On 1 October the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities (DLUHC) published new regulations and guidance for
councils in England on their functions pursuant to Part 4 of the
2021 Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
For the purposes of the new duties the definition of 'relevant
local authority' means county councils, unitary district councils,
the Greater London Authority, and the council of the Isles of
Scilly in England. The guidance also uses the term 'tier one
authority' to mean a relevant local authority and requires "tier
two councils" to co-operate with the tier one authority for the
purposes of its functions under Part 4, so far as is reasonably
practicable.
The level of support councils are required to provide
include:
- A clear expectation that expert specialist support is provided
to victims in safe accommodation that best supports their needs,
whether in refuges or other safe housing
- Guidance that states B&Bs or mixed homeless hostels are not
the right place for victims to recover from abuse.
- Councils will support to victims to stay in their own homes, if
the perpetrator has left and the home can be made safe
Support for victims should include counselling for adults and
children, advocacy with services such as GPs, social workers and
welfare benefits, support with rehousing, and advice on staying
safe. Some victims will need more specialist support, for example
interpreters, immigration advice, or mental ill health, drug or
alcohol support.
The duty comes into effect from 1 October and councils will have
to appoint a multi-agency Domestic Abuse Local Partnership
Board and work with partners such as police and local domestic
abuse charities and publish strategies on how they will provide
support to victims who need safe accommodation by January 2022.
Further details can be found in the Statutory Guidance for local authorities available
on the Government website.