Domestic Abuse Services 2026

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a statutory duty on local authorities to undertake a Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment and provide safe accommodation and support to victims of domestic abuse and their children.

There is an identified need for trauma informed counselling and the need for support for victims of domestic abuse as evidenced in the Leicestershire Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment 2021 and the Women's aid Annual Audit 2021.

The Domestic Abuse services is split into 4 lots which will deliver:

- Lot 1: A therapeutic trauma informed counselling service to adult victims/survivors of domestic abuse and therefore extend domestic abuse support across the County to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities are met

- Lot 2: Specialist therapeutic support for children within Leicestershire who are impacted by domestic and or sexual violence/abuse requiring counselling or their long-term recovery.

- Lot 3: A County Family Service, to provide a range of interventions to help children and young people through their experience(s) of domestic abuse.

- Lot 4: Outreach support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse by building further capacity within service provisions and aiming to promote and improve support options and choices for victims to remain in their homes, and by reducing waiting lists and waiting times for domestic abuse victims and survivors within outreach services.

The contract is for an initial period of 2 years and shall take effect from 01 December 2026 - 30November 2028. The Council may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period of 24 months.

The contract value is £999,600 per annum (£3,998,400 over 4 years (includes extension provisions)).