This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/7788311.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Suitcase death probe slams carers | Suitcase death probe slams carers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A social worker should have been "more assertive" with the mother of a disabled man whose body was later found in a suitcase, an inquest has heard. | A social worker should have been "more assertive" with the mother of a disabled man whose body was later found in a suitcase, an inquest has heard. |
| James Hughes, 21, was found at his Redditch home in April, days after his mother was found hanged nearby. | James Hughes, 21, was found at his Redditch home in April, days after his mother was found hanged nearby. |
| Steven Chandler, from Worcestershire's learning disability group, said Mr Hughes' mother Heather Wardle, should have been challenged about her son. | Steven Chandler, from Worcestershire's learning disability group, said Mr Hughes' mother Heather Wardle, should have been challenged about her son. |
| Deputy coroner Margaret Barnard recorded an open verdict. | Deputy coroner Margaret Barnard recorded an open verdict. |
| Tests on Mr Hughes' bones suggested he died between 10 January and 9 February. | Tests on Mr Hughes' bones suggested he died between 10 January and 9 February. |
| Mr Chandler said claims by Ms Wardle that Mr Hughes was with his father should have been checked. | Mr Chandler said claims by Ms Wardle that Mr Hughes was with his father should have been checked. |
| The inquest in Stourport has heard social workers had no contact with Mr Hughes for more than two years before his death. | The inquest in Stourport has heard social workers had no contact with Mr Hughes for more than two years before his death. |
| Had the appropriate guidelines been followed, my beautiful son would still be here today Paul Hughes | Had the appropriate guidelines been followed, my beautiful son would still be here today Paul Hughes |
| Dr Raymond Jones, a social care expert at London's Kingston University, said the county council had "effectively lost sight" of Mr Hughes from 2005 onwards. | Dr Raymond Jones, a social care expert at London's Kingston University, said the county council had "effectively lost sight" of Mr Hughes from 2005 onwards. |
| Social worker David Ruegg was tasked with following up concerns about Mr Hughes with his mother on 19 December last year, the inquest was told on Tuesday. | Social worker David Ruegg was tasked with following up concerns about Mr Hughes with his mother on 19 December last year, the inquest was told on Tuesday. |
| He visited their family home in March but Ms Wardle was not in and he went again to the property on 14 April to speak to her. | He visited their family home in March but Ms Wardle was not in and he went again to the property on 14 April to speak to her. |
| Mr Ruegg told the hearing he had not seen James on either occasion but had been told by Ms Wardle that her son was staying with his father. | Mr Ruegg told the hearing he had not seen James on either occasion but had been told by Ms Wardle that her son was staying with his father. |
| Mr Chandler said on Wednesday the social worker had been told by Ms Wardle that her son would return to a day care centre shortly after he stopped attending it in November last year. | Mr Chandler said on Wednesday the social worker had been told by Ms Wardle that her son would return to a day care centre shortly after he stopped attending it in November last year. |
| He told the hearing: "Given that he didn't return I would have expected a much more assertive approach to be taken. | He told the hearing: "Given that he didn't return I would have expected a much more assertive approach to be taken. |
| "On reflection as a service, a more robust course of action should have been taken by the individual practitioner." | "On reflection as a service, a more robust course of action should have been taken by the individual practitioner." |
| 'Seemed happy' | 'Seemed happy' |
| He also said that Worcestershire County Council's failure to hold an annual review of Mr Hughes' care after 2005 constituted a serious error. | He also said that Worcestershire County Council's failure to hold an annual review of Mr Hughes' care after 2005 constituted a serious error. |
| But he stressed social services had not been given information suggesting James was being neglected or abused. | But he stressed social services had not been given information suggesting James was being neglected or abused. |
| He added: "We had a carer - Ms Wardle - who was very involved in James' support... who seemed to be happy with the package of support. | He added: "We had a carer - Ms Wardle - who was very involved in James' support... who seemed to be happy with the package of support. |
| "We established for James a package of support that we felt met his needs - that was day care and respite provided by two different providers. | "We established for James a package of support that we felt met his needs - that was day care and respite provided by two different providers. |
| "All of the feedback - despite the fact that no reviews were held - suggested that package was meeting his needs and meeting the needs of his family." | "All of the feedback - despite the fact that no reviews were held - suggested that package was meeting his needs and meeting the needs of his family." |
| A post-mortem examination carried out at Sandwell General Hospital failed to establish the cause of Mr Hughes' death. | A post-mortem examination carried out at Sandwell General Hospital failed to establish the cause of Mr Hughes' death. |
| 'Victim of neglect' | 'Victim of neglect' |
| In a statement read to the court by the Deputy Coroner, forensic pathologist Helen Whitwell said there was no evidence of "gross injury" to the deceased. | In a statement read to the court by the Deputy Coroner, forensic pathologist Helen Whitwell said there was no evidence of "gross injury" to the deceased. |
| She added it could not be ruled out that he had suffocated while epilepsy could also cause sudden death. | She added it could not be ruled out that he had suffocated while epilepsy could also cause sudden death. |
| Worcestershire deputy coroner Ms Barnard expressed regret that a number of questions surrounding the death of Mr Hughes, who was severely disabled, remained unanswered. | Worcestershire deputy coroner Ms Barnard expressed regret that a number of questions surrounding the death of Mr Hughes, who was severely disabled, remained unanswered. |
| "There is in my view a paucity of conclusive evidence," she said. | "There is in my view a paucity of conclusive evidence," she said. |
| Speaking after the verdict, Mr Hughes' father Paul said he was disappointed. | Speaking after the verdict, Mr Hughes' father Paul said he was disappointed. |
| "I believe that my son was a victim of neglect and a series of circumstances over which I had no control," he said. | "I believe that my son was a victim of neglect and a series of circumstances over which I had no control," he said. |
| "Those who were in a position of trust and who were ultimately responsible for enforcing the procedures which should have safeguarded my son. | "Those who were in a position of trust and who were ultimately responsible for enforcing the procedures which should have safeguarded my son. |
| "Had the appropriate guidelines, both statutory and non-statutory, been followed, my beautiful son would still be here today." | "Had the appropriate guidelines, both statutory and non-statutory, been followed, my beautiful son would still be here today." |
| Advertisement | |
| James Hughes' father was at the inquest |