St Helens review

The MeRIT risk assessment tool has been amended to include questions regarding suicidality and self-harm being asked of the victim.

The existing practice of prohibiting domestic abuse interventions from being offered to victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse whilst on remand in H. M. Prison be changed and such interventions be encouraged.

Funding has been secured to appoint a Complex Needs IDVA in St Helens via CGL.

Preventative interventions aimed at reducing levels of domestic abuse are shown to have been considered in every case where a victim or perpetrator of domestic abuse is in prison or being supervised within the community.

Following a refresher training course for all Adult Safeguarding staff the Merit/ MARAC training has now been made mandatory for all new staff joining Safeguarding Services and this commitment has been included within the revised Domestic Abuse Strategy for St Helens.

Provide all domestic abuse victims with advanced notice of the perpetrators release from prison after sentences of less than twelve months.

A program of proactive intervention be developed, implemented and coordinated by MARAC aimed at providing increased safety for victims and their families when a perpetrator is placed on remand or sentenced to a term of imprisonment for domestic abuse related offending and prior to their release.

Incorporate the issue of domestic abuse as a suicide risk factor, in any future regional or local Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan, with the aim of reducing the number of domestic abuse victims who take their own lives.

The profile of the suicide prevention strategy be raised in St Helens along with clear direction to individuals and agencies regarding the strategies expectations for safety planning and risk management and what tools are required to be used by all services within the partnership.

Funding be secured to appoint more Complex Needs IDVA’s in St Helens

Embed a trauma informed approach into all training and that training to be co-ordinated and delivered across all relevant partnerships and agencies in St Helens.

Training be delivered to accommodation/hostel providers so that they understand their responsibility to safeguard individuals in their accommodation who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Accommodation provision be reviewed and relevant changes to current practice made to ensure that victims and perpetrators are able to be accommodated separately at the earliest opportunity.

The impact of temporary/short term funded posts be evaluated and sustainable funding be secured as part of a co-ordinated approach to domestic abuse and suicide prevention across St Helens.

Ensure that the contents of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 are the subject of a joint agency training program across all agencies in St Helens.

MeRIT and domestic abuse referral pathways training be included as a mandatory training requirement for all front-line staff by all agencies.