'Weaknesses' in looking after child domestic abuse victims in Reading
The inspection was conducted to find out how children aged 0-7 are looked after following domestic abuse cases
Last updated 8th May 2025
Inspectors have found ‘significant weaknesses’ in the help and support for children and their families who are victims of domestic abuse in Reading.
Investigators recently conducted an inspection into how child victims of domestic abuse in the town are cared for.
The inspection was conducted to find out how children aged 0-7, including children in the womb, are looked after following domestic abuse cases.
A report states: “This inspection identified significant weaknesses in the multi-agency approach to prevention, help and support for children and their families.
“Too many children and their families who are victims of domestic abuse experience significant delays in their needs and risks being fully understood and addressed.
“While there are elements of practice that are having a positive impact for children, there remain serious and widespread weaknesses in the multi-agency strategic and practice response to domestic abuse.”
An area of strength identified is a ‘pre-birth panel’ that identifies risks for unborn children and offers early protective interventions and assessments before a child is born.
The inspection took place over five days in March, into the support for child domestic abuse victims and their families provided by the Berkshire West
Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSWP), made up of three councils, Thames Valley Police, and the probation service.
Investigators identified inconsistent information sharing between the organisations and poor-quality risk assessments that led to ‘weak decision-making’ for children.
It was carried out by inspectors from Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, the police inspectorate and the inspectorate for probation services.
Police officers were conducting prompt investigations of domestic abuse cases and effective initial enquiries to ensure that opportunities for evidence-based prosecutions are increased.
However, the report did identify a barrier to information sharing, finding that domestic history on the police national computer is not shared with children’s social services unless multi-agency safeguarding checks are formally requested, or a child protection strategy meeting is held.
The BWSP covers Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire, with inspection focusing on the experiences of children and families in Reading.
A joint response to the report by the BWSP states: “The findings of our partnership inspection into the impact of domestic abuse on children show that we need to be doing more and doing things differently, as a partnership, to recognise and respond to children experiencing domestic abuse in Reading.
“This is not good enough.
We have responded with pace to the recommendations and findings of the inspection.
“Across the partnership, we have taken swift action to strengthen systems and processes in Reading, and we have put in place robust reporting systems and governance that provides assurance and scrutiny of the child protection system across agencies.
“This includes partnership oversight of both our multi-agency and individual agency improvement plans.”
The full report was published on the Ofsted website on Tuesday, May 6.