This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/19/haringey-council-accused-failings-mary-stroman

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Haringey council accused of 'serious failings' in care of girl who killed herself Haringey council accused of 'serious failings' in care of girl who killed herself
(35 minutes later)
The council involved in the Baby P case has once again been criticised in a child protection report following the suicide of a teenage girl who said she had been repeatedly sexually abused.The council involved in the Baby P case has once again been criticised in a child protection report following the suicide of a teenage girl who said she had been repeatedly sexually abused.
Failings at Haringey council are detailed in a serious case review into the death of 16-year-old Mary Stroman, who killed herself in January 2014, two days after an inquest began into the death of her friend, Tallulah Wilson. The pair were lab partners at school and played together in an orchestra at St Marylebone School in Westminster.Failings at Haringey council are detailed in a serious case review into the death of 16-year-old Mary Stroman, who killed herself in January 2014, two days after an inquest began into the death of her friend, Tallulah Wilson. The pair were lab partners at school and played together in an orchestra at St Marylebone School in Westminster.
The report’s author, Kevin Harrington, cited “serious failings” by agencies in Mary’s care and concluded there was “substantial evidence that the local authority’s professional input was of a poor standard”.The report’s author, Kevin Harrington, cited “serious failings” by agencies in Mary’s care and concluded there was “substantial evidence that the local authority’s professional input was of a poor standard”.
Mary had told police she had been sexually abused, but, the report said, they failed to consider her allegations “sufficiently rigorously”.Mary had told police she had been sexually abused, but, the report said, they failed to consider her allegations “sufficiently rigorously”.
The report, which revealed that she had spoken of trying to kill herself at the age of 13, concluded that her suicide that night “could not have been anticipated.”The report, which revealed that she had spoken of trying to kill herself at the age of 13, concluded that her suicide that night “could not have been anticipated.”
Her parents, Scott and Sue Stroman, say that the sexual abuse, which they believe began four years before she died, was at the root of their daughter’s mental and physical decline.Her parents, Scott and Sue Stroman, say that the sexual abuse, which they believe began four years before she died, was at the root of their daughter’s mental and physical decline.
The Stromans said they welcomed the “directness and honesty” of the serious case review. In a statement, they detailed the mental anguish of their daughter, who was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.The Stromans said they welcomed the “directness and honesty” of the serious case review. In a statement, they detailed the mental anguish of their daughter, who was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
They said: “The serious case review speaks for itself, detailing a catalogue of errors, delays, bad practices, poor judgments and missed opportunities in dealing with Mary’s complex case.They said: “The serious case review speaks for itself, detailing a catalogue of errors, delays, bad practices, poor judgments and missed opportunities in dealing with Mary’s complex case.
“As the review notes, on many occasions Mary said she had been sexually abused, but police failed to respond adequately or investigate the matter. Mary suffered more than four years of mental anguish, self-harm and illness, culminating in her tragic death.”“As the review notes, on many occasions Mary said she had been sexually abused, but police failed to respond adequately or investigate the matter. Mary suffered more than four years of mental anguish, self-harm and illness, culminating in her tragic death.”
The Stromans said the “greatest cause of concern” was that Haringey took far too long to arrange care for their daughter.The Stromans said the “greatest cause of concern” was that Haringey took far too long to arrange care for their daughter.
Mary was the youngest of five children. Scott Stroman is a renowned jazz musician, composer and conductor and Sue Stroman is a nurse.Mary was the youngest of five children. Scott Stroman is a renowned jazz musician, composer and conductor and Sue Stroman is a nurse.
An inquest last year heard the teenager had been sexually abused by an older man or men near to where she lived in Haringey, north London. An inquest last year heard the teenager had been sexually abused by an older man or men near to where she lived in north London.
At the time of her death, Mary was a pupil at the Tumblewood Community School in Westbury, Wiltshire – which is a residential school for adolescent girls with emotional and behavioural difficulties.At the time of her death, Mary was a pupil at the Tumblewood Community School in Westbury, Wiltshire – which is a residential school for adolescent girls with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Sir Paul Ennals, the independent chairman of the Haringey Safeguarding Children Board, said the review had identified episodes where agencies could have responded differently.Sir Paul Ennals, the independent chairman of the Haringey Safeguarding Children Board, said the review had identified episodes where agencies could have responded differently.
“It does not identify a causal link between these episodes and her death in January 2014, which it concludes could not have been anticipated,” he said. “But some significant issues have been raised for the agencies who had sought to help her.”“It does not identify a causal link between these episodes and her death in January 2014, which it concludes could not have been anticipated,” he said. “But some significant issues have been raised for the agencies who had sought to help her.”
Ennals said that the agencies involved had “carefully examined” their practice since 2010 and have acted upon areas where they have “identified the need for improvements”.Ennals said that the agencies involved had “carefully examined” their practice since 2010 and have acted upon areas where they have “identified the need for improvements”.
“Collectively, we sincerely regret that there were a number of areas where we should have done better,” he said. “We have accepted all the recommendations of the independent review, and have already acted upon many of them.”“Collectively, we sincerely regret that there were a number of areas where we should have done better,” he said. “We have accepted all the recommendations of the independent review, and have already acted upon many of them.”
Ennals said that Mary, described in the serious review as an “unusually troubled young person” presented severe challenges to agencies working with her and her family.Ennals said that Mary, described in the serious review as an “unusually troubled young person” presented severe challenges to agencies working with her and her family.
He said: “She did not normally find herself able to trust people, and perhaps the greatest sadness that staff from all agencies express is that, despite so many people working with her closely over several years, nobody can feel sure that they truly understand what was at the heart of her unhappiness.”He said: “She did not normally find herself able to trust people, and perhaps the greatest sadness that staff from all agencies express is that, despite so many people working with her closely over several years, nobody can feel sure that they truly understand what was at the heart of her unhappiness.”
Ennals said that none of the agencies were able to substantiate the sexual abuse claims or persuade Mary to share details with them, although “most professionals” came to believe that something of that nature had occurred.Ennals said that none of the agencies were able to substantiate the sexual abuse claims or persuade Mary to share details with them, although “most professionals” came to believe that something of that nature had occurred.
He added: “In today’s climate of greater understanding of the nature of child sexual exploitation, all agencies have developed more effective ways of responding to allegations of sexual abuse, and it is likely that her allegations would have been responded to differently today,” he said.He added: “In today’s climate of greater understanding of the nature of child sexual exploitation, all agencies have developed more effective ways of responding to allegations of sexual abuse, and it is likely that her allegations would have been responded to differently today,” he said.
The Stromans highlighted similar failings in previous serious case reviews at Haringey, but they said: “Despite all the failures we blame no-one personally. The Stromans highlighted similar failings in previous serious case reviews at Haringey, but they said: “Despite all the failures we blame no one personally.
“Our wish is that this time the lessons learned from our experience will make a real difference, supporting families in genuine need and potentially saving lives. If someone like Mary needed help today, given that we now understand so much more about the risks such children face, we earnestly hope the response and the outcome would be different.”“Our wish is that this time the lessons learned from our experience will make a real difference, supporting families in genuine need and potentially saving lives. If someone like Mary needed help today, given that we now understand so much more about the risks such children face, we earnestly hope the response and the outcome would be different.”
• In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 08457 90 90 90. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14• In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 08457 90 90 90. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14