Sefton review

Review domestic abuse policies, and work with partners to review their policies, so as to ensure it is clear when confidentiality can be breached and how suspicions of crime should be reported;

To review Domestic Violence content for mandatory training.

Recommendation (internal and external) Within six months, approach SWACA to see whether they can provide a training session to the team in Sefton – to team covering the three areas (i) confirm the team’s understanding of appropriate responses to disclosures of domestic violence, (ii) describe the support that they can offer and in the circumstances in which they can provide support, and (iii) support us to reflect on whether our usual responses to disclosures of domestic violence should be any different if the perpetrator is the victim’s child, sibling, etc.

To have one central tracking document per student. Develop and implement a new single tracking document for each student receiving support.

Review domestic abuse policies, and work with partners to review their policies so as to ensure that the circumstances in which behaviour amounts to abuse is clear and how it should be reported;

Publish learning lessons from this review in the ‘Clear Vision’ Bulletin. Write an article highlighting the importance of risk assessment and information sharing in relation to domestic abuse.

Review staff awareness of their role in responding to disclosures of domestic abuse, and confidence in fulfilling these roles – with individual development plans to address any identified needs

Advice should be sought from the LCSB as to the appropriateness of key College staff having a Level 3 Safeguarding qualification.

Work with partners to review their domestic abuse policies so as to ensure that direct questions are asked of those who abuse alcohol to establish if they present a risk of being a perpetrator or victim of domestic abuse;

Debrief and reflective learning with staff involved with the victim and the perpetrator.

External supervision should be available to staff with safeguarding responsibilities. College to source appropriate external supervisor.

In delivering these recommendations reinforce to partner agencies the complexities of family violence within a domestic abuse framework. In doing so they should consider using the death of the victim as a case study. It illustrates well that domestic abuse occurs in many different relationships between family members and not just between those who are, or have been, in an intimate relationship.

Implement a new model of delivering conduct, welfare and support in College. Review roles, responsibilities and delivery models for conduct, welfare and support and make appropriate structural changes.

That agencies who are commissioned to provide services should be required to inform their Commissioners when they become engaged in a DHR and of any recommendations arising.