Domestic Abuse Specialist Counselling and Therapy (DASCAT) Service

Warwickshire County Council (the Council) is seeking to award a single contract for the delivery of a Domestic Abuse Specialist Counselling and Therapy (DASCAT) Service for adults and children across Warwickshire. The service will provide specialist counselling and therapy to victim-survivors of domestic abuse, whether they are residing in safe/relevant accommodation or in their own homes (please see the Domestic Act 2021 for specification of safe/relevant accommodation).

The service is expected to support a minimum of 400 victim-survivors of domestic abuse annually, through a combination of 1:1 and group sessions. Of these, at least 300 individuals are expected to receive an average of 10 1:1 counselling/therapy sessions each.

The service will support both adult and child victim-survivors of domestic abuse. In line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, children are recognised as victims in their own right, entitled to protection, support, and recovery services tailored to their unique experiences and needs.

Current demand for the service suggests therapeutic interventions will be required for a minimum of 240 adult victim-survivors (60%) and 160 children/young people victim survivors (40%) per year, with approximately half residing in safe/relevant accommodation. The service will be delivered countywide, with a mix of face-to-face, online, and telephone based support, and must be accessible across all five districts and boroughs.

Delivery must be flexible to meet the needs of victim-survivors, including availability during evenings, weekends, and school holidays. The Council intends to award this contract to one provider who can demonstrate the ability to deliver a high-quality, inclusive, and evidence-based counselling and therapy service.

The service must be registered with or working towards accreditation with a recognised professional body (e.g. BACP, NCPS, UKCP) and be able to deliver a range of counselling and therapeutic interventions, that can be delivered through 1:1 and group sessions. Aim of service: The primary aim of the service is to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse to recover and heal from their domestic abuse experiences, through the provision of a Domestic Abuse Specialist Counselling and Therapy Service.

The service will seek to reduce the harmful impact of domestic abuse on victim-survivors' mental health and well-being. Domestic abuse often leads to long-term physical injuries, chronic pain, and mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.

Therapy can play a crucial role in preventing and addressing the harmful effects of domestic abuse by: · Helping victim-survivors learn strategies to protect themselves and seek help before situations become more dangerous. · Breaking the intergenerational cycle of trauma impact. By engaging victim-survivors in effective therapeutic interventions to improve their wellbeing and provide trauma stabilisation, it is expected that the likelihood of intergenerational/ transgenerational trauma on child victim-survivors will be consequentially reduced.

Survivors of domestic abuse are at a higher risk of suicide or self-harm due to the trauma they experience. Therapeutic Counselling provides a safe space to process emotions and develop healthier coping strategies.