Sheffield review

DACT commissions work to identify the barriers that may be present within some Asian and Muslim communities that prevent victims from reporting domestic abuse to their families and agencies and develop an action plan to address any identified gaps.

DACT commissioners work with current domestic and sexual abuse service providers to undertake consultation with service users and community groups and ensure that staff are trained in cultural issues and barriers.

DACT alerts NHS England and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to the issues identified in this report in relation to the sharing of patient information between GPs and prison health providers and requests they consider to what extent national policies and procedures can be improved

Specialist substance misuse services commissioned within the Sheffield area should ensure that addressing domestic abuse is given the same profile as safeguarding children. Questions about home circumstances and alertness for signs of domestic abuse should be a routine part of assessment processes. If there are indications of domestic abuse, appropriate action should be taken. When new services are commissioned the contract should include this as a requirement of the service

DACT should continue to translate publicity materials and work with community organisations to ensure that support services are publicised appropriately. When material signposts victims to interpreting services these should be interpreters that are trained and educated in respect of the vulnerability of victims and the domestic abuse risk factors they may be exposed to.

When domestic abuse is disclosed, GPs should be encouraged to enquire about other significant risk factors causing vulnerability to children such as substance misuse and parental mental health concerns in all other household members and regular contact with a child.

When a significant risk factor is disclosed GPs should be encouraged to enquire about other vulnerable people in their household and consider appropriate safeguarding referrals.

NHS Sheffield CCG suggests that the practice lead GP for Safeguarding Adults reminds clinicians to enquire about domestic abuse if possible when patients discuss their drug or alcohol issues

The issue of interpreters is not exclusive to Sheffield. However those who commission interpreters within the Sheffield area, and were part of this review, need to be alerted to the issues that have emerged within this review. Commissioners should ensure that interpreters are trained and educated in respect of the vulnerability of victims and the domestic abuse risk factors they may be exposed to.

South Yorkshire Strategic Management Board (MAPPA) to remind the Responsible Authorities and Duty to Cooperate Agencies the importance and value in sharing information to assist the management of offenders.

Reinforce the need for professionals in all agencies to gather information from all likely sources when formulating and managing risk, thereby ensuring that all risk factors are identified and assessed.

DACT reviews the process for making and receiving third party reports of domestic abuse and considers ways in which this may be improved.