By James Simons-
A major review into the circumstances leading up to murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes launched by the Government to determine what improvements are needed by the agencies that came into contact with him in the months before he died, will not go far enough if no punitive emasures are meted out to any culpable parties in terms of negligence.
During the speech given by the Education Secretary, Nadeem Zahawi, he said social workers, he expressed faith in social workers, whom he said ‘we all know social workers do their best work with families, not behind a desk’. His statement is not true because not all social workers do their best.
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There are numerous examples of negligent social workers over the past few years who have woefullt failed families. Until we have details of why social workers failed this young child, the default position has to be that they failed Arthur Labinjo Hughes, and there should be consequences for any failings that are not excusable.
The Uk Government has separately commissioned four inspectorates, covering social care, health, police and probation to undertake an urgent inspection of the safeguarding agencies in Solihull to whom Arthur was known.
As part of this inspection, all the agencies tasked with protecting children at risk of abuse and neglect in Solihull will be subject to a Joint Targeted Area Inspection to consider their effectiveness and advise on where improvements must be made.
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In addition to this, the independent, national review will identify the lessons that must be learnt from Arthur’s case for the benefit of other children elsewhere in England, to be led by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
However, the Department Of Education has been advised by this publication that any asures that fall short of necessary punitive measures against any of the agencies, or individuals within the agency, will simply not be good enough. Propert accounbtability will require identifying what went wrong and which failings warrant action taken against them, either in the way of suspensions, fines. or outright sackings.
The Department Of Education promised ”a deep, independent look at Arthur’s case, and the national lessons to be learnt; and a joined-up inspection of how all the local agencies involved are working, including how they are working together, to keep children safe nationally and locally.
It added that ”the steps announced today include commissioning a Joint Targeted Area Inspection, led jointly by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and HM Inspectorate of Probation. It will consider where improvements are needed by all the agencies tasked with protecting vulnerable children in Solihull, including in how they work together”.
A national review, led by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel to provide additional support to Solihull Children’s Safeguarding Partnership. This will effectively ‘upgrade’ the existing local review, launched shortly after Arthur’s death in June 2020 and paused while the court case continued.
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ killer father today agreed to release his son’s body so he can finally be laid to rest.
Thomas Hughes was jailed for 21 years for the manslaughter of his six-year-old son, who was subjected to a harrowing campaign of abuse in the lead up to his death.
Hughes’ partner, Emma Tustin, who inflicted fatal injuries on her stepson at their Solihull home, was convicted of murder and will serve a minimum of 29 years in jail.
A lawyer for Hughes said he had been ‘passive’ on the issue of releasing his son’s body, but he has now agreed to release the body to Arthur’s mother, Olivia Labinjo-Halcrow, who is currently in prison herself after being convicted of the manslaughter of her boyfriend Gary Cunningham .
The lawyer said he hoped the decision would provide a ‘tiny scrap of peace’ to her in the wake of her son’s death.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “We across this House and across this country find it impossible to imagine how any adult could commit such evil acts against a child.””
He confirmed both a national review and “targeted area” inspection to assess why things went “horrifyingly wrong and what more could be done to prevent abuse such as this happening again”.
‘Arthur’s murder has shocked and appalled the nation. I am deeply distressed by this awful case and the senseless pain inflicted on this poor boy, who has been robbed of the chance to live his life.
I have taken immediate action and asked for a joint inspection to consider where improvements are needed by all the agencies tasked with protecting children in Solihull, so that we can be assured that we are doing everything in our power to protect other children and prevent such evil crimes.
Given the enormity of this case, the range of agencies involved and the potential for its implications to be felt nationally, I have also asked Annie Hudson, chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, to work with leaders in Solihull to deliver a single, national review of Arthur’s death to identify where we must learn from this terrible case.
We are determined to protect children from harm and where concerns are raised we will not hesitate to take urgent and robust action. We will not rest until we have the answers we need”.
Education Secretary: Nadeem Zahawi Image:members.parliament.uk
Significance And Scale
The national review takes into account the significance and scale of the circumstances of Arthur’s murder, allowing findings to be disseminated around the country to improve practice and identify the lessons that must be learnt. It replaces and builds on the original Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review – previously known as Serious Case Reviews – which is overseen by safeguarding leaders in a local area.
Over the next few days the Department for Education will work with both the National Panel and the Solihull Partnership to agree a timeline for publication of the national review, as well as confirming the full scope of the Joint Targeted Area Inspection with the agencies involved.
Since 2010, the Government has established stronger multi-agency working, putting a shared and equal duty on police, council and health services in local areas to work more effectively together in protecting and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children. An independent review of children’s social care is ongoing and is due to report next year.
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