With new obligations on social housing providers requiring them to work cooperatively with other agencies to tackle domestic abuse and enable tenants to access appropriate support and advice, this session run by Donna McCarthy of Devonshires and Kelly Henderson from Addressing Domestic Abuse, will be a useful insight into the current landscape as well as an opportunity for them to provide their top tips for best practice and answer your questions.
Speakers:
Donna McCarthy, Partner and Head of Housing Management & Property Litigation, Devonshires
Donna is Head of Devonshires’ Housing Management and Property Litigation department.
She has over 30 years’ experience advising on all aspects of housing management law and practice, acting for Local Authorities, Registered Providers and private landlords in complex litigation, including matters in the higher Courts and judicial review actions. She has particular expertise in advising and representing clients on Human Rights, Public Law and Equality Act challenges and following her successes in the higher Court cases of London and Quadrant HT v Patrick [2019] EWHC 1263 (QB) and Forward v Aldwyck Housing Group [2019] EWCA Civ 1334 is particularly noted for her expertise in dealing with claims relating to compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Dr Kelly Henderson, Managing Director, Addressing Domestic Abuse (ADA)
Kelly is the founder and Managing Director of Addressing Domestic Abuse (ADA) – a community interest company that carries out research, evaluation and training on domestic abuse. ADA also supports housing providers, local authorities and repairs companies to improve their response to domestic abuse. Kelly co-founded the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance and has a range of housing experience, including the role of Director of Housing, Supporting People Manager and roles in policy and research. She led a national property repairs company’s work on developing repairs operatives’ recognition of domestic abuse and the company establishing referral pathways with housing providers.
She has a Masters in Housing Policy and Management and a PhD from Durham University focusing on the role of housing in a co-ordinated community response to domestic abuse. She was named 24 Housing’s ‘Housing Professional of the Year’ 2018 for her work and research on housing and domestic abuse and named in the top 20 women leaders in Housing in 2020. Kelly co-authored ‘Domestic Abuse and Housing – Policy into Practice’ (Routledge) and sits on the board of a housing provider.
