Newcastle upon Tyne review

Safe Newcastle to notify Home Office of ongoing difficulties impacting on review process when GPs feel unable to fully engage in the sharing of information.

Learning and actions for National Probation Service to be shared with Northumbria Community Rehabilitation Company for consideration in relation to ongoing practice.

GP surgery to ensure systems are in place to review information received from sources such as hospitals and flag any concerns appropriately on patient records.

CCG to identify actions that can be taken to ensure that repeated learning from homicide reviews around the need to consider historical information and fully explore presenting concerns, is being actively addressed within practices.

Further input needs to be given to 24/7 and Neighbourhood Officers regarding fully updating the electronic DV screens with regard to actions taken and the rationale behind those actions. This could be achieved by way of an internal communication circulation.

The author identified that they believed the case highlights the importance of conducting at least one home visit to an offender, and that this should where possible be conducted regardless of the level of assessed risk. Clearly operational commitments dictate the feasibility of home visits being conducted on every case, however if such visits can give even the slightest indication of abusive behaviour within a family home, then this in itself could prove an effective method of protecting others from serious harm or even death.

All GP’s and clinical Staff at the GP practice should attend Domestic Violence Training sessions. Such training is available from Newcastle City Council or via NHS Newcastle Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Team. A register should be kept of those attending training and refresher training should be booked in accordance with the safeguarding adults policy.

The findings of local research around the outcomes of DHR should be recirculated to all GPs to ensure lessons learned are disseminated as this may allay genuine anxieties for GPs when asked to share information and participate in future review. This has already been incorporated into Domestic Violence Training materials in a recent revision. The report will be recirculated via Practice Managers and Safeguarding Leads.

To maintain levels of training and awareness of Domestic Abuse for staff within the Trust.

To continue to raise awareness of the Adult Safeguarding Team who are available to offer support and advice to staff, and their role within the organisation,

To continue to raise the profile of Adult Safeguarding within the organisation, ensuring that staff have a clear understanding of partnership working with internal and external agencies which achieves best practice and outcomes for patients.