Manchester review

The completion of enhanced risk assessments in relation to domestic abuse, stalking and harassment incidents where the initial level of assessed risk is ‘standard’;

The required authorisation levels to file PPI logs;

The requirement to send letters to ‘standard’ victims.

Highlight the Domestic abuse policy within Safeguarding briefings and training

Improve information sharing with Manchester Homeless Families Unit

Include addresses on MARAC agenda and if known identity of Social Landlord

To be more proactive in determining if new customers have support needs as a result of domestic abuse.

The IRIS project should be offered to targeted Manchester GP practices to enable earlier identification of signs of domestic abuse. This project would also support practice nurses.

Practice nurse’s role in enquiring about domestic abuse to be explored.

IDVA to produce an advice sheet for agencies

That IDVAs have access to MiCare [Manchester City Council Social Care IT System]

That an enhanced domestic abuse course is developed which includes: culture, faith and honour based violence.

Single agency domestic abuse training for key professionals to become mandatory across the organisation.

That MSAB establishes whether the recommendation, from the Moss Side DHR published in spring 2013, to have a publicity campaign aimed at informing family and friends what they can do if someone discloses domestic violence has been completed; and if not, to commence action to do so.

That MSAB and MSCB review what HBV training it and/or its constituent agencies provide for front line staff to ensure it reflects how to identify whether domestic violence has an HBV element to it.

That MSAB and MSCB ensure its domestic violence training includes the point that solicitors who have knowledge of child protection issues through domestic violence disclosures from clients are not under a legal duty to make a referral to children's services or other authorities but have discretion whether to do so.

That MSAB and MSCB ensure its domestic violence training includes the additional barriers faced by BME victims of domestic violence when considering disclosure to agencies.

That MSAB and MSCB consider whether the questions, as framed in the DASH risk assessment provide the best opportunity to identify HBV.

That MSAB reinforces in its domestic violence training the links between domestic violence and child protection.

having a written policy on offering clients a gender choice of Authorising Officer

how it would support such a policy

how to cater for victims of domestic violence who have children present during disclosure meetings

That the Homelessness Division of Manchester City Council develops a policy and practice which allows responsible social landlords to be furnished with information that new and existing tenants are victims of domestic violence..

That GMP satisfies itself that the arrangements for flagging addresses of domestic violence victims are robust.

That MSAB considers whether women from BME backgrounds are disproportionately more likely to be victims of domestic homicides that white northern Europeans in the Greater Manchester Area.

The DHR Panel recommends that the MARAC Coordinator considers whether the MOP should be amended to include a menu of standard actions agencies already undertake post each MARAC case.

That School 1 reviews it procedures for recording safeguarding information and reports its findings to MSAB Domestic Abuse Reduction Coordinator and MSCB Business and Performance Manager.

That MSAB considers whether it can ensure that all victims who are identified as MARAC cases, have a face to face meeting with a domestic abuse specialist before the MARAC meeting takes place; thereby providing a greater opportunity for a fuller disclosure and an accurate assessment of risk.

That Central Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group provides MSAB with written guidance on how to access GP records in DHRs where the patient’s permission has not been obtained.

That Manchester Community Safety Partnership uses all it influence to secure the proliferation of the IRIS project to those Manchester GP's who have yet to take part in the IRIS project.

That Manchester Community Safety Partnership ensures that the findings of this DHR are disseminated to its constituent agencies who should embed the findings in their practice.