Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) Quality and AuditGroup

Terms of Reference

Main Function:The MARAC Quality and Audit group will monitor and evaluate the MARAC to ensure that the performance of the MARAC is effective to:

  • Safeguard the domestic abuse victim, child(ren) and others at risk
  • Reduce the risk of murder or serious harm.

Key activity of the group:

  • Develop an annual thematic audit plan informed by evidence gained from serious case and domestic homicides reviews. The audit plan will ensure a range of themes are considered and will include cases which enable an assessment of the interaction of other safeguarding processes alongside the MARAC e.g. MAPPA, Children’s Service’s Integrated Screening Hub, Adult Social Care Safeguarding.
  • Audit the overall performance of the MARAC by conducting thematic audits of MARAC cases as determined by the annual audit plan
  • Address poorMARAC operational and safeguarding practice identified through the audit process or identified by MARAC partner agencies.
  • Receive quarterly domestic abuse performance management reports from the Domestic Abuse Steering Group. Using this data:
  • Monitor whether referrals to MARAC reflect the diversity of the population and promote remedial actions to ensure equality of outcomes.
  • Monitor the involvement at MARAC by MARAC partner agencies.
  • Receive information from Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse groups and the local East Sussex Domestic Abuse Steering Groupsummarising thelearning derived from Domestic Homicide and Serious Case Reviews. Using this information:
  • Ensure MARAC practice takes account of identified learning through the audit process.

Reporting:

  • Recommendations from the Quality and Audit group may cover MARAC practice and/ orMARAC partner agency practice prior or post MARAC.
  • The MARAC Quality and Audit Group may agree immediate actions required by agencies. Representatives will have a responsibility to take recommendations back to their agency and action.
  • The MARAC Quality and Audit Group may agree broader thematic learning and recommendations which will be reported to the East Sussex Domestic Abuse Steering Group and the Local Safeguarding Children Board in a timely way and within an annual report.

Membership

Agency / Job Title
Sussex Police: / Detective Chief Inspector (Specialist Investigation Unit)
ESCC Children’s Services: / -Operations Manager, Countywide Duty and Assessment Team
-Policy & Programme Manager / THRIVE Project Manager
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust / Named Nurse Child Protection
CRI – Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Service / CRI Regional Director - South East
National Probation Service / Quality Officer
Probation: Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) / Senior Probation Officer

Chair

  • MARAC Development Officer, Safer East Sussex Team.

Frequency of Meetings

  • Every two months

Administration

  • Administrative support will be provided by the Safer East Sussex Team.

Accountability

  • The Group is accountable to the East Sussex Domestic Abuse Steering Group, and will report annually to this group and the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

April 2014