By Charlotte Webster-
Social workers at a struggling West Midlands council failed to keep proper records, a serious case review into a life-changing head injury sustained by an infant has found.
The damning review found no evidence that any professional could have foreseen or prevented the harm to the baby, which occurred in Coventry during September 2015. However, it found evidence of poor quality and incompetence in general. The case is still being investigated by West Midlands police.
The broad investigation included the parenting of one of the Child’s older half-siblings in particular, a particular child who was eight in 2012, the start of the period covered by the review. It also included work carried out by agencies to support this.Coventry council children’s services, rated ‘inadequate’ in January 2014 by Ofsted, was involved on and off with the family from 2008, and the review highlighted a number of practice concerns.
These included “poor quality and inconsistent” record-keeping, failing to produce proper chronologies and inadequate information sharing. The review also identified “professional preciousness”, which meant non-statutory organisations were at times shut out from ongoing practice. The finding adds to the long list of incompetent findings that has tarnished the reputation of social workers in the last few years. The useful role played by social workers in society is undeniable, but continuous evidence of unprofessionalism is becoming a disturbing occurrence among social workers.
Weight concerns
Child V first became known to social workers after being admitted to hospital in July 2008 due to not gaining weight.
The hospital contacted Coventry council’s referral and assessment team (RAS), resulting in an agreement that a further referral to children’s social would be made if health visitor appointments were missed or Child V lost weight, however Child V made good progress and was discharged from paediatric follow-up in March 2009. Complaints of bruises on the child by his father and a later discovery of the child on urine soaked mattress went unaddressed.
On 16 May 2013, the child’s father, who was no longer with the mother, reported he had seen bruises, which he thought were fingermarks on his child’s arm, during a contact visit.
When a social worker in the RAS – who was “very new” and in her first post – visited Child V’s home, she found the child was made to sleep on a urine-soaked mattress, while the eldest sibling Child G had a “lovely made-up bed”. No bruises were however observed.
A few months later, an initial assessment was carried out, resulting in no further action, until the case was subsequently escalated to child in need level in September 2013. Further referrals by the school “were investigated and appeared to have no substance”, though the case sat open in the RAS.
”A spokesman for Coventry council said: “Every day more than 300 social workers are out working with children and families across Coventry making incredibly difficult decisions – that is why we place a huge focus in Coventry on continued learning and challenging ourselves to make sure our staff are up to date with the very best practice.”
The spokesman said that the review’s recommendations would “of course” become part of that learning.
“We note concerns raised in the review about poor note-keeping and record sharing,” the spokesman added. “This is an area that has improved significantly in recent years, most notably with the introduction of the multi-agency safeguarding hub, which has allowed agencies involved in the protection of children to work much more closely together.”