Nottingham review

The Probation Service to provide evidence to Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership that the learning within this review has been embedded into practice.

Following new information relating to risk, service users should be instructed in for an additional appointment to discuss new concerns in a timely manner. There should be an appropriate response to this new information by the supervising officer e.g. reassessment of risk.

To continue to raise awareness to all EMAS staff via education, alerts, articles and audit the need to make safeguarding personal and the importance of discussing referrals with patients as well as consent.

The CCG need to explore the barriers to completing DASH-RIC in primary care services.

Consider safe contacts and how to reach the victim where domestic is identified within referral. Be aware when speaking to ‘friends’ of the individual and record name and relationship to the individual within casefile.

Nottinghamshire Police promote and raise awareness amongst staff of the use of Bad Character evidence in domestic abuse investigations. A “living” document, for repeat perpetrators, could be created and flagged within NICHE for repeat perpetrators to reduce duplication of effort in repeat cases.

All staff will be fully trained with a refresher course on Domestic Abuse.

That Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership seeks assurances from those agencies involved in the criminal justice system, and in particular the Witness Care Unit, that the learning from this case has been disseminated and embedded into practice. Also, that all options of engagement and contact with witnesses, including the identification of a main point of contact, are considered as part of the witness management process.

All domestic abuse perpetrators to have the following condition added to their licence. “To notify your supervising officer of developing intimate relationships”.

EMAS to explore creating Pathways to drug and alcohol services for referrals with consent.

GP Services to apply a did not attend process for high risk/vulnerable patients with support of the CCG linking with primary care.

Where contact cannot be established directly with the individual the Officer will make contact with the referring agency for support in making contact.

Nottinghamshire Police promote and raise awareness amongst staff, involved in the investigation of domestic abuse cases, the need to include the DV history of the victim and perpetrator in prosecution/ decision files.

To consider a web based programme for the recording of information to mitigate any further risk of technology issues (access through the Citrix platform).

That all agencies involved in this review provide evidence to Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership that agency referrals, where there is evidence of complex needs and vulnerabilities, are populated with all relevant information including vulnerabilities and risk factors.

Probation staff to be reminded to follow the existing policy for full risk assessment and sentence plans (OASYS Layer 3) to be completed on all domestic abuse perpetrators and for risk to be reviewed when there is new significant information.

Use of alerts on system1 to guide professionals to make every contact count.

In person appointments / drop in offered where victims of abuse are identified and where they do not have their own means of contacting the service.

Nottinghamshire Police ensure there is a process in place to manage actions, which may be protracted, raised at MARAC meetings.

That the Home Office and Government consider the learning from this case in relation to third-party disclosure of information when reviewing current legislation and guidance in relation to domestic abuse.

Probation staff to be reminded to use all available sources of information, e.g. previous records when making risk assessment and sentence plan recommendations.

Where the service is unable to reach the individual consideration will be given to whether it is appropriate to refer to the Police for support.

That Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership ensures that the learning from this review is used to inform the ongoing work around the remit of the Integrated Care Partnership.

Probation staff to be reminded to follow the existing policy for police/safeguarding checks to be carried out on all domestic abuse perpetrators at the start of supervision and at points when new information relating to risk emerges.

That all agencies involved in this review provide evidence to Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership that their agency is aware of the Integrated Care Pathway and referral pathway.

Probation staff to be reminded to follow the existing policy for home visits to be carried out on all domestic abuse perpetrators upon release and at points when new information relating to risk emerges.

That Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership’s Domestic Abuse Strategy details how it will respond to raising awareness on domestic abuse for all areas of the community, in particular, those with complex needs and additional vulnerabilities.

Probation staff to be reminded of the existing policy that new information received pertaining to risk is discussed with all appropriate agencies including the agency that provided the information.

That Juno Women’s Aid provide evidence and assurances to Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership that the operational changes and learning from this review have been embedded into practice. This recommendation should be completed within six months.

Probation staff to be reminded to consider issuing formal warning letters to service users in cases where action e.g. recall for breach of licence conditions, is considered but not taken.

That all agencies involved in this review provide evidence to Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership on how their agency has embedded the learning from this review, in terms of engagement and services, including accommodation to victims of domestic abuse.

Probation staff to be reminded to refer to Pathway Interventions e.g. Safe Choices/Spectrum for domestic abuse perpetrators, when accredited programmes are not applicable.

Probation staff to be reminded to record details of one-to-one work carried out as per existing policy.

Probation staff to ensure that the principles of professional curiosity are applied to the risk assessment and risk management of service user.

Ongoing quality audits are completed by line managers to ensure that the expectations and requirements of key policy documents are implemented