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CHILD
protection officials failed to recognise the danger to a toddler who was
tortured and killed by her stepfather, a report said yesterday.
But social services chiefs said lessons will be learned from her death in a bid
to ensure it does not happen again.
A report into the death of the two-year-old said there was 'a failure to
recognise indicators of risk'.
The review of the case of the child called Lois also found that even when a
risk assessment was undertaken it was 'inadequate'.
Officials in charge of social services in Caerphilly county, where Lois lived
with her mother and stepfather, said staff training and support had now been
improved and procedures strengthened.
Lois, who lived on Caerphilly?s Lansbury Park estate, died on November 8, 2004,
from a head injury. She had been placed on the child protection register a
month earlier.
Her stepfather Daniel Bishop, 27, was jailed for 12 years in October 2007 after
admitting manslaughter, grievous bodily harm with intent and child cruelty.
Lois? mother Sarah Bishop, 29, was jailed for six years after admitting child
neglect. The couple were drug users.
During the court case it was revealed Lois had suffered a catalogue of
horrendous injuries, including 13 fractures, burns and bruises.
She had also sustained a horrific wound to her left foot where Daniel Bishop
had held it over a hot cooker hob.
In the case overview report author Peter Maddocks, who has more than 30 years
experience of social care services, said officials made a number of mistakes.
He said social workers and police should have noticed warning signs, such as
Lois? mum?s drug problem, ?her propensity for violence and her relationships
with violent men? much earlier.
Mr Maddocks said though the police and social services knew Lois? family had
problems, they did not act until just a few months before her death.
He added: ?When the child protection procedures were invoked, further delays
occurred.
?With the benefit of hindsight, if Child 1 (Lois) had been the subject of
properly organised supervision required of a detailed child protection plan and
if professionals had been less accepting of the mother and had sought
professional paediatric advice, different decisions may have been taken.?
In the report published yesterday by Caerphilly Safeguarding Children Board, Mr
Maddocks recognised social workers had been hampered by Sarah and Daniel
Bishop?s efforts to cover up the abuse.
Mr Maddocks, who looked at how Caerphilly social services, Gwent Police, the
Probation Service and other agencies handled the case, has made 10 key
recommendations.
After the publication of the report, he said: ?I am very happy with the
response I have had to the report.?
David Hopkins, chairman of Caerphilly Safeguarding Children Board and interim
director of social services, said: ?There are fundamental messages we have
taken from the review. Recognising the signs of hidden abuse; robust risk
assessment procedures and effective and efficient referral processes.?
He said disciplinary action had not been taken against staff who monitored
Lois? welfare.
Leader of Caerphilly council, Lindsay Whittle, said: ?This has been a difficult
and devastating case. As councillors, we want the residents in the communities
of Caerphilly county to know we share their concerns and we will immediately
act upon any information we receive to ensure this never happens again.? |
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