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

Newham review

CSP: Newham Published: April 2023 Year of death: 2011 Extracted: 15 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 identified a lack of multi-agency coordination and holistic responses to the victim's needs, with agencies often working in silos and failing to share critical information, particularly regarding risks to children. It also highlighted inadequate recognition of key domestic violence risk factors and the undermining of the victim's trust in statutory services.

Extracted recommendations

15 recommendations pulled from the report

#	Recommendation	Addressed to
1	Community Health Newham (East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and GP practices need to agree a process which ensures that where children under five years of age register or deregister with a GP, the health visiting service is informed. In addition where the parent(s) are vulnerable, this information should be shared and the family discussed at practice meetings and a care plan agreed. This recommendation is a CQC/SCR requirement and is in the process of being implemented.	Community Health Newham (East London Foundation Trust (ELFT)) \| GP practices
10	To lobby Government for: • Inclusion of Cafcass as an agency with a duty to participate in a DHR • A change in national policy to require referral of cases involving domestic violence to the local Children’s Services • An exploration of how to better respond to abusers that threaten and / or assault family members living abroad as a way to control their victim in the UK	Government
11	When applicants are referred from another Borough, routine screening of domestic violence should be done.	LB Newham Housing
12	Explore ways in which solicitors might be included within local partnerships	LB Newham Domestic & Sexual Violence Strategic Board
13	Officers should ask for a history of abuse when undertaking risk assessments.	Police
14	LB Newham Adult Services to consider referral pathways / contract management of Floating Support Service to ensure vulnerable women like the victim do not fall through the gaps in provision.	LB Newham Adult Services
15	Schools to share domestic violence information with health. The school should have raised their knowledge of domestic violence history, especially when they knew the perpetrator was once again residing with the victim.	Schools \| Health
2	Ensure commissioning of school nursing services includes providers that have a policy in place which follows up those children not known to health services at school entry. This needs to include pro-active work with families where they do not respond to school entry health questionnaires as these will be the most vulnerable of children.	Community Health Newham (East London Foundation Trust (ELFT))
3	A rolling programme of domestic violence awareness be provided to the GP practices in Newham as part of their safeguarding training	GP practices
4	Exploration with GPs as to the best way to flag women who are/have been subjected to domestic abuse on the practice IT system and also have it identified within the children’s records. The new General Medical Council guidance for doctors highlights the need for family members to be linked. This is particularly important where the parents have different names and do not necessarily reside in the same house.	GPs
5	Each refuge in Newham to have a named health visitor who will be responsible for the health needs of all the families within that refuge.	Community Health Newham (East London Foundation Trust (ELFT))
6	All agencies to have basic domestic violence awareness training, supplemented by multi-agency training for relevant staff that includes an awareness of risk factors.	All agencies
7	Raise community awareness of domestic violence to: • Ensure that concerned friends and family members have an awareness of where to go for help • Challenge myths and stereotypes about domestic violence	LB Newham Domestic & Sexual Violence Strategic Board
8	All agencies to review their referral processes for children at risk of significant harm	All agencies
9	Ensure that domestic violence provision in the locality is not solely focused on risk but also offers opportunities for early intervention and counselling / resettlement support. Commissioners should also take account of the specialist nature of this work which is not easily replicated in generic provision.	Commissioners
Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗