Rochdale review

Strengthen the effectiveness of MRM meetings by ensuring the meetings include representation of all services in direct contact with the subject, and all agencies with expertise to support the work of those services e.g. drug and alcohol services, mental health services, so expert advice can be provided. Membership to be updated as new services become involved. MRM meetings to routinely consider whether all applicable non-statutory services available in Rochdale have been offered to both client and carer.

Consideration to DVPN/O should be given at all stages to cases of DA wherein victims are unsupportive of Police action. This should include following arrest - and referenced in the recorded rationale within the force policy for Detainees Leaving Police Custody against the consideration for imposing conditional bail – as well as within the closure rationale for crime and DAB reports

Domestic Abuse Training should be essential for all staff in assessment teams including managers in adult social care.

It is essential to acknowledge the time constraints within primary care and to provide GPs with a domestic abuse screening tool which is simple to use, short, safe and validated.

Recommendations in relation to actions for NCA are in relation to training and development and raising awareness of potential indicators of Domestic Abuse. Adherence to NCA policy in relation to early escalation and multiagency involvement. Also, assurance that learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews will continue to be shared across NCA. As an organisation, a project in Oldham; “Open Door Project”, has been commissioned to focus on Domestic Abuse in Older People. NCA are supporting this work and developing some video resources that will be utilised to raise awareness of Domestic Abuse within this age category.

Care4U to routinely request information regarding domestic violence prior to agreeing and commencing a package of care.

Non-compliance and non-attendance at MRM and MARAC meetings by key partners should be challenged and if unresolved escalated. The multi-agency escalation policy to be reviewed.

GMP MASH processes should include the recording of actions arising from MARAC and timescale for Police review.

Adult Care need to be assured that there is an escalation protocol in place for when there are concerns regarding lack of engagement from other agencies.

There is a need to ensure that GP Practices have access to the safer online/ remote consultation guidance

Care4U staff need to increase their knowledge in respect to Domestic Violence through training.

Adult Care to ensure Carer assessments are offered to all carers, in line with legislation, even if the referred client declines involvement.

Awareness of powers of entry/search and arrest should be raised amongst Officers attending to welfare/Bail/DVPO checks with respect to high-risk cases of domestic violence. These should be undertaken on a joint agency basis where appropriate.

Escalation Policy to be devised/reviewed for Adult Social Care.

There is a need to increase GP awareness of the availability and value of the electronic mental capacity template.

Care4U staff need clear guidance and training on when, how and where to obtain assistance in assessing mental capacity.

MARAC needs to evidence referral of perpetrators to perpetrator programmes.

Practitioners should be aware of the perpetrator programme Panel for perpetrator and In Domestic Abuse cases, practitioners to consider referrals to the perpetrator programme panel to address the behaviour of the perpetrator.

Where subjects are felt to be making unwise decisions, services are struggling to engage them, and alcohol or substance misuse, and or coercion and control may be having an adverse impact on mental capacity, legal advice must be routinely sought to ensure all legal options have been explored.

Increased awareness required regarding the IDVA Service– Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy.

Guidance to be produced for all care agencies in relation to mental capacity assessments.

Early referral for legal advice required. An earlier referral for Legal advice should have taken place in this case following non- engagement with the safeguarding enquiry and ongoing risk/concerns on 20.8.2021.

Victim support services to revisit their way of working with clients who are not engaging, to include joint working with partner agencies.