About this page. This page summarises a Domestic Homicide Review published in the Home Office DHR Library. The full report is available at the source link below. Victim and perpetrator names are not included in extracted summaries on this page.

Source · Domestic Homicide Review

North Hertfordshire review

CSP: North Hertfordshire Published: September 2023 Year of death: 2018 Extracted: 8 recs

Statutory domestic homicide review under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Source: Home Office DHR Library.

View full report (PDF) ↗ Source: Home Office DHR Library

Summary

The review identified missed opportunities by professionals to recognise and respond to indicators of domestic abuse, including coercive control and financial exploitation. Concerns include inadequate risk assessment, insufficient support pathways for male victims and rural communities, and a lack of understanding of trauma's impact on children.

Extracted recommendations

8 recommendations pulled from the report

#	Recommendation	Addressed to
1	It is recommended that HPFT prepare a learning note of the key factors identified in this case and develop a training programme for practitioners to include: 1. The need to exercise professional curiosity when hearing of tensions within a domestic setting; 2. How to identify the risks and indicators of domestic abuse, including the increased risk during or following separation/divorce; 3. The importance of identifying the signs of coercive controlling behaviour; 4. Of where to go for support if they are unsure how to manage risks around domestic abuse.	Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
2	It is recommended that HCS prepare a learning note of the key factors identified in this case and provide training to raise awareness of staff: 1. Of the importance of utilising case chronologies when undertaking statutory assessments. Where there is a justified belief that other household members may be at risk, it is appropriate to consider all contacts received about and from a family, therefore not looking at domestic abuse incidents in isolation. 2. To exercise Professional curiosity when engaging with clients who are exhibiting signs of trauma and explore the underlying causes.	Hertfordshire Children’s Services
3	It is recommended Hertfordshire Integrated Care Partnership commission the local CCG’s to issue guidance and provide training for all GP practices in their area highlighting the need to ask questions overtly about domestic abuse when patients present with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. (The underlying cause could be associated with domestic abuse). The training should also include raising knowledge of referral pathways to services who can offer support.	Hertfordshire Integrated Care Partnership \| Herts Valleys and East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups
4	It is recommended that HDAP ensure that a learning note is prepared and circulated to all front-line professionals in education, health and social care advising practitioners that trauma presentations can be similar to autistic behaviours or labelled as mental illness episodes. Professionals must ensure that trauma and abuse are considered before concluding alternative diagnosis. This should include information from the latest research in this area.	Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership
5	It is recommended that Hertfordshire Constabulary issue guidance to all officers that: 1. Allegations/concerns regarding financial abuse is an indicator of domestic abuse and this aspect is covered in all training provision on the subject of domestic abuse. 2. The importance of creating an environment where all parties can be spoken to independently of one another at incidents of domestic abuse. 3. They consider the new domestic abuse bill and recognise children can be victims of domestic abuse, when exposed to it.	Hertfordshire Constabulary
6	It is recommended that Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership commission a review, the purpose of which is to consider whether specialist domestic abuse services (and perhaps mental health services) in Hertfordshire are equally accessible to all, regardless of where in the county they live. Particular attention should be paid to what services are accessible to those living in rural areas and those available to male victims. Once complete, the information to be made available to all statutory agencies for onward dissemination to frontline staff.	Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership
7	It is recommended HSCB ensure further training provision is made available on “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma” and delivered to all multi-agency practitioners who are involved in working with children and young people.	Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children’s’ Board
8	It is recommended the HDAP adopt the Safelives Approach to “The Whole Picture Strategy” and incorporate within their domestic abuse strategy a programme of work to improve Professional’s knowledge and application of the “Identification and Referral to Improve Safety” Strategy.	Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership
Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗