Undertaking domestic homicide and suicide reviews: draft statutory guidance - consultation

Annex 2 – Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Flow Chart

Annex 2 provides a high level summary of the domestic homicide and suicide review process from initial notification or referral through to implementation of learning.

1. Notification

The process begins following a suspected domestic abuse death or connected death which will be notified to the Review Oversight Committee via a notifying body (Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service or the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner) or a referral will be made to the Review Oversight Committee via Scottish Ministers

2. Scoping

An initial scoping will be undertaken by the Review Overview Committee. In the case a referral it may go back to the family for further information to help inform a decision on whether a death meets the criteria and should be reviewed.

If a death meets the criteria and a review is to be undertaken a Terms of Reference will be prepared. If there are bereaved children and/ or adults at risk or young people living in the household, consideration is to be given to whether a review is expanded beyond the point of death. In such cases the Lord Advocate must approve this. Where the criteria is not met a summary report is prepared setting out the reasons for a death not proceeding to review. This can lead to a death being notified or referred again should further detail come to light. Where the Review Oversight Committee cannot reach a view or which to seek a view, it can seek this from Scottish Ministers. Scottish Ministers can also overturn a decision made by the Review Oversight Committee not to review a death.

3. Review

Following a decision for a review to be established a case review panel will be established which may include a combined and or joint review, specialist expertise would be invited where necessary, family would be notified of the intention for a review to be undertaken and the Terms of Reference revised.

Relevant information would then be requested through Individual Management Review from the Single Points of Contact, information from families, friends and communities would be sought and where there is an accused person, a letter would be sent to their legal representative.

On receipt of the information the panel would analyse this and formulate its findings, learning and recommendations. A facilitated learning event may also be held.

4. Report

The independent chair would prepare the review report in conjunction with the review panel and prepare learning and recommendations. Recommendations would be shared with relevant agencies and the chair would consider any feedback before submitting the final draft report to the Review Oversight Committee for quality assurance. The Review Oversight Committee will review the report and may provide feedback/ changes. Before publication approval must be received by COPFS. Families are to be made aware of the publication. Reports approved by the Review Oversight Committee may not be able to be published due to the level of risk associated with them. A risk assessment will be carried out. Reports or parts of reports may be able to be shared with relevant persons in order to ensure learning is shared. Reports are to be submitted to Scottish Ministers and then published.

5. Learning

Published reports will be disseminated as well as learning. Implementation of recommendations will be monitored with action logs created and kept updated with updates from senior points of contact to be provided. Every two years a biennial thematic review report will be laid before the Scottish Parliament. A Scottish Ministers Oversight Group will monitor recommendation implementation, impact and change.