Talk, Listen, Change to deliver support programmes for people who harm

Cheshire West and Chester Council has commissioned TLC: Talk, Listen, Change (TLC) to deliver new support programmes for people who harm.

The Council is committed to working with people who harm to ensure they are provided with the support to change at the earliest possible opportunity. TLC’s support programmes will also challenge harmful behaviours and help to increase the safety of people who experience domestic abuse.

TLC's new programmes will be offered either virtually, by telephone, or in person and group settings to enable the best possible successful outcomes for participants and their partners.

The organisation has over 35 years’ experience of delivering counselling and support, and 12 years’ experience of delivering domestic abuse behaviour change programmes. TLC is one of only 15 organisations nationally to hold full Respect accreditation for their work with those who harm and is accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy for their therapeutic services.

The Council’s vision is for all residents of West Cheshire to live lives free from domestic abuse. The Council want to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and their families who experience domestic abuse by creating an environment that supports disclosure and recovery for those who are harmed and provides challenge and support for those who harm. The vision will be delivered through five priorities, including challenging those who harm and providing effective support to change.

The People who Harm Programme is for males aged 18 and over and will be voluntary for individuals to access. The Council provides a similar offer for women who harm, conducted through its Early Help and Prevention Service. Nationally the prevalence of harm by males is higher, and this is what we see locally. This has formed the basis of why a commissioned male only service is required at this moment in time.

Councillor Robert Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “The People Who Harm Programmes are extremely important in helping support people to change their behaviours. The new programmes will support the services the Council already provides to those who have experienced domestic abuse.

“This new programme will help to ensure the development and maintenance of healthy relationships by supporting participants to take responsibility for their actions and ensure they are motivated to change. Programme support will provide insight and skills that are integral to maintaining healthy relationships.

“Over the past two years our work with people who harm has gone from strength to strength, with a higher completion rate for participants than court-mandated programmes. We are delighted to be working with TLC to build on these strong foundations and help us to achieve our vision for all residents of Cheshire West and Chester to live lives free from domestic abuse.”

Lisa Wilkie Adult Services Senior Lead at Talk, Listen, Change said: “We are delighted to have received funding to deliver our behaviour change programmes in Cheshire West and Chester. This is an exciting opportunity for TLC: Talk, Listen, Change in which we look forward to building new partnerships. For the first time we will be able to work with new communities across Cheshire West and Chester who need support and intervention. Now, more than ever, we believe this work is absolutely vital.”

TLC’s mission is to enable people of all ages to benefit from safe, healthy and happy relationships. Their vision is of a society where people enjoy good emotional wellbeing and personal resilience; supported by positive relationships in all areas of their life. This aligns heavily with the Council’s Domestic Abuse Strategy.

TLC take a strengths-based approach to all their work, aiming to enable people to build their resilience both personally and in their relationships with others. All of their services are delivered with a trauma-informed approach, meaning that they actively take into account the potential impact of a persons’ previous trauma upon service delivery. This is aligned with the Council’s work through the ‘Our Way of Working’ partnership model and the importance of taking a trauma informed approach to working with children and families.