Health body forced to explain its priorities as campaigners accuse it of choosing austerity over local women
CAMPAIGNERS and community groups will lobby a West Dunbartonshire council meeting over any cuts it plans to make to social care and women’s advocacy services.
The action follows a petition begun by CommonSpace columnist Anni Donaldson calling for the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (WDHSCP) to keep the challenging and responding to abuse (Cara) project, a vital service which provides counselling for women and young people affected by domestic abuse.
Members of the community and trade unionists will lobby the West Dunbartonshire Council meeting on Wednesday 21 December over “additional savings options” – meaning service cuts that are being discussed at the meeting.
“I don’t think human life can be measured by a balance sheet.” Anni Donaldson
Speaking to CommonSpace on the dangers facing the Cara service for women and children in the area, Donaldson said: “How can you have an austerity budget when there are so many important services needed in the local area. Recently the area has seen a jump in the number of cases where women have been subjected to violence. It’s a clear reminder that Cara is needed.”
Donaldson stressed that members of the council had previously said that they would not vote for cuts to the Cara service. The suggested cuts came from the last WDHSCP meeting in November.
She said: “If you are a health and social care partnership and you are going to carry out “savings” that put key services under threat – then what are you for?
“I don’t think human life can be measured by a balance sheet. There are other ways of doing things, perhaps a more creative way of ensuring local services are maintained.”
Cara is a confidential and free service that provides counselling for women and children who have survived exposure to coercive domestic, sexual and emotional abuse, rape and sexual assault. Survivors are provided with up to 20 sessions, during which counsellors can offer them a safe and non-judgemental environment to heal and develop post-ordeal.
The support service (Cara) is facing destruction to save WDHSCP £105,000, as part of a larger cost-cutting plan to save £3m by 2018.
Donaldson is adamant about the effectiveness and necessity of Cara to the loal area and nationally. The service in West Dunbartonshire has two paid workers, assisted by a number of volunteers, but still sees large waiting lists for those who need its services. The ‘savings’ have come under attack from campaigners in the light of data showing that domestic assaults in the West Dumbartonshire have risen by 12 per cent since 2014 to 2015.
Herself a development officer with WDHSCP, Donaldson was involved in research showing that services such as Cara raise the autonomy of women in West Dunbartonshire, an area that ,with Glasgow, has the highest rate of working age benefit claimants in Scotland. One on three women in West Dunbartonshire testified to a “lifetime prevalence” of domestic abuse.
“All of the savings options will be subject to public consultation before being considered at the HSCP Board meeting on 1 March 2017.” West Dunbarton council
When contacted by CommonSpace, West Dumbarton council said: “No decision has been taken on the future of the CARA service. All of the savings options will be subject to public consultation before being considered at the HSCP Board meeting on 1 March 2017.”
West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership said they “were unable to presently” comment on the state of its budget, the future of the Cara service or the petition itself. However, the health board has in the past stated that the Scottish Government should foot the bill for any shortfall in services due to savings made. The health body received a £4.9m share of a recent Scottish Government investment early in 2016.
According to Donaldson, a long time researcher and expert on violence against women and rehabilitation, the support service is facing destruction to save WDHSCP £105,000 as part of a larger cost-cutting plan to save £3m by 2018.
“Fifteen calls in three weeks last week asking for our services, over 1000 clients seen in a year and still a waiting list.” Mary Burch
Mary Burch a volunteer with Cara told CommonSpace: “ West Dunbartonshire is the second worst area in Scotland for domestic abuse – cases are increasing, so this tells us we have a problem. If Cara closes, there is no other agency to pick up the clients – we are the only service providing counselling for women who have experienced domestic or childhood abuse. Who could they turn to for help?
“Why should Cara be saved? 15 calls in three weeks last week asking for our services, over 1000 clients seen in a year and still a waiting list.
“I have seen the difference this specialised counselling makes to so many women. It breaks my heart to think that the future lives of so many are perhaps in the hands of some individuals who don’t know what the Cara service does.”
The WDHSCP health body will meet on 1 March 2017 to finalise its budget but campaigners will lobby the next council meeting on 21 December to ensure full support for saving the Cara service.
Picture courtesy of World Skills UK
Check out what people are saying about how important CommonSpace is. Pledge your support today.
