Homeless Mortality Reviews (HMRs)

In November 2020, Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB) received the report on the Thematic Review into Deaths of Homeless People. The OSAB commissioned the review to focus on the deaths of 9 people in Oxford that occurred between November 2018 and June 2019.

This Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) recommended all deaths in the homeless community be reviewed, regardless of cause of death, much like is done for all adults with a learning disability (LeDeR process).

The Homeless Mortality Review (HMR) process is used throughout Oxfordshire and is overseen by the OSAB and a dedicated Officer who is part of the Board Support Unit. There is full co-operation of the OSAB member organisations as well as other organisations who operate in the area of homelessness within the county. This includes their provision of written records and agreement to working collaboratively in multi-agency review meetings for each case.

The purpose of the HMR is for organisations to review the case fully, to better understand what happened and to consider if there could be changes made to the system, to improve outcomes for the future. Any learning and actions are shared amongst all partner agencies.