City of York Council Domestic Abuse Resident and Tenant Policy 2025 to 2028

We will:

• support our employees to confidently recognise and appropriately respond to domestic abuse by providing domestic abuse training for all employees in housing roles. The training will be relevant to the employee’s role and their level of engagement with residents, tenants, leaseholders, and members. This policy will be supported by internal procedures and guidance that our employees can refer to
• strive towards providing a trauma informed response. Empowering victims by building trust and working in collaboration regarding their housing needs
• enable and support victims to disclose domestic abuse. Ensuring victims especially our City of York tenants, feel confident and reassured that disclosing domestic abuse will not negatively affect their tenancy
• provide relevant advice and help, including information about victims’ rights and options to remain in their home where it is safe, and their wish to do so. This could include discussions and signposting regarding protection orders (such as Non-Molestation Orders or occupation orders), including additional security measures in the home if appropriate and suitable, as well as ongoing support from specialist organisations
• help victims consider their housing options if there is a feeling of immediate or near future fear for them and their households’ safety. This could include a homeless application, temporary accommodation, refuge, or a managed move if there is no prospect of a safe return
• be honest and realistic regarding housing options, being realistic about options available and time scales, which can support victims making informed choices about next steps and taking that first step towards regaining control of their future
• strive towards achieving the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation which began as of 2023. This will enable us to provide our residents, tenants, leaseholders, and members with an exemplary response to domestic abuse
• work closely and in partnership with local specialist domestic abuse services and agencies (such as the Police, IDAS and Probation Services) to provide a co-ordinated response to domestic abuse. Completing referrals where appropriate for ongoing support, this could include referrals for mental health or substance misuse to ensure wrap around support is offered. We will have suitable representatives attending and contributing to Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC), being active contributors in the Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordination process of identifying and tackling serial perpetrators of domestic abuse perpetrators (MATAC) and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)
• take a zero-tolerance approach to domestic abuse and will hold perpetrators of abuse to account while ensuring victims safety. Further information on how we may do this is citied within our standards for responding to domestic abuse
• ensure safeguarding referrals are completed when needed to protect and support vulnerable adults and children. As a significant number of adults or children who experience domestic abuse will also require safeguarding
• make sure anyone can report domestic abuse to us and that our services are accessible and inclusive. By providing interpreters and translating information into other languages or formats as needed
• provide advice and signposting to all including those that may not be eligible for housing assistance. For example, for victims who may be subjected to immigration control, there are avenues for support available, such as, the home office or specialist by and for services. We will strive to provide everyone with practical forms of advice especially in cases of domestic abuse disclosures

Also see

• Domestic abuse
• Report adult abuse in York
• Child protection and safeguarding