Fenland review

The Fenland Community Safety Partnership (FCSP) should encourage all six Community Safety Partnerships within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area: i. To produce and implement a single set of guidance to ensure statutory requirements are complied with in respect of Domestic Homicide reviews commissioned. This will also help to ensure the learning from these reviews is embedded, in a systematic and auditable fashion. ii. To produce and implement an information sharing protocol for tackling domestic abuse. It is proposed that this could take place in the Multi-agency safeguarding hub. This will help to improve inter-agency communication and proactive information sharing. This is in response to the way that information sharing in this case seemed not to take place due to individuals not spotting the signs and referring. The arrangements should include voluntary sector organisations where possible in particular those agencies supporting persons with alcohol and drug addictions.

The FCSP proposes to the Home Office the commissioning of a toolbox for professionals on how best to increase awareness in those close to people affected by Domestic Abuse. The aim of this toolbox would be to seek opportunities for educating family, friends and neighbours of the effects of domestic abuse and how they can safely and confidentially report their concerns. This should be combined with publicity as to guidance concerning the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme. The FCSP do currently deliver this community awareness once a year, but should consider looking for opportunities to broaden its promotion.

The FCSP contacts critical partners engaged in tackling Domestic Abuse to point out the benefits of building in some of the key elements of this case into their risk assessment processes. The partnership should request that Cambridgeshire Constabulary systems and partners processes take into account any identified disabilities, both physical and mental health of victim, perpetrator and relevant children. This would ensure that all risks are considered as part of the dynamic risk assessment process vital to the safe management of such abuse cases.

The FCSP seeks assurance from the MASH Governance board that awareness-building programmes are being provided in relation to the MASH and referral processes. This awareness programme should highlight how referrals are made to the MASH from organisations in their area and in particular General Practitioners in relation to Domestic Abuse.

The FCSP should contact the Safeguarding board to satisfy itself on the level of checking carried out on paid carers. It is important to stress that the perpetrator in this case was in a relationship with Laraine and was not in receipt of funding for the care he provided for her. The learning from this case, however, should prompt the FCSP to request assurance from the Safeguarding Adult Board about carer recruitment. It is vital that those agencies which commission paid carers carry out safer recruitment practices. These practices should include necessary safeguarding checks in relation to the recruitment of carers. Advice should be made available on how to carry out the necessary checks, whenever a carer is engaged via a direct payment or by a person who is self-funding their care.