Transforming Multi-Agency Safeguarding for High-Risk Domestic Abuse in South Wales

Introduction 

Domestic abuse remains one of the most significant public protection challenges facing South Wales. For people assessed as being at highest risk of serious harm or homicide, timely safeguarding interventions and effective multi-agency coordination can be critical in reducing harm and improving safety outcomes. 

South Wales Police and its partners currently deliver safeguarding through the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)¹ process. MARAC is a long-established mechanism that brings organisations together to share information, assess risk and coordinate actions for victims experiencing high-risk domestic abuse. The principles underpinning it were developed over 20 years ago, at a time when risk management and demand were significantly different to the challenges faced by agencies today. MARAC remains one of the most important safeguarding arrangements available to public services and plays a vital role in protecting some of the most vulnerable people in society.  

However, the current model is under increasing pressure. Across South Wales, more than 5,000 high-risk domestic abuse cases are managed annually across seven separate MARAC areas operating across the local authority areas of Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea. Together, this equates to approximately 44% of MARAC demand for the whole of Wales. Localised governance structures have driven a variation in MARAC processes and these localised approaches have evolved over time primarily in response to increasing demands on the partnerships, resulting in a variation in delivery, increasing administrative burden and challenges in maintaining consistency across the region.  

Demand continues to increase whilst cases become more complex. In some areas, approximately 70 cases have been discussed during a single weekly MARAC meeting, and concerns have been raised regarding delays between referral to case discussion, in addition to a lack of accountability for allocated agency actions. Concerns about the MARAC operating model have recently been raised at a National Level, and statutory safeguarding reviews across England and Wales continue to identify similar themes in adverse case outcomes where MARAC has been a contributory factor.  These collective concerns about MARAC can be categorised into themes of, fragmented information sharing, inconsistent processes and delays in identifying and mitigating escalating risk.  

South Wales Police, operate across each MARAC governance group in the region, and in conjunction with the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and wider safeguarding partners, have identified an opportunity to explore whether a different approach could deliver faster, more consistent and more effective safeguarding outcomes for domestic abuse victims. The challenge has been developed following significant stakeholder engagement and reflects a shared recognition that future approaches may need to move beyond the traditional meeting-based MARAC model.  

The Challenge 

We are seeking innovative organisations to help South Wales Police and its partners explore how high-risk domestic abuse safeguarding could operate differently in the future. 

This challenge is intentionally outcome-focused and does not prescribe a specific technology, product type or delivery model. 

Applicants are encouraged to propose the approach they believe will best address the challenge and demonstrate how their expertise could help develop a more responsive, coordinated and sustainable safeguarding model for South Wales. 

The challenge is not simply about introducing new technology or digitising existing MARAC meetings. Whilst technology, data and artificial intelligence may form part of the solution, partners have identified the need to explore wider service, governance and operating model redesign. 

We are interested in organisations capable of helping answer questions such as: 

• How can risk be identified, prioritised and escalated more effectively? 

• How can organisations work together more dynamically and efficiently? 

• How can safeguarding actions be coordinated more effectively across agencies to ensure accountability? 

• How can professionals spend less time managing administration related to MARAC and more time delivering safeguarding interventions for vulnerable people? 

• How can information be shared more effectively whilst maintaining appropriate governance and accountability? 

• How can future models be developed, utilising current practises and technology to shape a practical, affordable and sustainable model, whilst navigating statutory and non-statutory responsibilities of the partnership landscape? 

• How can innovation support improved safeguarding outcomes without creating additional complexity? 

Applicants should not assume that technology alone is the answer. We welcome proposals that combine service design, systems thinking, operational redesign, governance innovation, behavioural approaches, digital innovation, data, analytics and artificial intelligence to explore how multi-agency safeguarding could evolve.  

Desired Outcomes 

We are interested in approaches that can contribute towards measurable improvements in one or more of the following areas. 

Safeguarding Outcomes 

• Earlier identification of escalating risk. 

• A more efficient referral mechanism 

• Faster safeguarding interventions. 

• Improved identification of people with the highest support needs. 

• Reduced need for repeat case discussion to limit continued victimisation. 

• Improved collaboration practices for complex cases where an individual has multiple support needs from different agencies. 

• Better communication of outcomes for victims and families and an increased priority given to the victims and child’s voice within the model.  

Victim Experience 

• More consistent safeguarding support regardless of location. 

• Improved coordination between agencies. 

• Reduced delays in accessing support. 

• More responsive safeguarding interventions. 

• Improved confidence in safeguarding processes. 

• More person-centred approaches to safety planning and case updates.  

Professional Practice 

• Reduced administrative burden. 

• Better access to relevant information. 

• Improved coordination and communication between organisations. 

• Better visibility of decisions and actions. 

• Improved accountability and action tracking. 

• More professionals time focused on safeguarding activity.  

Service Delivery and Equity 

• Reduced variation between different MARAC arrangements. 

• More consistent safeguarding approaches across South Wales. 

• Improved information sharing. 

• Better visibility of risk. 

• More equitable safeguarding outcomes regardless of geography. 

• Improved partnership working.  

System Outcomes 

• Better use of public resources. 

• Reduced duplication of activity. 

• Improved operational intelligence. 

• Improved governance and oversight. 

• Stronger evidence for future service transformation. 

• Improved understanding and measurement of safeguarding outcomes.  

Sustainability 

• Affordable and scalable approaches. 

• Long-term sustainability beyond the funded project period. 

• A realistic route to implementation. 

• Approaches capable of supporting future adoption in other regions where appropriate. 

• Creation of capability that can support future safeguarding transformation.  

Applicants should clearly identify which outcomes their project is expected to influence and explain how impact will be assessed. 

Phase 1: Discovery and Concept Development 

This challenge is being delivered as a Phase 1 Contracts for Innovation Cymru competition. 

South Wales Police and partners recognise that this is a complex system challenge. Whilst the need for change has been identified, there is not yet a single agreed solution or future model. This competition is therefore focused on discovery, exploration, evidence generation and concept development. 

We are seeking organisations capable of helping define what a future safeguarding model might look like, which has the potential for scalability across other MARAC areas and what practical steps may be required to implement it. 

Projects should help generate evidence relating to: 

• User and stakeholder needs. 

• Current barriers and challenges. 

• Future operating model options. 

• Governance considerations. 

• Information sharing requirements. 

• Administrative efficiency opportunities. 

• Digital and data opportunities. 

• Artificial intelligence and automation opportunities. 

• Feasibility and implementation considerations. 

• Affordability and sustainability. 

Applicants are not expected to provide a fully developed solution at this stage.  

Development Approach 

South Wales Police is interested in approaches capable of generating practical evidence, meaningful insight and actionable recommendations. 

Projects may include: 

• Discovery and stakeholder engagement. 

• Service design and systems mapping. 

• User research and co-design. 

• Current-state analysis. 

• Governance review. 

• Future-state operating model design. 

• Risk triage and prioritisation modelling. 

• Information-sharing assessments. 

• Digital opportunity assessments. 

• Exploration of artificial intelligence and automation. 

• Concept design and validation. 

• Feasibility assessment. 

• Roadmap development. 

The expectation is not that applicants solve every aspect of the challenge during Phase 1. Rather, we are seeking approaches capable of creating a strong evidence base for future decision making and potential future phases. Applicants may wish to focus proposed solutions on either the operation of the MARAC process (the MARAC Model), or the administration & governance challenge; or seek to address solutions which address the approach as a whole.   

Future Capability and Scalability 

Whilst this challenge has been developed by South Wales Police and focuses on the South Wales safeguarding environment, applicants should consider how successful approaches could support wider adoption in the future. There is national level interest (particularly from Police, Probation, Health agencies) in developing a sustainable model for safeguarding domestic abuse victims, and in addition there is Ministerial interest in both Welsh and UK Governments for MARAC solutions.  

Applicants should demonstrate how their approach could: 

• Operate across different organisational structures. 

• Support consistency whilst accommodating local requirements. 

• Work alongside existing systems and processes. 

• Remain affordable over time. 

• Support future implementation across wider regions if successful. 

• Create knowledge and capability transferable to other safeguarding settings. 

The ambition is to improve safeguarding outcomes in South Wales first, whilst generating learning that may be valuable elsewhere in Wales, and the UK in the future.  

Collaboration and Partnership 

Collaboration will be fundamental to the success of this challenge. 

Successful applicants should expect to work closely with: 

• South Wales Police. 

• South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. 

• Regional MARAC Governance Groups. 

• National Centre for Violence and Public Protection 

• Home Office 

• Local Authorities. 

• Health Boards and NHS organisations. 

• Domestic abuse specialist organisations. 

• Third sector organisations. 

• Safeguarding professionals. 

• Information governance specialists. 

• Wider challenge stakeholders where appropriate.  

Applicants should clearly demonstrate: 

• Their approach to stakeholder engagement. 

• How practitioners will inform development. 

• How organisations will be involved throughout the project. 

• How future implementation and adoption considerations will be addressed. 

Meaningful engagement with safeguarding professionals and partner organisations will be considered an important component of successful projects. 

Welsh Language Requirements 

Wales is a bilingual nation and Welsh language considerations must form an integral part of project design and delivery. Applicants should consider Welsh language, accessibility and equitable access together throughout the project, recognising the diverse needs of service users, communities and professionals across South Wales. 

Any successful approach involving user-facing services, communications, engagement activities, digital functionality or decision-support tools should consider Welsh and English provision from the outset of development rather than as a future enhancement. 

Applicants must demonstrate how their approach will: 

• Support bilingual public service delivery. 

• Ensure Welsh and English users receive an equivalent experience. 

• Be bilingual by design where appropriate. 

• Support people to engage in their preferred language. 

• Consider Welsh language and accessibility requirements together. 

• Support the principles of the Active Offer. 

• Include Welsh-speaking stakeholders where appropriate in engagement and testing activities. 

• Consider how Welsh language requirements will be maintained as solutions evolve. 

Welsh language functionality should be embedded from project inception and must not be treated as an optional enhancement. 

Applicants may find the following resources useful: 

• Welsh Government Bilingual Technology Toolkit for a Good User Experience. 

• Accessible Communication and Information Standards for Healthcare.  

Projects that strengthen bilingual innovation and public service delivery are encouraged. 

In Scope 

We are interested in projects that contribute to one or more of the following: 

• Multi-agency safeguarding. 

• Domestic abuse response and intervention. 

• Service redesign. 

• Operating model innovation. 

• Governance and accountability. 

• Risk triage and prioritisation. 

• Information sharing. 

• Administrative automation. 

• Workflow redesign. 

• Data and analytics. 

• Artificial intelligence and decision support. 

• Multi-agency coordination. 

• Safeguarding pathway improvement. 

• Collaboration and partnership working. 

• Welsh language and bilingual service delivery. 

Out of Scope 

We are not seeking projects that: 

• Focus solely on replacing police operational systems. 

• Focus exclusively on software procurement. 

• Simply digitise existing MARAC meetings. 

• Increase administrative burden. 

• Cannot demonstrate a realistic route to future adoption. 

• Ignore governance and safeguarding considerations. 

• Seek to replace professional safeguarding judgement. 

• Focus solely on technology without considering wider service and operating model challenges. 

Affordability, Sustainability and Adoption 

Affordability and sustainability are central requirements of this challenge. 

Applicants should demonstrate: 

• Affordability beyond the funded project period. 

• A realistic route to adoption. 

• Scalability across South Wales and beyond where appropriate. 

• Long-term sustainability. 

• Opportunities to improve safeguarding outcomes and service efficiency. 

• Ability to operate effectively within complex multi-agency environments. 

• A clear value proposition for public sector organisations. 

Projects should demonstrate how future approaches could be implemented in a practical, sustainable and affordable manner if proven successful. 

Wider Benefits for Wales 

Applicants are encouraged to consider wider benefits their proposal may deliver. 

These may include: 

• Improved public safety. 

• Earlier intervention and prevention. 

• Reduced harm associated with domestic abuse. 

• Better coordination of public services. 

• Reduced inequalities in safeguarding provision. 

• More efficient use of public resources. 

• Development of innovation capability within Wales. 

• Strengthening bilingual public services. 

• Wider social, economic and community benefits. 

Funding Allocation and Project Details 

Competition Type: Phase 1 Discovery and Concept Development 

Funding Available: Up to £60k per project  

Number of Projects: Up to 6 projects  

The total funding available for the competition can change and the funders reserve the right to adjust the provisional funding allocations, i.e., should additional funding become available 

Portfolio Approach 

Funding decisions may be made using a portfolio approach, recognising that transforming multi-agency safeguarding is a complex challenge that may benefit from multiple complementary approaches rather than a single intervention. 

Consideration may be given to the overall balance of projects supported, the evidence generated, opportunities for collaboration and learning between projects and the potential for wider adoption across public services. 

Projects may address different aspects of safeguarding, governance, service design, operating models, digital innovation, information sharing, accountability, automation or coordination. Collectively, these may contribute towards the wider ambition of improving safeguarding outcomes across South Wales. 

Project Duration 

Projects are expected to commence in November 2026 and conclude by March 2027. 

Applicants should provide a realistic delivery plan, including key milestones, stakeholder engagement activities, anticipated outputs and evaluation activities. 

Key Dates 

*these dates may be subject to change 

Briefing Event 

To register for the virtual Briefing Event, to be held 2 October 2026, please follow the link below: 

Contracts for Innovation Briefing Event 2 October 2026  

Application Process 

Directions on how to enter this competition can be found via: https://sdi.click/domestic-abuse-1

If your application is successful, you will receive a standard Contracts for Innovation contract to deliver the proposed activity. Since this is a UK wide template, the terms and conditions are not subject to change, therefore please familiarise yourself with the draft contract, prior to submitting your application.  

Long-Term Vision 

The ambition of this challenge is not simply to improve existing MARAC processes. 

The longer-term opportunity is to help South Wales Police and its partners explore a more responsive, coordinated and sustainable approach to safeguarding people at highest risk of domestic abuse and serious harm. 

The strongest applications will demonstrate how they can generate meaningful insight, evidence and recommendations that support future decision making, whilst creating foundations for wider system improvement across South Wales. If successful, the learning generated through this work may also help inform the future development of safeguarding approaches elsewhere in Wales and the UK.