New Forest review

Implement the NICE guidance on domestic violence and abuse, understanding that the ethos of the guidance is based on effective multi-agency working.

Review training for health care professionals on domestic abuse to ensure it is available to all staff and includes dynamics, how to undertake targeted screening for domestic abuse and the need for a pro-active responses.

NHS England commissioners support primary care providers and staff to respond to domestic violence and abuse by considering adoption of Recommendation 16 of NICE Guidance by commissioning the IRIS project.

Local health commissioners support secondary care providers to respond to domestic violence and abuse specifically by ensuring that staff undertake targeted or routine enquiry.

Hampshire Constabulary to consider reviewing the MARAC procedures with regards to the completion and review of risk reduction plans and to ensure that they meet local needs and exceed Safelives (CAADA) operational standards.

Hampshire Constabulary to consider reviewing level of risk assessment training, its frequency and compliance. For instance, Hampshire Constabulary may want to consider using this case as a specific learning workshop case study.

Hampshire Constabulary to consider reviewing the Central Referral Unit – Manual of Guidance (Version 6). For instance, the requirement for 6 or more incidents within the last 3 months (including a crime) may be amended.

Hampshire Constabulary to consider reviewing training and quality of supervision from Sergeant and Inspector ranks in relation to reports of domestic abuse and in particular to conduct a dip sampling of cases with multiple police callouts.

Hampshire Constabulary to consider incorporating Domestic Abuse referrals into the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) to protect the most vulnerable victims of domestic abuse and implement and action more action related to repeat crimes.

Review training for social workers to ensure there is a high level of understanding of domestic abuse and risk factor and to increase skills to engage with perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Hampshire Safeguarding Unit should review in conjunction with Hampshire Police, the interface, functioning and desired outcomes/purpose of a MARAC plan which runs in tandem alongside that of a Child Protection Plan.

To nominate a single point of contact within New Forest District Council for staff to refer any suspected cases of domestic abuse to and ensure all staff are trained on this procedure.

To include domestic abuse in the forthcoming safeguarding policy review.

To provide training to New Forest District Council employees on the issue of domestic abuse and to prioritise this training for council employees who interact with members of the public and in particular Housing.

To include a procedure within the New Forest District Council employee handbook detailing what help is available to members of staff suffering from domestic abuse and also to include what other members of staff should do if they suspect any of their work colleagues are experiencing domestic abuse.

Hampshire Probation Trust programme staff to review the TSP post programme report form to more clearly highlight new risks to NOMs nationally.

To conduct a task and finish group with the Police to ensure the sharing of call out information with probation and to review and amend protocols accordingly.

A review should be undertaken of alcohol support provision in the New Forest to see if the needs of binge drinkers can be more effectively treated.

All statutory and non-statutory partners involved in the New Forest MARAC and who sit on the MARAC Steering Committee to hold regular meetings which include robust conversation about the current challenges of MARAC and to devise an action plan related to New Forest MARAC which will ensure the MARAC in New Forest think creatively about how to address safety issues and to build confidence in the survivor to engage with services. This may be a function of the local domestic abuse forum. This meeting should report to both the County wide MARAC Management Group as well as the Safer New Forest Partnership.

In order to ensure that staff benefit from sharing lessons learned from this review, these findings should be used as case examples and briefings within already established safeguarding and domestic abuse related training programmes.

Home Office Quality Assurance Group to consider issuing guidance to GPs outlining their duties to engage with the Domestic Homicide Review process.