Proposed changes to guidance for local VAWDASV strategies (consultation): integrated impact assessment

The Welsh Government is proposing to update and amend guidance for the preparation and implementation of local VAWDASV strategies. The purpose of the guidance is to assist local authorities, local health boards and their partners to develop local strategies that complied with the requirements and purposes of the Act. 

Previous guidance was published in 2018 but was not published under Section 15 of the VAWDASV Act 2015 and therefore did not have a statutory basis. This means that whilst relevant authorities were advised to follow the guidance, there was no statutory expectation on them to do so. As a result, strategies were prepared with varying levels of engagement from some of the key partners.

In amending the guidance, we propose to:

• publish the Guidance under Section 15 of the VAWDASV Act 2015, which will place the guidance of a statutory footing, which bodies under s.17 of the Act have a duty to follow
• provide a clear structure for the preparation of local strategies
• clarify the accountability for implementing local strategies 
• clarify the roles and responsibilities of organisations involved in preparing and implementing the strategy 
• strengthen the partnership and collaboration arrangements between organisations
• provide guidance on the importance of data sharing in the preparation of strategies
• provide templates for Needs Assessments and the local strategies to support consistency and clarity across Wales

Long-term

• The statutory guidance is designed to support local authorities and local health boards in the preparation and implementation of their local strategies for tackling VAWDASV. The strategies must be reviewed following every local government election but otherwise have no end date. The actions and services outlined within the strategies have long-term impacts, as such the guidance reflects the importance of ensuring the strategies are effective.

Prevention

• The local strategies are designed to address the requirements within the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse, and Sexual Violence Act (Wales) 2015 (“the Act”) which aims to tackle the impact of VAWDASV across society. Prevention of harm is critical to the success of the Act.

Integration

• VAWDASV affects all people of all ages, from all walks of life. It’s impact on other areas of society is massive. Issues such as homelessness, child poverty, substance misuse etc often have their basis in VAWDASV and as such delivery against the purposes of the Act must be the responsibility of all aspects of society. The guidance reinforces the importance of working across the different sectors.

Collaboration

• Several partners have been engaged in the development of this guidance, including colleagues from Public Health Wales, WLGA, Regional Advisors, and the third sector, plus it has been tested at each iteration by a Task and Finish group made up of internal and external partners. The guidance forms an important action within the Sustainable Whole System Approach workstream, and the members of the workstream have had a key role in developing it.

Involvement

• Several key stakeholders have been involved in the development of the guidance and will have a crucial role in the preparation and implementation of the strategies. It was through consultation with the sector that the decision was made to revise the guidance and to take the important step of publishing it according to section 15 of the Act thereby making it statutory.

Impact

• The existing guidance is flawed and stakeholders within the sector commented on how it lacked direction and clarity. The revised guidance aims to address these concerns to ensure it is simple, easy to understand, but also delivers an appropriate level of prescription and support and critically to assist relevant authorities to deliver a local strategy that supports the national strategy and makes it easier for relevant authorities to understand what they need to do to deliver against the duties within the Act.
• Overall, the revisions to the guidance will have little to no direct impact on the citizens of Wales. The clarity and suggested best practice outlined in the guidance will be impactful, if implemented effectively Responsible authorities, in understanding the VAWDASV needs within their local area, will use their local/regional strategies to empower interventions and resources to be put in place to meet those needs and any resource required to do so.
• Preparing robust local or regional strategies will have the benefit of impacting positively on all people affected by domestic and sexual abuse, men, women and children as victims and those who are perpetrators to receive support to stop the behaviours.
• We are aware that certain groups of people are disproportionately impacted by VAWDASV, women predominantly, and children as victims in their own right when exposed to domestic abuse. Disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, and neurodivergent people can also experience higher prevalence of VAWDASV, as can Black, Asian and minority ethnic women.
• There is also an impact on men, who are predominantly the perpetrators of VAWDASV, through this guidance, leading to more effective local/regional strategies prevention and perpetrator interventions can be put in place to reduce impact of VAWDASV. 
• This guidance, if implemented effectively, will support better identification and response to early intervention and prevention and victim support will be of benefit to these groups of people.

How have people most likely to be affected by the proposal been involved in developing it?

Several key stakeholders have been involved in the development of the guidance and will have a crucial role in the preparation and implementation of the strategies. It was through consultation with the sector that the decision was made to revise the guidance and to take the important step of publishing it according to section 15 of the Act thereby making it statutory.

The guidance is being published for public consultation which will enable other interested parties, and the public to consider it further.

What are the most significant impacts, positive and negative?

The revised guidance will be published under section 15 of the VAWDASV Act 2015, which will place the guidance of a statutory footing, which bodies under s.17 of the Act have a duty to follow.

It will provide local authorities and local health boards with a clear structure for the preparation of the strategies and clarify accountability for the implementation of them.

The guidance clarifies the roles and responsibilities of organisations involved in the preparation and implementation of the strategies and aims to strengthen the partnership and collaboration arrangements between them.

The importance of robust evidence to inform needs assessments is included in the guidance, with an emphasis on proactive data sharing between organisations. 

The guidance aims to support a more consistent and cohesive approach to the development and implementation of local strategies across Wales to better deliver the requirements of the Act.

If relevant authorities follow the guidance and produce a robust local/regional strategy the impact is expected to be positive. This relates specifically to women and children as victims, and those disproportionally affected by VAWDASV including disabled people, LGBTQ+ and Black Asian and minority ethnic women.

In light of the impacts identified, how will the proposal: 

Improved collaboration and partnership working will strengthen our delivery in accordance with the wellbeing goals. 

How will the impact of the proposal be monitored and evaluated as it progresses and when it concludes? 

Improved monitoring and evaluation across local delivery and within the Welsh Government will help to ensure that the guidance has a positive effect and that the local strategies deliver the requirements of the Act in a strategic and sustainable way.

Welsh Language Impact Assessment reference number: 01.02.2026.

Does the proposal demonstrate a clear link with the Welsh Government’s strategy for the Welsh language? 

(Cymraeg 2050: a million Welsh speakers and the related Work Programme for 2021 to 2026).

We do not anticipate any positive or negative impact on service users’ ability to access services through the medium of Welsh with the publication of the guidance. However, positive effects may include actively encouraging bilingualism, cultural inclusivity, and community empowerment. Local authorities, LHB’s and the Welsh Government can help create a more inclusive environment that benefits Welsh speakers and enhances community engagement following receipt of services in Welsh.

Describe and explain the impact of the proposal on the Welsh language and explain how you will address these impacts in order to improve outcomes for the Welsh language. How will the proposal affect Welsh speakers of all ages (both positive and/or adverse effects)? You should note your responses to the following in your answer to this question, along with any other relevant information: 

How will the proposal affect the sustainability of Welsh speaking communities (both positive and/or adverse effects)?

• (These can be close-knit rural communities, dispersed social networks in urban settings, and in virtual communities reaching across geographical spaces).

The guidance relates to the delivery of services to tackle VAWDASV. Ensuring that services are delivered in the language of choice for the client will be a crucial element of the person-centred approach advocated for all VAWDASV delivery.

How will the proposal affect Welsh medium education and Welsh learners of all ages, including adults (both positive and/or adverse effects)?

There is no direct or indirect impact on Welsh medium education or Welsh learners, however the Welsh Government would expect each local authority to ensure that information about access to Welsh‑medium education is readily available to all service users upon time of entry to the service (whether at crisis stage or not) if relocation is required.

How will the proposal affect services available in Welsh (both positive and/or adverse effects)? (e.g. health and social services, transport, housing, digital, youth, infrastructure, environment, local government etc.) 

• (The Welsh Language Strategy aims to increase the range of services offered to Welsh speakers, and to see an increase in use of Welsh-language services).

The guidance relates to the delivery of services to tackle VAWDASV. Ensuring that services are delivered in the language of choice for the client will be a crucial element of the person-centred approach advocated for all VAWDASV delivery which supports Theme 3 of the Cymraeg 2050 strategy, creating favourable conditions.  The local authorities and local health boards to which it refers are bound by the Welsh Language Standards and therefore have duties to deliver services appropriately. Any 3^rd party providers will be expected to ensure that Welsh language service provision is available at the same time as English language provision, whether services, materials, signage, events, or communications are provided bilingually, treating Welsh no less favourably than English. 

The updated guidance documents will affect local government and local authorities in a positive manner as they will be able to refer to the guidance bilingually and this should make it easier for them to implement suitable and sufficient provisions for those in need of Welsh language services.

How will you ensure that people know about services that are available in Welsh and are able to access and use them as easily as they can in English? What evidence / data have you used to inform your assessment, including evidence from Welsh speakers or Welsh language interest groups?

The current guidance does not stipulate how services should be communicated, however examples of best practice will be encouraged, for example the use of a short sentence stating “Welsh language service offered” being included in initial interview paperwork. 

The guidance documents will be published and available in the public domain, in both Welsh and English. We do not anticipate any positive or negative impact on service users’ ability to access services through the medium of Welsh.

What other evidence would help you to conduct a better assessment?

The data collected as part of the needs assessments and annual reports on progress should provide further information on the use of the Welsh Language in service delivery. 

How will you know if your policy is a success?

This guidance, if implemented effectively, will support better identification and response to early intervention and prevention and victim support will be of benefit to all groups of people ensuring support in their chosen language.