Domestic Abuse Home Safety and Sanctuary Service

Bath & North East Somerset Council is undertaking a soft market-testing exercise to identify suitably qualified organisations that may be interested in the future provision of a specialist Domestic Abuse Home Safety and Sanctuary Service within Bath and North East Somerset.

This is preliminary market engagement only and any contract dates provided are estimates only whilst we continue to review any anticipated procurement exercise.

Purpose of the service

The purpose of the proposed service is to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse to remain safely in their own homes, where it is safe and appropriate for them to do so and this is their preferred option.

The Council is seeking to develop a coordinated, trauma-informed service that provides practical home safety and target-hardening interventions alongside specialist domestic abuse expertise.

The service is intended to provide an end-to-end response following an authorised referral, with the commissioned provider taking responsibility for coordinating the intervention from initial contact and assessment through to completion of agreed works and follow-up.

The service will complement existing local provision and landlord responsibilities rather than unnecessarily duplicate them. Where appropriate, the provider will work with housing associations, private landlords and other relevant agencies to establish what existing measures can be provided and coordinate any additional intervention required.

It is anticipated that the commissioned provider will:

• safely contact the victim-survivor following referral and undertake an individual home safety and property assessment;

• consider the victim-survivor's individual circumstances, risks, safety needs and wishes when developing an appropriate home safety plan;

• identify and recommend appropriate practical home safety and target-hardening measures;

• liaise with housing associations, landlords and relevant agencies where required, including obtaining necessary permissions and establishing what existing provision is available;

• arrange, fund and manage appropriately qualified contractors to undertake agreed works;

• ensure contractors entering victim-survivors' homes are DBS checked and have appropriate domestic abuse awareness and trauma-informed training relevant to their role;

• ensure home visits and installations are undertaken using a trauma-informed and survivor-centred approach, with appropriate specialist domestic abuse practitioner involvement;

• arrange and oversee the installation of agreed home safety measures, which may include locks and other security measures, cameras/video doorbells, external security lighting, alarms and other appropriate interventions identified through assessment;

• provide appropriate follow-up following completion of works; and

• maintain appropriate records and provide monitoring and outcome information to the Council.