Decision Title: 2021/2022 additional allocations from the Ministry of Justice to meet the costs of independent sexual violence and domestic abuse advisors in Warwickshire.
Decision Reference: WPCC0015
Lead Officer: Sara Ansell
Date: 16th August, 2021
Status: Non-Confidential
Decision Summary:
To approve the allocation of funding received from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) following the launch of a new funding stream for 2021/22 and 2022/23 for Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence advisors. The award has been made following a competitive application process and the OPCC has been allocated £0.737m over the next two year period.
I confirm that I do not have any disclosable pecuniary interests in this decision and that the decision in compliance with the Code of Conduct. Any interests are indicated below.
Signature: Philip Seccombe
Date: 23rd August 2021
1. Background Information:
Following the announcement of a funding round for additional Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisors (IDVA and ISVA), by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the OPCC worked with their partners to submit bids to seek funding to increase the capacity in Warwickshire. Increased local need had been identified, and addressed in part in through additional funding in 2020/21, but demand has continued to increase, and has been further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic which had created a set of pressures that had substantially increased the workload of Warwickshire ISVA’s and IDVA’s.
Additional funding was therefore sought as part of the expression of interest process to increase local service provision and address this growing demand in 2021/22.
2. Detail of additional information:
During the pandemic, providers were receiving increased numbers of new referrals, between October-December 2020, they were up 9% compared to Oct-Dec 2019, and this trend continued to grow, with the period January-February 2021, being 16% up on referrals made during Jan-Feb 2020. Other trends included that 63% of new referrals were children/young people, a rise of 35% compared to 2020, and the average length of support being provided has extended more recently to approximately 36 months, due in part to backlogs with cases going to court, and longer CPS decisions, both of which also have the effect of increasing the risk of attrition, anxiety and demand on ISVAs. As a result of this increased demand, individual ISVA caseloads had increased by 57% over the last 6-months, (an average of 35 to 55), which has the effect of impacting on the quality of support that can be provided to victims.
This case was made to the MOJ through the expression of interest process, and resulted in additional awards covering a two year period being made. This additional funding will significantly increase the ISVA and IDVA capacity to help meet the increased demand, but will also provide for specialist CHISVA and CHIDVA (child/young person) support to address this growing area of referrals.
The allocations received from the MOJ are as follows:
| Area of funding | 2021-22 | Funding commitment 2022-23 | Total additional award |
| ISVA funding | 295,421 | 288,581 | 584,002 |
| capIDVA funding | 76,734 | 76,460 | 153,194 |
| TOTAL | 372,155 | 365,041 | 737,196 |
The grant received from the MOJ will be allocated to three partner organisations once all due diligence checks have been completed and terms and conditions surrounding the allocations agreed. Regular engagement and performance monitoring of work undertaken by recipients will occur during the course of the year, and the PCC will comply with the conditions set out in the grant agreement with the MOJ.
3. Expected Benefits :
The purpose of awarding this additional funding to our partners will help to sustain and increase the number of advisors and the level of support they can provide to victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse.
4. Impact of not approving the application:
Not pursuing and achieving the PCC’s goal of improving services for victims, particularly those as a result of sexual violence and domestic abuse.
5. Costs (including any identified savings):
All the grant received from the MOJ will be passported directly to partners to increase the number of ISVA/CHISVA and IDVA/CHIDVA’s in Warwickshire. The PCC must comply with the agreed grant conditions from the MOJ. The total amount of funding receivable is detailed within this decision notice.
6. Equality Implications
None apparent
7. Legal Implications
The funding received by the OPCC must be used in accordance with the MOJ grant conditions and for the project and work specified in the expression of interest. Partner organisations must agree to the terms and conditions prior to receiving payment.
8. Publication
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption, the information contained in the form will be published on the Warwickshire PCC website.
Comments from the Treasurer
All costs will be financed from the additional funding receivable from the Ministry of Justice. All governance and due diligence checks will be undertaken with the grant recipients, who must comply with the grant conditions and terms and conditions outlined as part of the grant. Monitoring of the recipients performance will be undertaken during the course of the year and data will also be submitted to the MOJ in accordance with their requirements.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
This funding is welcome in Warwickshire and will enable providers to reach more people in need of support.
