Buckinghamshire review

TVP to further explore and develop the use of proactive PNC markers for Domestic Abuse High Risk perpetrators and/or subjects who have a domestic abuse history suitable for disclosure under DVDS (Clare’s Law).

In light of resourcing challenges within DAIU leading to the lack of ownership or supervisory oversight in relation to medium risk domestic abuse risk management occurrences (RMOs), TVP need to identify which resources will be responsible for medium risk domestic abuse RMO ownership and management. Once these resources have been identified, an audit of these types of RMO should be undertaken in six months to ensure ownership and supervisory reviews are taking place.

TVP to give clear direction about whether a Niche RMO should continue to be created by the MASH for cases of medium risk domestic abuse.

TVP to determine whether enhanced victim safety planning will be provided for medium risk domestic abuse, and who will undertake this provision.

TVP to ensure operational guidance in relation to blocking perpetrators of stalking should be reviewed to ensure it is in line with national guidance and takes account of recommendations from local and national DHRs.

TVP to ensure operational guidance reflects the fact that separation or planned separation signifies an escalation in domestic abuse risk.

TVP to review operational guidance and ensure it reflects good practice around timeliness of recording contact with domestic abuse victims in the occurrence enquiry log and all other relevant systems.

TVP officers/staff to be reminded that where a relevant domestic abuse history is identified, the Clare’s Law disclosure application process can be police instigated, even if this is not requested by the person at risk or other interested party.

Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Partnership (BucksDAP) to review and improve the current response and support available to those affected by domestic abuse in rural communities, ensuring they receive the support they need to overcome the challenges they face.

BucksDAP to improve the response and support available to people with itinerant lifestyles.

BucksDAP and relevant providers should work to ensure awareness and clarity about domestic abuse referral pathways amongst frontline services.

BucksDAP and relevant providers should work to reduce barriers and maximise accessibility to specialist domestic abuse services.

Buckinghamshire Council, BucksDAP and specialist domestic abuse advice and support services should ensure these services are promoted and available for friends and family members of victims and survivors.

Awareness should be raised at a national level about concerns regarding the potential for gaps in responding effectively to victims and survivors of domestic abuse where thresholds for statutory intervention are not met.

All safeguarding settings to review and ensure there is an effective response to domestic abuse where the statutory threshold is not met.

All provider agencies should demonstrate how their audit processes identify the activity relating to asking service users about domestic abuse, mental health and suicidality, and how these meet relevant practice guidelines. They should ensure that any training reflects this requirement.

All provider agencies should review their training requirements to ensure this includes opportunities for staff to attend mental health first aid and suicide prevention first aid training.

SCAS should ensure that current safeguarding training emphasises: • The consideration, awareness and identification of domestic abuse and appropriate responses, • The need for professional curiosity around domestic abuse and what this looks like,  • The need for professional consideration of the extrinsic factors which may impact on safeguarding, • The importance of information sharing and the need for staff to make safeguarding referrals in line with local and national policy.

Ensure the Making Every Contact Count approach and training includes reference to mental health and suicide.

Review the multi-agency suicide prevention action plan to ensure it aligns with the new national Suicide Prevention strategy for England 2023 – 2028 and incorporates recommendations from DSRs locally and nationally.

Ensure there is an annual deep dive on DSRs as part of the multi-agency suicide prevention meeting and that specialist domestic abuse services are represented.

Review and implement actions to improve quality of, and identify potential efficiencies for, local data to monitor suicide in Buckinghamshire: Real Time Surveillance System (RTSS) work with Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) and Thames Valley colleagues to further develop the regional RTSS in line with national good practice. Monitor and contribute to the new early warning National Near to Real Time Suspected Suicide Surveillance System (NRTSSS) providing updates to the Buckinghamshire multi-agency suicide prevention group on a quarterly basis for review.

OUH and MKUH should ensure maternity staff follow the NICE Antenatal Guidance (2021) in relation to domestic abuse.

Adult and Children’s Social Care should ensure routine questions about domestic abuse are asked and recorded.

Domestic abuse knowledge should be refreshed with all Social Care staff every 3 years.