URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8557

Decision Maker: Chief Executive (James Duncan)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The proposed staffing restructure will strengthen domestic abuse services, improve support pathways for victims and survivors, and enhance early intervention for children affected by domestic abuse. The report seeks approval to:   Establish two Principal Officer posts within the Community Safety (Domestic Abuse) Service (Grade P, SCP 40–41) (Appendix A). These posts will provide additional management capacity and oversight within the team, ensuring the specialist in-house service can effectively respond to residents experiencing domestic abuse, while maintaining compliance with HR, operational and escalation procedures. Approve the assimilation of existing Senior Practitioners (Grade M, SCP 34–35) into the new Principal Officer roles.   Whilst the Principal Officer posts are new posts, elements of the role build on responsibilities currently undertaken within the Senior Practitioner function and new responsibilities to support the Operational Service Manager and therefore meet the criteria for assimilation. This will also create future development opportunities within the service and support recruitment at entry level moving forward.   The Principal Officers will continue to provide additional capacity to support service development, oversight of complex and high-risk cases, and implementation of the Knowsley Domestic Abuse Review Recommendations 2024 and forthcoming Domestic Abuse Strategy. The revised structure will also strengthen succession planning, support staff retention, and provide a long-term career progression pathway for every member of the Domestic Abuse Service, both now and in the future.  

Content: The proposed staffing restructure will strengthen domestic abuse services, improve support pathways for victims and survivors, and enhance early intervention for children affected by domestic abuse. The report seeks approval to:   Establish two Principal Officer posts within the Community Safety (Domestic Abuse) Service (Grade P, SCP 40–41) (Appendix A). These posts will provide additional management capacity and oversight within the team, ensuring the specialist in-house service can effectively respond to residents experiencing domestic abuse, while maintaining compliance with HR, operational and escalation procedures. Approve the assimilation of existing Senior Practitioners (Grade M, SCP 34–35) into the new Principal Officer roles.   Whilst the Principal Officer posts are new posts, elements of the role build on responsibilities currently undertaken within the Senior Practitioner function and new responsibilities to support the Operational Service Manager and therefore meet the criteria for assimilation. This will also create future development opportunities within the service and support recruitment at entry level moving forward.   The Principal Officers will continue to provide additional capacity to support service development, oversight of complex and high-risk cases, and implementation of the Knowsley Domestic Abuse Review Recommendations 2024 and forthcoming Domestic Abuse Strategy. The revised structure will also strengthen succession planning, support staff retention, and provide a long-term career progression pathway for every member of the Domestic Abuse Service, both now and in the future.   The Assistant Chief Executive in consultation with Executive Director (Resources and Partnerships) approves:   The disestablishment of a Senior Practitioner post (Grade M); The disestablishment of the Team Manager post (Grade P); The establishment of two Principal Officer posts (Grade P); and The assimilation of the two Senior Practitioner Grade M postholders into the newly established Principal Officer posts.   Maintain the existing structure, this has been discounted as this would be less effective to meet longer term service needs and demands of the service.   

Date of Decision: September 15, 2026