Fresh Out Of The Community Housing Summit!
Darren facilitated a session on the role of the Housing Officer at the CIH North West Group’s Housing Camp
What A Start To The Week With The Community Housing Summit
This week partners Janine and Darren alongside some of our associate team attended the inaugural Community Housing Summit in Liverpool. The team enjoyed a jam packed two days of meaningful sessions and insightful discussions, where Janine also had the honour of chairing a session on ASB where there were candid conversations on safeguarding, labels, prevention, data and more.
A huge thank you to all of the colleagues in the sector who joined us for our roundtable session and much needed refreshments after a busy Day One. Particular thanks to Matt Baird from The Social Housing Round Table, Ben Hunt from CMSG and Devonshires Solicitors for sponsoring the fringe event, and being part of the dialogue which has received brilliant feedback from those that attended.
Here is a round-up from Darren on the Roundtable event:
On Day one of the Housing Community Summit, we were joined by a wide range of guests from across the ASB & Community Safety Sector for our live Roundtable Event.
It was great to hear the views and the knowledge of “Involved Residents”, Solicitors, the National Police Chiefs Council, Registered Housing Providers and ASB Case Management Specialists. Whilst offering valuable insight and a different perspective from their individual roles, our panel members spoke with a collective voice about the importance of effective partnership working when it comes to supporting victims of ASB.
Here are some of the key messages that came out of the discussion:
We must continue to strive for a consistent approach regarding the management of ASB cases – Where you live should not determine the quality of the response.
Professional challenge is vital in situations where ASB is ongoing and something “doesn’t feel right” in terms of vulnerability, risk and safeguarding. This will enable partner agencies to escalate issues where appropriate, avoid delays and improve victim confidence.
We must continue to raise awareness of the role of Housing Providers and the value that they can bring to the community safety arena.
The whole ASB case management process should not grind to a halt if the perpetrator has identified support needs.
Residents and local partner agencies have a huge role to play in tackling cuckooing and county lines.
In light of the recent rioting and social unrest, there is a greater emphasis upon effective partnership working to consult, address community tensions and utilise the full range of tools and powers available to them.
Detailed case notes, action plans and robust audit trails are essential for achieving positive outcomes to ASB issues in our community.
Did you attend? Let us know what your key takeways were by hitting reply to this email!
ASB News
Still Living a Nightmare: Understanding the Experiences of Victims of Anti-Social Behaviour Report Published
A new report titled Still Living a Nightmare: Understanding the Experiences of Victims of Anti-Social Behaviour has been published by the Victims’ Commissioner, five years after her previous report on anti-social behaviour (ASB) in 2019. Despite recommendations set out in the earlier report, the Commissioner states that little progress appears to have been made in addressing the issue, leading to further exploration into the ongoing impact of ASB on victims and the effectiveness of current systems for reporting, resolution, and support.
Key Findings:
- A significant portion of ASB victims report ongoing issues, with many suffering for over five years.
- Barriers in reporting and resolving ASB persist, including a lack of support for victims.
- Out of over 500 respondents from across England and Wales, many expressed frustrations with the handling of ASB complaints and the lack of tangible progress in resolving their cases.
- The report includes insights from 13 victims of persistent ASB through in-depth interviews, providing a deeper understanding of the long-term effects.
The Key Recommendations:
- Identifying and understanding ASB cases.
- Resolving ASB more effectively.
- Providing better support for victims.
The statement from Baroness Newlove was unequivocal in terms of dissatisfaction with the progress:
“Anti-social behaviour continues to blight lives and communities. It is often downplayed and poorly addressed. Despite clear recommendations in my previous report, little progress has been made. Too many victims are stuck with the same perpetrators. The time for empty promises is over – we need real, tangible progress.”
The report underscores the need for urgent, proactive action from professionals in ASB management and victim support. Practitioners should review the recommendations and assess their current practices to better meet victims’ needs. To read the full report, access it here.
Victim Support Launch My Support Space App
At the same time as the victims of anti-social behaviour report is published, Victim Support have launched their My Support Space App designed to give a dedicated space to victims who need assistance after an act of crime. With resources and tools giving practical advice on managing feelings and information on rights, this can be a helpful addition to the toolkit for ASB professionals when supporting victims following complaints being logged.
ASB Events For You
We’re pleased to recommend The Hive Conference, hosted by CP Data Protection, on the 2nd October 2024 at the beautiful Cosford Air Museum. This event focuses on data protection and knowledge management in purpose-led sectors, featuring interactive workshops and networking opportunities. There are exclusive early bird discounts available too, so don’t miss out!
For more details and to secure your space, follow the link:
Janine & Darren’s Round Up
We have come away so inspired from this week’s events and are now even more excited for our own #ASB10 Conference which is just over a month away. Being able to bring together a room of likeminded people that all share the same common goals is incredibly powerful, and as we make the final tweaks to the programme and get the set up locked in for the event, we eagerly await seeing you all to celebrate 10 years of the Crime, Policing & Anti-Social Behaviour Act 214, and to look to the next 10 years. There are very limited tickets remaining, secure yours now to ensure you don’t miss out.
Have a great rest of the week and let us know your thoughts on this week’s Community Housing Summit by hitting reply!
Janine & Darren