Domestic abuse policy & procedure

1. Policy summary

1.1 Wiltshire Council (the council) is committed to ensuring that all residents affected by domestic abuse are supported in a sympathetic and sensitive manner and that staff act in a non-judgemental way. This policy sets out the level of service we aim to provide.

At all times it is the organisation's intention to increase safety and housing security for victims/survivors and their children/dependents and to work with relevant agencies to hold perpetrators to account for their harm.

1.2 For the purposes of this policy, the statutory definition of abuse applies and incorporates behaviours of violence as well as other forms of abuse, including economic abuse and coercive control.

2. Scope of policy

2.1 This policy applies to all reports of domestic abuse (DA) that involve Wiltshire Council Housing Tenants or members of their household.

2.2 It sets out how Wiltshire Council Housing staff will support individuals or households when they are made aware of cases of domestic abuse.

2.3 It provides tenants with clear and succinct reassurance about what they can expect from the council's domestic abuse response.

2.4 This policy invites, empowers and enables victims/survivors to disclose their experiences, safe in the knowledge they will be believed, validated and supported to make choices.