1. DHRs – SAFEGUARDING LEARNING TO DATE

2. Domestic homicide review process (snapshot)
Domestic Homicide occurs
CSP informed and decides on whether the homicide
meets criteria of DHR (Within one month of homicide)
Criteria met: CSP commission
DHR and Review Panel
Conduct DHR: Chair to draft Overview Report, Executive Summary and Action Plan (Within 6 months of CSP decision to hold DHR)
Review Panel establishes terms of reference, appoints Chair and commissions agency IMRs and relevant reports
QA Group assesses Review as adequate/inadequate according to guidance.
Review is published, stored centrally by HO and lessons learned disseminated by QA Group via bulletin and web page.
Review agreed by
Review Panel and
sent to
commissioning CSP
CSP agree Review and send to Home Office

3. Learning the Lessons
‘The repetition of past mistakes may amount to institutional incompetence’
(McPherson, 1998)
‘I am convinced the answers lie in doing
relatively straightforward things well’
(Laming, 2003)

4. Some observations - sources
Delivered accredited training for DHR chairs to 94 delegates
Quality Assure approximately two DHRs a month
Chairing DHRs (18)
Acting as a sounding board for other Chairs
Recent Home Office publication on DHRs

5. Some observations
Lack of understanding how central the family are to the process
We need to have a new conversation about information sharing and risk – professional judgement / listening to victims is critical.
Engagement with perpetrators outside of the CJS is limited

6. Issues with thresholds / definitions of vulnerable
Lack of professional curiosity
Engaging with the unengaged
Attribution of bruising to falls / age related conditions
Sons with mental health / substance use issues
Lack of carer assessments
Lack of risk recognition for carers

7. Understanding abuse as a power issue and not a relationship issue
Financial abuse far higher in older age group
Disability doubles the risk
V little data – BCS cuts off at 59
Risk is often multi-faceted
Complex needs – a significant failing
Coercive control is a better indicator of risk than physical violence

8. Finally…
Always assume that your report – IMRs and ORs – is being read by those that loved the victim. Would the report seem adequate to you?
DHRs are a great opportunity to think differently about domestic violence. They are a new framework which allows us to really test our service provision against the needs of real victims and their real circumstances

9. Every Body Matters