Page 3 - 20191211 - Minutes - TSAB - PUBLIC
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This document was classified as: OFFICIAL
Agenda Item 1 Introductions and Apologies Presenter: Chair
Introductions were made and apologies noted.
Agenda Item 2 A Way Out – Stage Project Presenter: Sarah McManus
Sarah McManus (SM) gave a presentation regarding A Way Out – The Stage Project and highlighted the
following:
A Way Out are an outreach and prevention charity established in 2002.The charity is based in
Stockton but have expanded to cover parts of the Durham and the Tees Valley. The charity
currently offers 4 services working with young people, adults and some of the most marginalised,
vulnerable and isolated client groups.
The STAGE, (Support to overcome Trauma for Adult survivors of Grooming and Sexual
Exploitation) project which A Way Out are part of, focuses around offering support to women aged
16 and over affected by grooming and sexual exploitation. The STAGE project is being led by
Changing Lives, in partnership with agencies in the women’s sector in eight local areas, with A
Way Out supporting women and girls across Tees.
The project aims to offer long term support to those from across the area and help survivors
overcome the trauma of grooming and exploitation, which in turn will help people to rebuild their
lives. The project will provide trauma informed and trauma responsive care through a theory of
change providing rapid crisis intervention and longer term support to victims. Women can access
this service at all levels of their recovery and the project offers one to one support, group work,
outreach and drop in services. This support will also help those who are going through the process
of an investigation and the court process. Close partnership working is key.
A good practice framework/toolkit is being developed.
A Way Out have met with many agencies cross Tees raising awareness of the project and
reconfirming the referral pathways that can be used.
Stuart Harper-Reynolds (SHR) questioned how referrals are made, SM advised that referrals can be made
over the telephone directly or by using the referral form. SM confirmed that transgender females are also
supported through the service.
Erik Scollay (ES) acknowledged that A Way Out’s approach is gender and trauma informed however
asked what training and skills staff have been given in order to deal with that particular approach. SM
advised that all staff have attended a number of training sessions conducted by Zoe Lodrick (ZL) who
specialises in sexualised trauma, rape, sexual assault and recovery from child sexual abuse and
exploitation. It was acknowledged that a person centred approach is used by building relationships and
engaging in ways that best suit an individual’s needs. Care Plans are co-produced and not process led
and it is about developing long term packages of support to best meet their needs.
Cllr Ann McCoy (AMc) acknowledged the work being conducted with young people and the transitional
period between Childhood and Adulthood. AMc explained that she is meeting with the two Directors of
Adults and Children in Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) to look at this transitional period. SM
advised she would be happy to be involved in these discussions.
More information can be found by accessing https://www.awayout.co.uk/
Agenda Item 3 MATAC Review Findings Presenter: Jennifer Milsom
Jennifer Milsom (JM) delivered a presentation on the Multi Agency Tasking And Coordination (MATAC)
review findings, the key points are as follows:
The MATAC project was implemented by Northumbria Police in 2016 with proven success.
The MATAC model was adopted in Cleveland in 2018 as part of the Domestic Abuse Whole
Systems Approach project.
The purpose of the MATAC includes identifying and targeting the most harmful serial perpetrators,
challenging and changing perpetrators behaviour and promoting multi-agency information sharing
and collaborative working. The process aims to complement not conflict with existing interventions.
Bespoke perpetrator action plans are managed by the most appropriate agency.
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