Doncaster review

Doncaster Community Safety Partnership needs to review existing priorities for domestic violence and develop a new strategic plan which encompasses commissioning as well as delivery of services.

The Review of current provision of services and development of a strategy to tackle domestic and sexual abuse in Doncaster has made a number of recommendations which when implemented will address most of the key issues identified in this DHR .This should include:
* A single point of accountability at strategic level and clear lines of reporting from operational to strategic groups.
* A single point of coordination for all specialist domestic abuse work with a collocated multidisciplinary team.
* Staff trained in Signs of Safety to assist professionals to work with families where domestic abuse is present.
* Developing and maintaining front line staff's knowledge of available services, new initiatives, local challenges and sharing good practice.
* Development a performance management and metrics framework that will better inform operational management and practice.
* Addressing the high risk based approach to domestic abuse to better address early intervention and support and hard to reach groups.
* Review of MARAC roles and to address development needs.
* The availability of an IDVA or specialist nurse in accident and emergency department during known risk periods.
* Proactive Doncaster Alcohol services that recognise the link between alcohol and domestic violence and work to reduce risk and increase safety.
* The development of programmes to support the victims and children who have been subjected or witnessed domestic abuse.

It is recommended Community Safety Partnership should provide information to the public about domestic violence against men and couple violence and the appropriate action to take if they have concern about the risk of domestic violence against an individual, to enable the police or other agency to positively intervene or develop a risk management plan when they have the information to inform it.

The Community Safety Partnership should review the process of communicating with and interviewing procedure for the family of homicide victims particularly at the time of the death of the individual to provide consistency, support and compassion.

To ensure that Doncaster Council – Adult Services, Assessment have a robust and up to date training plan around Domestic Violence and ensure the workforce to have the skills and knowledge to not only identify issues around family dynamics, but how to report such findings in an appropriate and timely manner.

To ensure Adult Services are included in any new developments around future pathways/training/partnership working in Domestic violence.

To ensure the attendance of an appropriate representative to attend any future IMR Meetings.

Doncaster Council and Doncaster Safeguarding Children Board should assure themselves changes in the process of risk assessing referrals of children in domestic violence cases are fit for purpose.

Doncaster Council and Doncaster Safeguarding Children Board should ensure that the introduction of initiatives such as Integrated Family Support Service and Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs provide an opportunity to establish a coordinated response to safeguarding children experiencing domestic violence

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust having introduced the changes required to address the issues raised by the DHR have not added further recommendations.

Review current provision and knowledge and initiate appropriate training for primary care professionals to raise Awareness of domestic abuse and the current NHS Doncaster policy on risk assessment, referral and MARAC. This may need to incorporate the latest guidance on domestic abuse from RCGP ISIS and CAADA. Also included in this training would be information for practices on the Domestic Homicide Review process. Within this review there is a need to ensure that priority is given to protected education and training of primary care staff despite funding pressures. For GPs there is a recommendation that the IRIS model should be considered to provide the required level of advocacy, support and education.

Review current policy of feedback and monitoring of significant events in Primary Care and implementation of local policies by primary care staff to ensure that clinical governance is maintained. This could include domestic abuse, safeguarding children and adults, clinical care and interagency referrals.

All health service providers should be encouraged to consider the development of IT systems to enable the flagging of identified victims of domestic abuse.

Information about the services available to victims of domestic abuse should be included in NHS Doncaster's website and other ways of disseminating this to GPs explored.

DCCG and NHS Doncaster should monitor and influence practice performance of all GPs and other primary medical services in relation to Care Quality Commission essential standards covering quality and safety and safeguarding children and adults.

The findings of this review should be communicated to the RCGP clinical champions