Wigan review

An audit of the routine enquiry for domestic abuse by the Health Visiting Service in the Wigan Borough should be undertaken. If routine enquiry not undertaken the reason will be clearly documented e.g. not safe to undertake as partner present.

A safeguarding children guideline for information sharing following domestic homicide should be developed.

Possibility of Safeguarding Officer /Headteacher being informed when parents/carers are undergoing support/ treatment for serious mental health issues.

Schools to have information of agencies available to give to parents undergoing family difficulties.

Children who notify school staff or comment upon family difficulties should be monitored and referred to School Safeguarding Officer / Head teacher and an Early help referral completed.

Schools to have information available at the front office to enable speedy reaction/correct information for media enquiries with staff trained accordingly.

All telephone numbers of agencies available for easy access.

The Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group, Safeguarding Team and Named GP for Safeguarding discuss and consider the potential benefits of introducing routine enquiry to GP practices across Wigan.

The Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group, Safeguarding Team and Named GP for Safeguarding discuss and consider the potential benefits of introducing routine enquiry to GP practices across Wigan respect of depression and the impact that it can have on people’s ability to parent and support their children.

When WBSCP submit this report to the Home Office DHR Unit they ask them to consider undertaking research into other DHRs to establish whether the phenomenon concerning separation whilst living in the same household is also present and if so to take appropriate action.

That WBSCP work with partner agencies so as to ensure that information is available at key contact points to persons who may be in the process of, or planning, separation - including “internal separation” - from a partner. That information should highlight the risks of abuse that may be present on separation and provide advice on how to develop a personal safety plan.

Consult with Safelives (previously known as CAADA) regarding whether the risk assessment questionnaire should include a question concerning separation whilst living in the same household and whether they consider this issue as being a high risk factor.

Work with partner agencies to develop a multi-agency information sharing agreement in respect of domestic homicides.