About this page. This page summarises a Domestic Homicide Review published in the Home Office DHR Library. The full report is available at the source link below. Victim and perpetrator names are not included in extracted summaries on this page.
Source · Domestic Homicide Review
Somerset review
CSP: Somerset
Published: April 2023
Year of death: 2020
Extracted: 13 recs
Statutory domestic homicide review under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Source: Home Office DHR Library.
View full report (PDF) ↗
Source: Home Office DHR Library
Summary
The review highlights inconsistent agency responses to older victims of domestic abuse, including issues with risk assessment, multi-agency coordination, and understanding of coercive control and perpetrator behaviour. Concerns also exist regarding professional language and the distinction between safeguarding and domestic abuse.
Extracted recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressed to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safer Somerset Partnership to seek assurance / ask agencies involved in this review to confirm how they respond to disclosures of or suspected domestic abuse involving older people. This is to include assurance that the domestic abuse pathways are adhered to. | Safer Somerset Partnership | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT |
| 10 | Determine if the MARMM should be adopted in Somerset. Or whether the Somerset Safeguarding Adult Board’s existing “What to do if it’s not safeguarding” guidance is sufficient. | Safer Somerset Partnership | SCC Public Health |
| 11 | Ensure GP’s are briefed on impacts of domestic abuse and older people, including this case’s findings | CCG |
| 12 | Appraise understanding of the Somerset multi-agency response to domestic abuse perpetrators | SCC Public Health |
| 13 | Examine feasibility of commissioning a re-run of the SARSAS older people and sexual violence campaign. | SCC Public Health |
| 2 | Assess via audit if multi-agency response to domestic abuse and older people is effective. | The You Trust | SCC Public Health |
| 3 | Safer Somerset Partnership / Safeguarding Adults Board to ensure training and awareness includes consideration of language and necessity not to blame the victim. | Safer Somerset Partnership | Safeguarding Adults Board | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT |
| 4 | Improve professionals’ skills in using their judgement to assess risk, and not relying on actuarial assessments which can disadvantage cases involving older people. Also to complete DASH assessments irrespective of consent. | Safer Somerset Partnership | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT |
| 5 | Ensure agencies are reminded of importance of completing referrals in full and doing in a timely way. | SCC Public Health |
| 6 | Upskill all professionals within agencies involved so they know how to assess and respond to people in long-term abusive relationships. SSP to gain assurance as to how information is disseminated within these agencies and that agencies have effectively upskilled staff. | SCC Public Health | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT |
| 7 | Review Panel Chair to seek assurance that police understand domestic abuse perpetrator behaviour (following comment made after death by a police officer) | Review Chair |
| 8 | Improve professional’s awareness of older people and domestic abuse/sexual violence and how to respond. This is to include coercive and controlling behaviour. Also, share new materials with agencies involved and gain assurance as to how information is disseminated within their agencies. | SCC Public Health | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT |
| 9 | Assess the effectiveness of MARAC for cases of older people via an audit | Safer Somerset Partnership | SCC Public Health |
| Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗ | ||