Standards for responding to domestic abuse for our tenants
If you believe that you are a victim of domestic abuse, and you decide to share your experience with us, you can expect:
- to be treated empathetically with a believing and nonjudgmental response
- to be able report domestic abuse in various ways that best suit you. For example, this could be via telephone, email, in person and if you are a City of York council tenant, via your housing portal
- for your disclosure to be treated as a priority. We will respond within 24 hours during working hours, including the option outside of working hours, via our out of hours services for emergencies
- us to discuss and agree safe methods of contact you wish to use when communicating with us. This could include the type of communication, safe locations, safe dates/times, safe words, and any other reasonable adjustments tailored to your circumstances
- a victim-centred approach, wherever possible, considering your views and ensuring your ongoing safety when deciding the most appropriate course of action
- to be signposted or referred to local and national domestic abuse specialist services, including by and for specialist services where appropriate. Employees will be working with and be guided by partners specialist advise, the police, as well as senior officers and domestic abuse champions to provide the best outcome
- to have the option to receive assistance, where possible, from a member of staff of a specific gender or the same ethnic origin, alternatively from referrals to specialist advocacy services to provide this representation, where not possible through a City of York Council employee
- that if you have disclosed domestic abuse we will remain in regular contact, agreeing frequency and safe methods. Providing alternative contact arrangements in case of absences, for reassurance of continued support
- to be provided information and reassurance on any safety measures, if residing in temporary accommodation provided by City of York Council
- your rights to privacy to be respected in line with our Data Protection Policy. Your information will be sensitively handled, reassuring your confidence to be able to disclose domestic abuse if you are personally or professionally connected to City of York council or partners. Information will only be shared with your permission unless there is a risk and need for safeguarding out of our duty of care
- us to hold perpetrators to account for their behaviour in various ways. This may include the right to take enforcement action against City of York tenants, using the powers available under the Housing Act, up to and including recovering possession of a property, for domestic abuse related offences. If taking any action against perpetrator/s, we will prioritise the safety and wishes of their victim/s and ensure that their wishes and housing needs are considered
- to consider and refer perpetrators to specialist support for positive engagement as we recognise that long-term domestic abuse prevention requires behavioural change from those who cause harm. Where its safe and appropriate to do so without increasing risk to that victim, this can be discussed and actioned for those who recognise their behaviour and would like support. Further information regarding our local specialist service ‘Foundation, +Choices’ can be found within the policy
- those from specific housing services, such as housing options, to have trained housing employees to carry out a Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence Risk Identification Checklist, which is a UK wide accredited form used by us and partner organisations. This will support with assessing risks, discussions for further support/signposting and to help create a plan on how we will support you and any children
- if you are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse and you are a City of York Council employee. We have a domestic abuse charter that is available to you which details the support and actions we can take as an employer. This can be found on the intranet; if you wish you can also discuss your situation with an internal domestic abuse champion. More information can be found on the internal intranet
Also see
Strategy and Performance Team
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