Case Review Cumulative Neglect M Family Aberdeen City
Case Review Cumulative Neglect M Family Aberdeen City CPC SCR Sub Committee November 2018
Case Review: Cumulative Neglect � How we went about the case review � How this case came to our attention and key features of this case � What are the emerging themes � What are we doing about this now and in future
Case Review: Cumulative Neglect How we went about the case review Kymme Fraser Child Protection Programme Development Manager Aberdeen City Child Protection Committee
National Policy Context Responsibility for carrying out an SCR or ICR lies with Child Protection Committees and Chief Officers Groups. National guidance applies….
Local Policy context
When to consider an SCR (1) When a child dies The incident, or accumulation of incidents, gives rise to significant concerns about professional service involvement (or lack of involvement) AND where one of the following apply: • • • Abuse or neglect is a suspected factor The child is on, or has been on, the CPR. The death is by suicide or accidental death; The death is by alleged murder, culpable homicide, reckless conduct, or act of violence; The child was looked after/receiving aftercare support.
When to consider an SCR (2) When a child has not died The child has sustained significant harm or a risk of significant harm and The incident, or accumulation of incidents, gives rise to serious concerns about professional and/or service involvement (or lack of involvement) and The relevant CP Committee determines that there may be learning to be gained through conducting a SCR.
Practice Context “Significant Case Reviews and Initial Case Reviews should be seen in the context of a culture of continuous improvement with a focus on learning and reflection on day-to-day practices, and the systems within which those practices operate. ” National Guidance recognises that requests for a SCR should be those rare cases where significant professional concerns exist. They do not replace existing QA processes.
Case Review: Cumulative Neglect Ø Notification received from Police Scotland Ø Single Agency information and documents submitted Ø SCR Sub Committee consider information submitted along with a multi agency chronology Ø Learning clearly emerges through Initial Case Review process (so no need for further SCR process) Ø Protected group discussion with staff Ø Full report prepared with recommendations Ø CPC, Chief Officers, Care Inspectorate intimated
Case Review: Cumulative Neglect How this case came to our attention and key features of this case DCI Colin Morrans Police Scotland
Incident & Referral Detective Chief Inspector Colin Morrans
Family Structure A Aged 6 Dad Mum B C Aged 4 Aged 2 D Unborn
Pivotal Incident � � In October 2017, Child B presented at Nursery with fingertip bruising to arms, forehead and back Education referred to Social Work and Child Protection processes were instigated. IRD held and joint decision taken regarding the requirement for medical examination. Child B’s general appearance and wellbeing caused medical staff concern. Child B was noted as very pale and thin, with parts of body seen to be ‘filthy’.
Action Taken � � � Home visit by Police and SW found the house to be in a condition described as ‘dire’ § unsafe and unsuitable for human habitation § litter piled up in every room § doors barricaded with rubbish and dirty clothing § living room covered in rubbish and broken plaster § most of the doors within the property had holes in them § no food in the fridge. Medical Examinations of Child A and Child C found them: § Malnourished § Underdeveloped § Filthy § Teeth had significant decay Children removed from Household
Notification from Police Scotland � Immediate concerns identified on 11/10/2017 when Child B presented at nursery with bruising. � Considerable neglect believed to have contributed to risk of significant harm. � Neglect amounted to: § Uninhabitable living conditions § Inability of parents to ensure the wellbeing of their children § Mental health concerns - both parents
Case Review: Cumulative Neglect What are the emerging themes? Fiona Miele Lead Nurse Child Protection NHS Grampian
Single Agency Processes We all understand that Ø People come to work to do a good job Ø Systems are complex Ø The ICR process is about learning – not blame
Learning Themes � Cumulative � Disguised Neglect Non-compliance � Assessment, Planning and Professional � Multi-agency interface and transitions Curiosity
Cumulative Neglect “Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development……”
FAILURE OF NOT RECOGNISING CUMULATIVE NEGLECT
CUMULATIVE EFFECT
Mind sets � Fears about being considered judgemental � A focus on the parent rather than the child � Failure to consider the child’s lived experience or understand the child’s world � A fixed view of the family � Parent’s superficial or false compliance � Not my area of expertise � Reluctance to refer ndon et al 2014)
Superficial or disguised non-compliance Collusion Changing behaviour to avoid conflict Avoiding difficult conversations Filtering out or minimising negative information Filtering out information for multi-agency colleagues Rule of optimism
Assessment
Analysis What does my assessment tell me? What does this mean for the child?
Rethinking did not attend
Multi-agency interface and transitions � 8 significant missed opportunites for multi-agency intervention
Case Review: Cumulative Neglect What are we doing about this � now and � in future Graeme Simpson Chief Officer Integrated Children & Family Services and CSWO
Next Steps Graeme Simpson Chief Officer/CSWO
Group �Not Chief Officer to proceed to SCR �Clearning for all agencies to take on board. �Need for single agencies to examine processes. �Need for agencies to work together
Action Plan � Better appreciation of cumulative neglect and its impact on children. � Improve sharing of information between Named Persons in Health and Education � GIRFEC processes – chronologies � Encourage enhanced professional curiosity � Suspend belief on information provided by parents when assessing care and protection concerns � Review practice relating to “missed” appointments � Ensure systems are in place to flag concerns
Action Plan � Learning and Development – Single Agency/Multi Agency � Multi agency focus on Cumulative Neglect 3 October 2018/28 November 2018/16 January 2019 � Follow up QA activity - Impact of learning and changes to practice. � Reporting back to CPC and COG
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