Reigate and Banstead review

It is recommended that all police officers and police staff involved in the response to / investigation of incidents of domestic abuse ensure that accounts are obtained from the children involved/witnessing incidents with the appropriate expert advice and assistance.

It is recommended that once incidents of DA have been referred to the Safeguarding Investigation Unit, an experienced investigator reviews the historical as well as current Police involvement with the individuals. This will help inform investigative and risk management strategies.

It is recommended that where possible, incidents that are linked (same individuals, same domestic situation) are allocated to one investigating OIC. This will ensure single oversight of all reported incidents and help inform risk management strategies.

SSAB and SSCP to produce safeguarding referral guidance (adult and children) for organisations whose sole purpose is not safeguarding e.g. housing associations, drug and alcohol services, and to raise awareness of its availability.

ASC professionals to ensure (through Safeguarding Training and supervision) that the importance of timeliness in decision making is emphasised following receipt of a safeguarding enquiry referral.

DASH training to be available to all agencies when assessing risk.

RBBC CSP to highlight the need for the Home Office to consider updating the Multi Agency Statutory Guidance for the Conduct of Domestic Homicide Reviews (2016 to include specific guidance where a person may have taken their own life.

Professionals must understand the increased risk when children are removed, especially when a parent is experiencing domestic abuse, has other risks and has increased vulnerability. Support for the parent should be provided both before the children are removed and afterwards. Individual agencies to ensure their staff are trained understand and support the parent, including the management of risk. This will be scrutinised by the SSAB and SSCP, giving assurance to the SAB / SCP that the agencies have implemented this training.

The MARAC process to be reviewed to ensure that information regarding relevant risks for a service user is passed safely and promptly to any involved service, including Primary Care e.g. GPs. Thia was also a recommendation in the Coroner’s report from the Inquest October 20.

Learning from this DHR to be disseminated via a workshop organised by RBBC/SSAB and the Independent Chair.

RBBC CSP to request that the Home Office promotes the Domestic Abuse Housing Association Accreditation principles as best practice for housing associations70.

The Children Service Academy (SCSA), SSCP and SSAB will ensure that staff working with vulnerable adults, children and families have an in depth understanding through DA training including coercive controlling behaviour, the trauma impact of CCB, the increased risks including stalking, grooming of family members and professionals, retaliatory violence / resistance and an understanding of the links between substance abuse, mental health issues and domestic abuse. Through training, those professionals working in adult social care must have the tools to understand the needs of a victim suffering from domestic abuse, substance abuse and mental health issues.

The Surrey Children Services Academy (SCSA), SSCP and SSAB will develop a training programme and guidance information on Professional Curiosity which will be available to all agencies including the charity, community and faith sectors. Agencies to review improved understanding of professional curiosity in supervision.