1. Team Meeting safeguarding learning update and exercises What do we need to do better or differently?

2. Learning from SCR’s Daniel’s story Daniel:- abused and neglected for a prolonged period Starved, assaulted, neglected and abused until he died Daniel Pelka 15/07/2007 – 3/03/2012

3. Keanu Story Keanu:- major injuries received over a period of days; nursery and health staff witnessed these injuries Keanu Williams 11/12/2008 – 09/01/2011

4. Hamzah story Hamzah:- starved and neglected over months. His decomposed body was dressed in clothes for a very young baby. Laid dead in his cot for over 2 years. Mother: chronic alcoholic. Hamzah Khan 4 years old?

5. Responses to the slides Initial reactions? Discuss any similarities to current cases held by the team?

6. Day in the life…..keep the child in focus Daniel- ‘’At times, Daniel appeared to have been ‘invisible’ as a needy child against the backdrop of his mother’s controlling behaviour’’ Overview report September 2013 Keanu- Loss of focus on Keanu following a CP conference which placed him as a ‘child in need’. Attention moved to practical matters (accommodation and nursery place) rather than the impact on Keanu’s welfare and development Hamzah- Hamzah was withdrawn from all universal services but no-one questioned this until after his death

7. Treat parental reassurance with respectful uncertainty Daniel- Arm broken January 2011 (Aged 31/2). Explanation of ‘accident’ too readily accepted by professionals Keanu- Mother’s explanation of burn on foot caused by hot radiator readily accepted despite earlier similar incident to another sibling Hamzah- mother coerced the other children to persuade services, education and health, that Hamzah and his 2 other siblings were living out of area

8. Look for patterns Daniel-For 4 months prior to death school began noticed a pattern of injuries and marks including facial injuries. Never linked to his weight loss Keanu- Despite older siblings previously on the CP when under 2 years old (neglect and physical abuse). Keanu’s conference did not consider this previous history dealt with as ‘child in need’ Hamzah- Mother had a long standing history of avoiding health care professionals. This led to Hamzah being ‘entirely off the radar’

9. Do not be too optimistic about parental capacity for change Daniel- pattern of domestic abuse and violence alongside excessive alcohol use by mother and her male partners from November 2006 throughout Daniel’s life including pregnancy. Keanu- may have led to a familiarity which clouded the views of the professionals regarding mothers capacity to care for Keanu

10. You are accountable for your record keeping Daniel- despite all Daniel’s presenting injuries very few of these were recorded. In court it was unclear what injuries were seen and when Keanu- seen by staff in nursery with a number of marks and bruises and described as distressed. Procedures were not followed ….. Hamzah- as he and his 5 siblings not in regular contact with universal services. Record keeping impossible. However a voluntary organisation had worked with mother regarding domestic violence and abuse; information not integrated/shared with other services.

11. Think the unthinkable – abuse is a reality Daniel- Stealing food, losing weight, facial injuries Keanu- attended nursery: lots of facial bruising. Mother explained he had fallen over the toy box ‘he falls over a lot’ Hamzah- Living with violent, substance misusing parents/carers.

12. Identify any barriers that prevent you working in the best way to ensure children are protected Identify strategies & examples from your own working that demonstrate good practice in relation to child focus, parents reassurance patterns of behaviour, professional over optimism, recording information and thinking the unthinkable

13. The Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board would like to hear your responses to this presentation. So please forward them to: Sally Stocker Business Manager for Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board – Room 509 Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP Office – 01234 276346 - Mobile – 07881281981 - e-mail sally.stocker@bedford.gov.uk or sally.stocker@bedford.gcsx.gov.uk sally.stocker@bedford.gov.uk sally.stocker@bedford.gcsx.gov.uk