2. West Midlands domestic Violence & Abuse Standards
Purpose – promote safe and effective practice

3. Why Themes of recommendations made by DHRs across all years
Technology/ Systems
Guidelines
Identification of risk
Training
Policy
Inter-agency communication
Multi agency working
Record keeping
Awareness raising
Report on/share action plan/findings
Other
DHR learning consistently identifies issues
The most common theme occurring in intimate partner homicide DHRs was record keeping. This was highlighted as an issue in 28 out of 33 (85%) intimate partner homicide DHRs sampled.
 Risk assessment was the next most commonly occurring theme with 27 out of 33 DHRs (82%) highlighting this as an issue.
 Communication and information sharing between agencies was identified as an issue in 25 out of 33 (76%) DHRs sampled.
 There were 24 cases (73% of those sampled) where victims or perpetrators presented to agencies with possible signs of domestic abuse and/or domestic violence but this was not recognised or explored further.

4. Identification and understanding of domestic abuse
Need to improve awareness of domestic abuse
Many agencies are well placed to identify abuse. They have the opportunity to intervene early and direct victims to the most appropriate services

5. Information sharing and multi-agency working
Agencies sharing information about the risk of domestic abuse
Record domestic abuse incidents in order to identify repeat incidents and patterns of behaviour

6. Training Need for improved training on domestic abuse
Understand the dynamics of domestic abuse

7. Discussion What is needed to support compliance with the DA standards?
What is needed to support DHR learning?