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Officials failed toddlers killed by violent men, inquiry finds Officials failed toddlers killed by violent men, inquiry finds
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Child protection workers, police and other professionals missed crucial opportunities to intervene before the horrific murders of two toddlers known to social services who were killed by men with histories of domestic violence, crime and drug use, an inquiry has found. Child protection workers, police and other professionals missed crucial opportunities to intervene before two toddlers known to social services were murdered by men with histories of domestic violence, crime and drug use, an inquiry has found.
Separate reports examined the deaths of Dylan Tiffin-Brown, who was aged two when he died of cardiac failure after his father viciously assaulted him in December 2017, and Evelyn-Rose Muggleton, who was aged one when she died in hospital days after being battered by her mother’s partner in April 2018. Separate reports examined the deaths of Dylan Tiffin-Brown, who was two when he died of cardiac failure after his father assaulted him in December 2017, and Evelyn-Rose Muggleton, who was one when she died in hospital days after being battered by her mother’s partner in April 2018.
The serious case reviews highlighted key misjudgments by staff about the level of danger posed by the men to the two youngsters. They also highlighted failures to act on warnings that the children were at risk, all against a backdrop of chaotic child protection services at Tory-run Northamptonshire county council. The serious case reviews highlighted key misjudgments by staff about the level of danger posed by the men to the two children, and failures to act on warnings that the children were at risk. This happened against a backdrop of chaotic child protection services at Tory-run Northamptonshire county council.
Northamptonshire’s leader, Cllr Matthew Golby, who was cabinet member for children’s services between May 2016 and April 2018, faced opposition calls to resign over missed opportunities to intervene to protect the children, as well as the council’s failure to tackle problems in children’s services stretching back to 2013. Northamptonshire’s leader, Cllr Matthew Golby, who was the cabinet member for children’s services between May 2016 and April 2018, faced opposition calls to resign over missed opportunities to intervene to protect the children, as well as the council’s failure to tackle problems in children’s services stretching back to 2013.
Keith Makin, the chair of the independent Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board, which carried out the reviews, said that although “serious errors of judgment and poor practice” had occurred, “ultimately it was unlikely that anything could have been done to prevent the single, catastrophic incidents”.Keith Makin, the chair of the independent Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board, which carried out the reviews, said that although “serious errors of judgment and poor practice” had occurred, “ultimately it was unlikely that anything could have been done to prevent the single, catastrophic incidents”.
Makin noted that the cases had happened against a backdrop of political and financial turbulence at the council, which has been declared bankrupt twice in the last 18 months. He said there was “no doubt that these two high-profile cases will raise genuine concerns about some elements of the child safeguarding sector in Northamptonshire at this time”.Makin noted that the cases had happened against a backdrop of political and financial turbulence at the council, which has been declared bankrupt twice in the last 18 months. He said there was “no doubt that these two high-profile cases will raise genuine concerns about some elements of the child safeguarding sector in Northamptonshire at this time”.
He added: “I have to acknowledge that, but I am confident too that significant progress has already been made and continues to be in terms of the learning and process improvements which have taken place since.” He added: “I have to acknowledge that, but I am confident too that significant progress has already been made and continues to be in terms of the learning and process improvements which have taken place since”.
Dylan died after sustaining 39 injuries to his face, neck, torso and limbs, including 15 rib fractures and lacerations to his liver, after a sustained beating at his home of his father, drug dealer Raphael Kennedy, 31, of Northampton. A postmortem found cocaine, heroin and cannabis in the two-year-old’s body at the time of his death. Kennedy was jailed for at least 24 years. Dylan died after sustaining 39 injuries to his face, neck, torso and limbs, including 15 rib fractures and lacerations to his liver, after a sustained beating at home by his father, Raphael Kennedy, 31, a drug dealer from Northampton. A postmortem examination found cocaine, heroin and cannabis in the two-year-old’s body at the time of his death. Kennedy was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 24 years.
Two months before his death, police found evidence that Dylan, known as Child Ak in the reviews, was being left alone for long periods by his father in a property where drugs were present. However, safeguarding professionals decided Dylan was not sufficiently at risk of significant harm to warrant an intervention.Two months before his death, police found evidence that Dylan, known as Child Ak in the reviews, was being left alone for long periods by his father in a property where drugs were present. However, safeguarding professionals decided Dylan was not sufficiently at risk of significant harm to warrant an intervention.
The review criticised the multi-agency team’s failure to escalate the support around Dylan at that time, in particular in the light of Kennedy’s “chronic history of domestic abuse” and repeated drug offences. It notes that at the time “there were certainly more risk factors than protective factors”. The review criticised the multi-agency team’s failure to increase the support for Dylan at that time, particularly in light of Kennedy’s “chronic history of domestic abuse” and repeated drug offences. It noted that “there were certainly more risk factors than protective factors”.
The review notes that the mismanagement of Dylan’s case should be seen in the context of turmoil in Northamptonshire county council’s children’s services department, which was beset by high staff turnover and social worker caseloads, and the failure of managers to accurately identify high-risk child protection cases. The review noted that the mismanagement of Dylan’s case should be seen in the context of turmoil in Northamptonshire county council’s children’s services department, which was beset by high staff turnover and social worker caseloads, and the failure of managers to accurately identify high-risk child protection cases.
Evelyn-Rose, referred to as Child Ap in the reviews, died three days after suffering traumatic brain injuries at the hands of her mother’s partner, Ryan Coleman, now 23, who was convicted of her murder and jailed for 17 years. She had received multiple bruising and bleeding injuries, including damage to her spine and both eyes. Evelyn-Rose, referred to as Child Ap in the reviews, died three days after sustaining traumatic brain injuries from her mother’s partner, Ryan Coleman, now 23, who was convicted of her murder and jailed for life, with a minimum of 17 years. She had received multiple bruising and bleeding injuries, including damage to her spine and both eyes.
The examination into Evelyn’s death found that although NHS and school staff had recorded signs that Evelyn and her four siblings were suffering from neglect, they had failed to share this information. Although Evelyn’s mother did not engage with safeguarding services, social workers felt she was “parenting well”. The reviews found that although NHS and school staff had recorded signs that Evelyn and her four siblings were suffering from neglect, they had failed to share this information. Although Evelyn’s mother did not engage with safeguarding services, social workers felt she was “parenting well”.
The review criticised social workers for their “over-optimistic” view of the mother’s competence to care for her children, despite a history of emotional abuse and neglect. They lacked “professional curiosity and challenge”, failed to spot the risks to the children, and allowed the case to drift before closing it down prematurely. The review criticised social workers for their “over-optimistic” view of the mother’s competence to care for her children, despite a history of emotional abuse and neglect. They lacked “professional curiosity and challenge”, failed to spot the risks to the children and allowed the case to drift before closing it down prematurely.
Coleman, who had a history of violence and drug dealing and was homeless before meeting Evelyn’s mother, attacked the girl while caring for her when her mother was at work. The mother failed to spot the dangers, telling the reviewers she had judged Coleman as “a caring loving person who looked after the children very well”. Coleman, who had a history of violence and drug dealing and was homeless before meeting Evelyn’s mother, attacked the girl while caring for her when her mother was at work. The mother failed to spot the dangers, telling the reviewers she had judged Coleman as “a caring, loving person who looked after the children very well”.
Makin said in the light of Evelyn-Rose’s death a national campaign should be launched to make parents aware of the the potential dangers of letting a new partner into their children’s lives.Makin said in the light of Evelyn-Rose’s death a national campaign should be launched to make parents aware of the the potential dangers of letting a new partner into their children’s lives.
Child protectionChild protection
ChildrenChildren
Social careSocial care
CrimeCrime
Police
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