BIRMINGHAM SOUTH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORUM

22nd January 2015

Clinical Commissioning Groups – working with GP practices to identify and support victims of domestic violence

Question/Topic / Suggestions/comments/feedback / Key points, which could be taken forward (recurring/from feedback) / Summary
Reflecting on professional experiences of working with GP’s regarding domestic violence, identify:
·  Positive experiences – what made them positive? What is positive that we want to encourage more of? / In Redditch local GP refers women to services already / ·  Multi-disciplinary case meetings are proving very positive – opportunities to include further agencies/services in these?
·  Some attitude and culture changes being noticed, build on what has already started / ·  Some positive multi-agency working already being developed, particularly the multi-disciplinary safeguarding meetings in GP practices. Scope for other agencies/services to support and add to these?
·  Two way visibility of services and contacts – 1) GP practices – points of contact, DV policies and practices, multi-agency meetings, 2) information promoting the wide range of services available for GPs to refer to and interact with, as well as feedback from referrals made by GPs
·  Information sharing guidance still needed for GPs and for those needing information from GPs (starting with when/where women have provided consent for their medical details to be shared)
·  Whole GP practice approach needed, which includes reception staff, practice manager and GPs
GP liaison form and maternity liaison
Safeguarding meetings now happening monthly to discuss live safeguarding cases
Where there are multi-disciplinary meetings in GP practices it offers an opportunity to share information about specific cases – along with a discussion and formulation of action plans. Sometimes a member of this multi-disciplinary team can provide feedback about child protection conferences, which keeps the GP informed and enables the GP to also put an alert on the system (patient record)
Noted that GPs are starting to recognise the importance of domestic violence
GPs are become more pro-active in contacting and referring to support services
A lot of women are also reporting very supportive and understanding attitudes
Reflecting on professional experiences of working with GP’s regarding domestic violence, identify:
·  Negative experiences – what made them negative? What might be done to improve on/change this? / GPs lacking knowledge of services available to be able to refer DV cases / ·  Visibility and accessibility of GP practices needs improving to facilitate more two way communication
·  Increase GP knowledge of the wide range of services available – how to do this for each GP practice?
·  Better referrals needed (in general) to all agencies
·  Feedback from referrals needed (to GPs)
GPs having a lack of time and/or resource to share information with other agencies
DV support for children’s emotional needs – awareness of signposting that education can access
Data protection and information sharing is too restrictive from GP side
Blockages and problems in getting past the practice managers in the first instance, before can even make contact with GPs
The outcomes from referrals to GPs from the new system: how will these be met from third sector agencies who are already under a lot of pressure?
Lack of communication from GPs – limited and vague references to domestic violence and abuse in referrals to services and absolutely
No acknowledgment of updates given to GPs from wraparound services re. domestic violence, engagement, plans, interventions
No updates from GPs even when woman is saying she sought medical attention for her injuries due to DV and consent to share information was in place
Difficult to make appointments with GPs at short notice
GP attitudes can be dismissive and damage a willingness to disclose DV
Even in best cases, with best attitudes towards DV, GPs do little other than refer on and do not respond to agency updates
Reflecting on professional experiences of working with GP’s regarding domestic violence, identify:
·  Changes that could be made to improve/further improve joint working with GPs / Guidance about what information can be shared with and by GPs, e.g. name of alleged perpetrator, so if GP is aware if ex-partner, current partner / ·  Improve information – guidance needed to do this, starting with situations where women have provided consent for their details to be shared by their GP
·  Build on the increasing awareness by supplying/displaying posters and other promotional materials in GP practices – waiting rooms, toilets etc.
·  GP practice DV policies to be made available for partners to view, add to, support or challenge
·  Whole GP practice approach needed, which includes training of reception staff, policy which GPs put into action and practice managers as external points of contact
·  Opportunity to include Visual Evidence for Victims (VEV) in GP practices to record injuries via photos for later use?
Accountability for GPs and there contributions/actions (or lack of)
Practice Managers as single points of contact for domestic violence (or another person as a point of contact for each GP practice)
Is there scope for GP’s to start recording injuries via photos (Visual Evidence for Victims – VEV?)?
Provide the same level of training to GP practice managers as GPs as they are the “gatekeepers” to each practice and GPs
Can the new advocates have a link into BCC Children’s Services Team Around the Family (TAF) and Common Assessment Framework (CAF)?
Can a copy of GP practice policies be shared with other agencies
Better training of reception staff so if a woman wants to request a female doctor she doesn’t have to request this loudly in a waiting room (glass screens don’t help this at some GP practices)
Visible, good promotion of DV awareness with posters in waiting rooms – it’s a good idea to put this info in the toilets so people can take note of the support without being seen
Standardised information sharing form across all agencies
Will the new advocate be located in a central position? And will all health professionals be able to access them?