Kent review

Records maintained by GP Surgeries need to be current and reflect information that they are privy to from other NHS Organisations. Where a patient is homeless, the record should be flagged as such and contribute to a Surgery based risk register of vulnerable patients.

A process to be developed that assists Primary Care practices with quality monitoring including the monitoring of compliance with existing safeguarding policy and procedures beyond national contract measures.

There are clear benefits to having a dedicated IDVA available in Accident and Emergency, along with a dedicated Homeless Practitioner role and bespoke processes in place to deal with homelessness. This good practice should be disseminated to other Acute Hospital Trusts.

The police should review current procedures to ensure all MARAC victims, where appropriate, have operational information on STORM. This information needs to be current and relevant to assist call handlers undertaking real time risk assessments.

Current protocols and procedures should be reviewed to ensure client files and supervision client files are completed and adhere to policy guidelines in terms of content and timeliness.

Identify documents that have not migrated to MOSAIC.

A training needs analysis should be carried out to identify what training should be provided to Liaison and Diversion Practitioners (not professionally qualified) deployed in custody suites. This should cover existing staff and new staff recruited to these roles as part of their induction training. Training should specifically cover what circumstances must be referred to a qualified mental health specialist. The role and function of CJLDS practitioners should be widely disseminated to other KMPT departments. Vulnerability assessments are not mental health assessments.

Deliver workshop training to staff and volunteers that details what good record keeping looks like. Support managers to deliver a clear footprint across records and caseloads to ensure robust auditing and safe case progression.

It is recommended that a programme of review and evaluation of MARACs in Kent and Medway takes place. The findings of this review are to be taken to the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Executive Board and the Domestic Homicide Review Steering Group with recommendations for discussion. Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board to be given sight of findings. (DA Leads for KCC, Medway Council and Kent Police).

Disseminate the learning from this review with local Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and highlight the risks associated with allowing rough sleepers to congregate in makeshift camps for a prolonged period.