Lousia Ovington independent investigation report ... - NHS North East

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CHAPTER 5 – INVOLVEMENT WITH POLICE AND PROBATION
There is evidence in the probation records of communication between the care
coordinator and probation and of probation being invited to meetings. In December/
January 2001 Probation Officer 4 is recorded as trying to ascertain who the responsible
psychiatrist was. Probation was clearly aware that Louisa Ovington was involved with
other agencies.
COMMENT
The panel was told by Probation Manager 1 and by Mr J. McCartney that neither
legislation nor Government guidance defines who should be responsible for managing
a condition of psychiatric supervision when added to a probation order. The view of
both of them however was that the probation officer in charge of the case should be
the person responsible. In Louisa Ovington’s case there was utter confusion about this.
The order did not name the supervisor; it was not sent to Consultant 5; and there was
no recorded attempt by probation to identify the supervisor and ensure that this vital
condition was complied with other than an attempt to find out who Louisa Ovington’s
consultant was in December 2001. The panel is very surprised at this; if the condition
were thought so important, the panel would have expected that there would have
been clear lines of accountability and proper procedures for checking that it was being
complied with both by Louisa Ovington and by the psychiatric supervisor. The lack of
clarity rendered the condition worthless as an ‘arm’ of the order, almost as though it
were an entirely extraneous element and not an essential requirement in rehabilitating
Louisa Ovington and managing her risk. In fact she was, from time to time, attending
outpatients’ appointments but very much according to her own agenda. It is notable
however that she attended Probation regularly, perhaps from concern that she would
otherwise be ‘breached’ and end up in custody, of which she was known to be fearful.
Fourth PSR June 2004
On 11 June 2004 Louisa Ovington pleaded guilty to a public order offence committed
on 6 June 2004. A PSR was directed by the court, with a view to a possible CRO,
but Louisa Ovington failed to attend either of the appointments made by Probation
Officer 6. In her report dated 30 June 2004 Probation Officer 6 stated that she had
contacted the police domestic violence unit who confirmed that Louisa Ovington had
made numerous telephone calls to them in the past six months, which information
supported Louisa Ovington’s description of her current difficulties. The PO asked for a
further adjournment to enable the report to be completed; however, it would appear
that the court proceeded without a report and Louisa Ovington was fined £50.
In the risk assessment (completed by another probation officer) attached to the PSR
documentation there is no mention of previous offences with weapons, nor, apart
from a brief reference to current depression and a previous alleged incident of self
harm, to a history of mental health problems.