Domestic Abuse Support in Safe Accommodation (DASSA)

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a Duty on Tier 1 Local Authorities to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their families living in safe accommodation settings, defined as 'relevant accommodation' within The Domestic Abuse Support (Relevant Accommodation and Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Sanctuary Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

'Support', in this context, can include the following (although this is not an exhaustive list):

• Overall management of services within relevant safe accommodation - including capacity building, support and supervision of staff, payroll, financial and day to day management of services and maintaining relationships with the local authority (such functions will often be undertaken by a service manager)
• Support with the day-to-day running of the service - for example scheduling times for counselling sessions, group activities (such functions may often be undertaken by administrative or office staff)
• Advocacy support (e.g. development of personal safety plans, liaison with other services)
• Domestic abuse prevention advice (support to assist victims to recognise the signs of abusive relationships, to help them remain safe and to prevent re-victimisation)
• Specialist support for victims
• Support designed specifically for victims with specific vulnerabilities (e.g. interpreters)
• Support designed specifically for victims with additional complex needs (e.g. mental health, substance misuse)
• Children's support (e.g. play therapy, child advocacy)
• Housing-related support (e.g. advice about securing a permanent home, rights and benefits, how to live safely and independently)
• Advice service (e.g. financial and legal support)
• Counselling and therapy (for adults and children, including emotional support)

The Statutory Guidance stipulates that the support should be delivered by knowledgeable and/or experienced specialist providers, charities, and other voluntary organisations whose purpose is to provide support to victims of domestic abuse. All support provided under the duties should meet the MHCLG Quality Standards

Ring-fenced annual funding is allocated to each Local Authority area from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to enable the fulfilment of this duty. The terms and conditions of this funding are explicit in what the funding can be spent on.

Support is provided to individuals and families who are residents of Staffordshire as well as those from outside of the area. This is the nature of this type of domestic abuse support, whereby a national platform 'Routes to Support' is utilised by safe accommodation providers to advertise their vacancies and domestic abuse professionals will use it to secure details of accommodation available to best meet the needs of the victim and any dependant family.

It is intended to award three separate contracts for an initial period of three years at an estimated cost of around £4,664,106 + VAT with an option to extend for a further year, bringing estimated total costs in the region of £6,218,808 + VAT over the maximum four-year period. These estimated costing are based on current contract value and are subject to change with service specification development. The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement has been announced which maintains the current level of funding up to 2029.

Should budgets significantly change then Staffordshire County Council would look to re-engage with the market and communicate the latest intentions for allocation of funding.