City of York Council (Logo)

Meeting:

Decision Session: Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

Meeting date:

15/11/2023

Report of:

Sharon Stoltz Director of Public Health

Portfolio of:

Cllr Jo Coles, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care


Decision Report:


Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023

 

1.           The production of a Director of Public Health Annual Report is a statutory duty set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Every upper tier and unitary local authority Director of Public Health has a duty to produce an independent annual report in their role as the chief advocate for the health of the local population and the local authority has a duty to publish it.

 

2.           Directors of Public Health (previously Chief Medical Officers for Health) have been producing annual reports on the state of the health of the population for York for over a century and these can be found in the city archives. For the 2023 annual report, the topic chosen is domestic abuse.

 

3.           The World Health Organisation has identified domestic abuse as a major public health issue which has a profound impact on victims and survivors and wider society. It is estimated that the national annual cost of domestic abuse in England is upwards of £66 billion in costs associated with the long-lasting emotional and health impacts, physical health care, policing, criminal justice and lost productivity.

 

4.           The prevalence of domestic abuse was vividly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic with an increase in the number of cases being reported across the country and here in York.  In York, the Director of Public Health has established a multi-agency Local Domestic Abuse Partnership Board to co-ordinate a city-wide response to tackling domestic abuse. The report covers some of the key areas the Board has been working on together and where people can get help.

 

Pros and Cons

 

5.           There are no pros and cons to the decision to publish the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023 and no identified risks.

 

Policy Basis for Decision

 

6.           Publication of the Director of Public Health Annual report is a statutory requirement for every upper-tier and unitary local authority as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

 

Recommendation and Reasons

 

7.           The Executive Member is asked to:

 

Approve the publication of the Director of Public Health Report 2023.

 

Reason: So that the statutory duty of the local authority to publish the report is met.

 

Background

 

8.           The Domestic Abuse Act 2021, for the first time, created a legal definition of domestic abuse. According to the Act, behaviour is classed as domestic abuse if:

 

·        The individuals involved are over 16 years of age

·        The individuals involved are personally connected to each other

·        Children are victims of domestic abuse if they see, hear or experience the effects of the abuse and they are related to the victim or perpetrator

 

9.           Domestic abuse can be any of the following behaviours:

 

·        Physical or sexual abuse

·        Violent of threatening behaviour

·        Controlling or coercive behaviour

·        Economic abuse

·        Psychological, emotional or other abuse

 

10.        As stated previously, domestic abuse is an important public health issue. The prevalence of domestic abuse locally, in all its forms, is   extremely concerning and can have devastating short and long term impacts that can be deep-rooted and persist long after the event.

 

11.        The Local Domestic Abuse Partnership Board in York was established in response to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023 seeks to provide a local picture of domestic abuse in York and an overview of the work of the Board. The report sets out four recommendations for the future work of the Board:

 

·        Develop a new domestic abuse strategy which is informed by the work of the Local Domestic Abuse Partnership Boards for York and North Yorkshire.

·        Increase awareness of domestic abuse and introduce targeted learning to young people about abusive behaviours.

·        As domestic abuse support services are re-commissioned, ensure that their work reflects the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and that they are inclusive and accessible to all victims.

·        Work to capture the voice of domestic abuse victims and survivors to help inform service provision and local partnership working to be developed during 2024.

 

12.        The implementation of these recommendations will be overseen by the Safer York Partnership.

 

Consultation Analysis

 

13.        The report is the independent report of the Director of Public Health and is not, therefore, subject to consultation.

 

Options Analysis and Evidential Basis

 

14.        There are no options for analysis. The publication of the Director of Public Health Annual Report is a statutory requirement for the council.

 

 


Organisational Impact and Implications

 

15.        The following implications have been considered:

 

·                    Financial

There are no financial implications from the report. The costs for delivery of domestic abuse provision already form part of the annual budget allocation for the Directorate of Public Health.

 

·                    Human Resources (HR)

There are no HR implications from the report.

 

·                    Legal

There are no legal implications from the report.

 

·                    Procurement

There are no procurement implications from the report.

 

·                    Health and Wellbeing

Domestic abuse is an important public health issue which has a profound and lasting impact on victims and survivors and wider society. Ending domestic abuse is everyone’s business and requires a co-ordinated response from all agencies and greater awareness across society of its impacts. In York, this work is led by the Director of Public Health working with the multi-agency Local Domestic Abuse Partnership Board which brings key partners together to provide such a co-ordinated response. The report sets out the local picture and context for domestic abuse in York and the work of the Board in tackling this issue.

 

·                    Environment and Climate action

There are no implications from this report.

 

·                    Affordability

There are no implications from this report.

 

·                    Equalities and Human Rights

There are no equalities and human rights issues from the report. Equality Impact Assessments will be produced, as appropriate, for the ongoing domestic abuse work as decisions are made on commissioning and strategy development.

 

·                    Data Protection and Privacy

There are no implications from the report.

 

·                    Communications

The report will be published on the council’s website with further dissemination via the York Health and Wellbeing Board and Local Domestic Abuse Partnership Board. 

 

·                    Economy

There are no implications from the report.

 

·                    Specialist Implications Officers

None.


Risks and Mitigations

 

16.        There are no identified risks from the report.

 

Wards Impacted

 

17.        All council wards.

 

Contact details

 

For further information please contact the authors of this Decision Report.

 

Author

 

Name:

Sharon Stoltz

Job Title:

Director of Public Health

Service Area:

Public Health

Telephone:

01904 557986

Report approved:

Yes

Date:

31/10/2023



 

 

Background papers

 

None


Annexes

 

Annex 1     Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023