launched April 2024. The Mayoral Elections and General election slowed down the promotion of the strategy until August. The shared vision of all agencies and key priorities/commitments of the strategy are:
 
Our Vision
 
“We will not tolerate domestic abuse within North Yorkshire and York, and we will strive to ensure everyone can live free from abuse and harm. We will create an environment where healthy relationships are the norm and where victims, survivors and their children have access to the right support at the right time. Domestic abuse is everybody’s business. We will work collaboratively to create lasting change across all our communities with the voice of the victim at the heart of our response; and where perpetrators of abuse are held accountable for their behaviour.”
 
Our Priorities
 
Prevention and Early Identification We will focus on prevention, by proactively increasing understanding of healthy relationships, regardless of age group, whilst raising awareness of domestic abuse to ensure early identification and promotion of specialist services to provide support and ultimately eradicate abuse altogether
 
Authentic & Inclusive Support for All We will ensure services across North Yorkshire and York actively participate, stay well-informed, and remain responsive, and are adequately prepared to address the specific needs of every victim survivor and their families
 
Drive Change Together We will build upon our existing partnership approach to tackling domestic abuse, working together to achieve our collective priorities and commitments. We will work to improve how agencies effectively share information, assess risk and collaborate in their response to victims, survivors, their families and those that cause harm, with clear pathways into specialist support
 
Accountability We will focus on tackling and addressing abusive behaviour, holding individuals accountable, and providing support to facilitate the development of healthy relationship behaviours. We will deliver timely assistance to those concerned about their behaviour causing harm and to perpetrators of abuse, supporting them in understanding how to prevent abuse and change their behaviour
 
Underpinning these priorities will be 31 commitments to deliver outcomes for survivors and their families and a detailed delivery plan, governed through the North Yorkshire Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board and Community Safety Partnership.