Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews in Scotland: Statutory Guidance

Section 12 - Publication of Reports and Dissemination of Learning

This section provides detail on the publication of domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide review reports, and dissemination of learning.

12.1. Informing Families

Where the Lord Advocate consents to the publication of a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review report or public summary, families must be informed on:

• what will be published (e.g. a report and any accompanying materials)
• how anonymity and confidentiality will be protected
• when publication is proposed – important dates will be avoided e.g. birthdays, anniversaries, sentencing hearing date
• how families will be supported post publication

The Secretariat will be the key point of contact to discuss publication arrangements with. However, if preferred the Secretariat can liaise with the family’s advocate or support worker.

12.2. Dissemination of Learning

Identifying learning is a fundamental purpose of domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide reviews. Dissemination of the learning is therefore a key part of the process as it raises knowledge and awareness across practitioners, agencies and communities, leading to change and improvement across systems.

Where Lord Advocate approval for the publication of reports including a summary as outlined at 11.7 has been received, each domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide review will have an accompanying pack of resources for dissemination that are to include:

• a full pseudonymised report (shared with agencies where there are recommendations – this will not be a published report and restrictions on sharing will apply)
• a pseudonymised public summary – this will be published on the Scottish Government Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Model website
• an action plan – this will not be published due to risks of identifying victims, family including children, individual practitioners and perpetrators
• a 7 minute briefing that is intended to be shared for agencies to utilise to support dissemination of learning e.g. during a staff meeting

For each agency for which there is learning, recommendations and actions following a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, the Review Oversight Committee Chair will write to a senior representative within the agency e.g. local authority Chief Executive. The letter will outline:

• that a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review has been undertaken into the death of XX (pseudonymised) who resided within and/ or was in contact with the agency. If a joint review was undertaken the letter will include the other learning reviews which have been encompassed within the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review. In addition, if the review was expanded beyond the point of death this will also be outlined.
• the letter will set out the purpose of a domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide review and the legislation underpinning it.
• the role of the agency in the context of the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review.
• a summary of the findings relevant to the agency, specific recommendations, how these were reached by the Case Review Panel and what additional engagement was had with the agency.
• the actions, timescales and check in arrangements for the agency.
• any themes emerging for the agency and the wider area e.g. within the local authority, health board area etc.
• the monitoring arrangements and how these will feed into the biennial report;
• the documents enclosed including:
  • a pseudonymised copy of the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review and the restrictions on sharing with others
  • public summary for dissemination within their agency
  • action plan to be shared with relevant staff within their agency
  • a 7 minute briefing for dissemination within their agency
• where relevant, if family/ friends have asked for progress updates on implementation of recommendations and the process for how these will be sought from the agency.
• a request for feedback from those within the agency who participated in the review to help strengthen the domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide review model.
• the Review Oversight Committee Chair and Case Review Panel Chair’s thanks to those within the agency who participated in the review.

12.3. Monitoring Recommendation Implementation

The value of domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide reviews is in the translation of learning into meaningful victim-centred change, strengthening practice, services and systems, and enhancing public confidence.

Each agency has its own internal processes and governance arrangements for implementing and monitoring learning, recommendations, and actions. In addition to these, the Secretariat has a central role in tracking the implementation and impact of recommendations both locally and nationally through a central tracker. This tracker records key information, including the recommendation text, responsible organisation(s), timelines and phases for implementation, updates and milestones, written responses, and evidence of progress. It serves as the primary source for assurance, accountability, monitoring progress, identifying themes, and informing biennial reports.

The Secretariat will work closely with Single Points of Contact in each agency where recommendations have been made. Through the recommendation and action development process, timescales for implementation are agreed which the Secretariat will monitor. At specified check-in points, the Secretariat will contact the relevant Single Points of Contact to obtain updates on progress.

To support impact measurement, the Secretariat will provide an evaluation framework enabling agencies to self-assess the impact of changes made. Where recommendations have national significance, the Secretariat will liaise with relevant national bodies, including Scottish Government leads where appropriate.