Leicester review

Raise awareness of the role domestic violence services can play in safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Before a specialist domestic abuse services closes a referral that they have not been able to make contact with they take it to a JAG or appropriate multiagency meeting

DASH risk assessment training to include details of local services.

It is recommended that Leicestershire Police reissues guidance reminding officers of the need to add a separate Crime Intelligence System incident for all breaches of bail conditions.

It is recommended that Leicestershire Police reissues guidance reminding officers that when granting bail for Crown Prosecution Service referral or after charge for domestic abuse, conditions are attached or, where applicable, reasons why conditional bail has not been given are recorded.

It is recommended that Leicestershire Police puts in place a system, with the assistance of the courts, whereby the reasoning behind discontinuances of domestic abuse cases at court are recorded.

It is recommended that Leicestershire Police engages at a strategic level with the CPS and HM Courts and Tribunals Service to develop and implement a clearer, stronger and more victim-focused policy on how and when ‘victimless’ prosecutions (cases where the victim is unwilling to support a prosecution)should be progressed; this should also include standardising the terminology used.

It is recommended that Leicestershire Police makes changes to the DASH risk assessment on Crime Intelligence System ensuring the collar number of the officer completing the form is added and restricting officers from adding their supervisor’s collar number; this will ensure that all incidents involving domestic abuse are subject of supervisory review.

It is recommended that as part of its current review of the Comprehensive Referral Desk and Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit, Leicestershire Police considers the line management of the Assistant Referral Officers working within the Domestic Abuse Referral Team and ensures a more cohesive approach is taken to dealing with outreach referrals and looking at repeat victims.

It is recommended that, following the IMR for FN and the implementation of a system that identifies and reviews repeat victims of domestic abuse, Leicestershire Police reviews the current process, evaluating the sustainability of this work being completed by LPUs and whether it is having a positive impact on reducing further victimisation.

Francis Dixon Lodge LPT to develop an operational policy which clearly describe all aspects of service delivery and care planning e.g. risk assessment, implementing the CPA process, the service approach to risk assessment, the triage process, admission and discharge planning & effective communication and interagency working.

Risk assessment refresher training to be delivered to staff within Francis Dixon Lodge to increase capability and confidence of practitioners. The LPT CPA lead will deliver this training on risk management planning following assessment for FDL (TSPPD) team.

Risk assessment forms to be shared systematically and in a timely way across all involved teams within AMH division, with team members in Francis Dixon Lodge and to agree how this information is shared with GPs

Consideration to be given to the reciprocal information sharing agreement with GP’s as part of the development of the ‘RiO’ Electronic Patient Record system

Individualised care plans to be implemented for Francis Dixon Lodge clients

To continue to deliver Domestic Violence training across the Trust within the Adult Service Safeguarding programmes.

To provide staff training and improve staff awareness of MAPPA procedures and processes across the Trust

Joint working arrangements across In-Patient and CMHT’s to be reviewed to ensure that on balance they are providing the best configuration in relation to information sharing, effective and seamless transition and continuity for patients.

Accurate completion of Spousal Abuse Risk Assessment (SARA) and Specific; Measured; Achievable Realistic Time-bound Supervision plans – sample check Offender Managers’ SARA and supervision plans

Liaising with statutory agencies. Ensure that anyone subject to a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement or Alcohol Treatment Requirement, that their GP is routinely notified

Liaising with other statutory agencies. To go through all Offender Manager’s domestic violence cases to ensure offender manager has gathered and shared information with other relevant agencies.

Risk management plans incorporate direct reference to victims. Ensure that domestic violence risk management plans are making reference to victims.

Use of weapons are addressed in risk management plans. LRPT to review resources re working with perpetrators who use a weapon.

Levels of Offender management contact and home visiting. Recommend changes to LRPT Domestic Violence policy so that Offender managers are clear about the levels of contact expected in Domestic violence cases.

Quality of Domestic violence work with medium risk of harm cases and oversight by line managers. The majority of Serious Further Offences come from medium risk cases, and are most often domestic violence in nature. In line management supervision, there is inevitably a focus upon high risk cases. LRPT will be doing sample audits across all Offender Manager teams once a month, looking at medium risk domestic violence and safeguarding cases using the RADAR tool.

Case to be discussed at Practice clinical meeting once outcome of review known and final recommendations made.

Practice education around domestic violence, its signs and assessing risk

At the point of registration with a GP; patients to be asked for consent to allow relevant and proportionate information about them to be shared and received with other services to reduce the risk of harm and safeguard themselves or others

Swanswell will continue to attend to each meeting MARAC on an on-going basis

Swanswell will introduce information around domestic abuse into our pregnancy pack from Oct 2013

All team members have been mandated to complete AVA's new e-learning programme, Complicated Matters: addressing domestic and sexual violence, substance use and mental ill-health. They will have completed this by end of Sept 2013

Swanswell will include training around Domestic Abuse within its mandatory training program starting in January 2014

DASH training to be arranged for all staff. Currently being arranged but it is hoped that this will take place in Nov/Dec 2013

A Domestic Abuse pack will be developed. This will include advice and information for workers and for potential victims. It will also include contact details and referral pathways for all relevant services. This is due for completion end of Oct 2013

Representatives from domestic abuse services will be invited to attend team meetings of all Swanswell teams from Oct 2013

Although the supervisor role has a significant clinical element we are re-shaping the supervisor role to enhance its clinical overview of domestic abuse cases. This will take from Jan 2013

Supervisor’s will audit all cases where there is mental health involvement to ensure joint working procedures are being adhered to

That MARAC referrals completed by UHL ED will be received by MARAC co-ordinator -Amend the Emergency Department domestic violence procedure to include a prompt for staff to ensure that a fax receipt, which confirms successful transmission, is obtained and filed in the notes (when a MARAC referral is completed). This is already completed

Explore the possibility of MARAC referrals being completed electronically by senior ED staff

Emergency Department medical staff will advise GPs, through the GP letter, when a patient has attended ED following episodes of domestic violence.

Develop a standardised protocol (for adult areas) when responding to adults who disclose domestic violence – this will be developed in consultation with other agencies.