Epping Forest review

Psychiatric Liaison Service and Access and Assessment Brief Intervention Team must be made aware that service users are taken on by Early Intervention in Psychosis Team for up to three years and can be referred back at any point during that time.

All Mental Health Service staff to continue to make attempts to obtain collaborative information and to indicate in progress notes the reason for not obtaining collaborative information from families and carers.

The findings of this investigation should be shared with the victim’s next of kin and the service user. A meeting should be offered and facilitated by the Integrated Care Director if required, in order to discuss the findings. The investigation panel was unable to contact the service user due to the Criminal Justice process. Should the service user request a copy of the findings of the report at a later date; the Integrated Care Director should arrange to share the findings of the report.

The Southend Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Strategic Board to continue to share learning from DHRs; in relation to this case to share the information sharing related learning from this case to all agencies, using existing networks, communication channels and events (e.g. flag through the Essex DHR Thematic Review highlight in training and cascade to other agencies). Specifically emphasising the need for agencies to ensure that staff to gain consent for information sharing (with other agencies and families) in their initial assessments with clients; and for agencies to ensure staff understand and feel confident about information sharing, in particular contacting other boroughs and areas.

Essex Safeguarding Adults Board to: seek assurance from its partners that support is available to carers; and ensure that support for carers is integrated into its training, awareness raising and communications relating to safeguarding adults.

Essex Care Association to promote the findings from this DHR amongst its members.

A further recommendation is made for NELFT to communicate to all teams the correct referral pathways to the local drug and alcohol service.