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| 'Clear decision' could have helped drowned Lowestoft children | 'Clear decision' could have helped drowned Lowestoft children |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More could have been done to help three children who were found drowned after their mother fell to her death from a car park, a report has found. | |
| Fiona Anderson, 23, died of head injuries after the fall last April. The children had been subject to a child protection plan for neglect since 2011. | Fiona Anderson, 23, died of head injuries after the fall last April. The children had been subject to a child protection plan for neglect since 2011. |
| A serious case review found the deaths "were completely unexpected", but more decisive action could have helped. | A serious case review found the deaths "were completely unexpected", but more decisive action could have helped. |
| The report said agencies had "allowed the [intervention] process to drift". | The report said agencies had "allowed the [intervention] process to drift". |
| Independent consultant Ron Lock, who conducted the review, examined how public agencies worked with the family, from Lowestoft, prior to the deaths. | Independent consultant Ron Lock, who conducted the review, examined how public agencies worked with the family, from Lowestoft, prior to the deaths. |
| 'Not predictable' | 'Not predictable' |
| He found that attempts to engage with them had failed but there were no warning signs to suggest the children were in immediate danger. | He found that attempts to engage with them had failed but there were no warning signs to suggest the children were in immediate danger. |
| Tests showed that Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old Kyden died from drowning. | Tests showed that Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old Kyden died from drowning. |
| Although procedures were followed, the study concluded that Suffolk County Council's children and young people's services (CYPS) was not decisive enough. | Although procedures were followed, the study concluded that Suffolk County Council's children and young people's services (CYPS) was not decisive enough. |
| "Clearly, if the children had been placed in care this could have avoided the tragic outcome," the report said. | "Clearly, if the children had been placed in care this could have avoided the tragic outcome," the report said. |
| "But there was never any guarantee that an application for a care order for the children would have been successful. | "But there was never any guarantee that an application for a care order for the children would have been successful. |
| "It was nevertheless concerning that a clear decision was not made by CYPS in respect of the need for a legal intervention and instead allowed the process to drift in a most unconstructive way." | "It was nevertheless concerning that a clear decision was not made by CYPS in respect of the need for a legal intervention and instead allowed the process to drift in a most unconstructive way." |
| The report identified 13 "learning points", aimed at preventing future tragedies. | The report identified 13 "learning points", aimed at preventing future tragedies. |
| Mr Lock stated there had been "no known history of either the mother or the father intentionally causing physical harm to the children, or any self-harming episodes by the parents themselves". | Mr Lock stated there had been "no known history of either the mother or the father intentionally causing physical harm to the children, or any self-harming episodes by the parents themselves". |
| "In this respect, the deaths of the children and their mother were completely unexpected," he wrote. | "In this respect, the deaths of the children and their mother were completely unexpected," he wrote. |
| "It was not predictable or thought in any way likely." | "It was not predictable or thought in any way likely." |
| 'Malnourished' | 'Malnourished' |
| However, social services and other agencies had been working with Ms Anderson and her partner, Craig McLelland, for three years due to concerns over their parenting abilities. | However, social services and other agencies had been working with Ms Anderson and her partner, Craig McLelland, for three years due to concerns over their parenting abilities. |
| Court proceedings to remove Levina had been initiated but were withdrawn following a legal challenge and in recognition of the fact there was insufficient evidence. | Court proceedings to remove Levina had been initiated but were withdrawn following a legal challenge and in recognition of the fact there was insufficient evidence. |
| The report highlighted how the court action caused the relationship between the family and children's social care to become strained. It also detailed that by June 2010, concerns had diminished sufficiently for formal involvement to cease. | The report highlighted how the court action caused the relationship between the family and children's social care to become strained. It also detailed that by June 2010, concerns had diminished sufficiently for formal involvement to cease. |
| But 14 months on, new concerns prompted Levina and Addy to be made the subject of fresh child protection plans in August 2011, under the category of neglect. | But 14 months on, new concerns prompted Levina and Addy to be made the subject of fresh child protection plans in August 2011, under the category of neglect. |
| In May of that year it was claimed the children had been sleeping in a double pushchair for 13 nights and "had only been fed biscuits". | In May of that year it was claimed the children had been sleeping in a double pushchair for 13 nights and "had only been fed biscuits". |
| A month later police were called to a domestic incident and reported that the children "looked malnourished", were very tired and had full nappies. | A month later police were called to a domestic incident and reported that the children "looked malnourished", were very tired and had full nappies. |
| Another part of the report said there was evidence that sanitary towels had been used as knickers for Levina and that when Kyden was born in May 2012, he was included in the child protection plan. | Another part of the report said there was evidence that sanitary towels had been used as knickers for Levina and that when Kyden was born in May 2012, he was included in the child protection plan. |
| Mr Lock said that "despite interventions by a number of practitioners, there was no success in effectively engaging the family in interventions by professionals. | Mr Lock said that "despite interventions by a number of practitioners, there was no success in effectively engaging the family in interventions by professionals. |
| "This meant that overall the implementation of the child protection plans was significantly compromised." | "This meant that overall the implementation of the child protection plans was significantly compromised." |
| The report said Ms Anderson "specifically avoided professional interventions", distrusted social services and rebuffed support from nursery staff because "she thought the children would be exposed to sexual abuse". | The report said Ms Anderson "specifically avoided professional interventions", distrusted social services and rebuffed support from nursery staff because "she thought the children would be exposed to sexual abuse". |
| 'Important lessons' | 'Important lessons' |
| It added that "psychological and psychiatric" assessments of the mother were proposed and discussed with her but "were never achieved because of her reluctances". | It added that "psychological and psychiatric" assessments of the mother were proposed and discussed with her but "were never achieved because of her reluctances". |
| Peter Worobec, independent chair of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board, described the deaths as a "tragedy" which had a deep impact on the community. | Peter Worobec, independent chair of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board, described the deaths as a "tragedy" which had a deep impact on the community. |
| "The board fully accepts the important lessons from this review and I would want to stress that things have and will continue to change as a direct result of this tragedy," he said. | "The board fully accepts the important lessons from this review and I would want to stress that things have and will continue to change as a direct result of this tragedy," he said. |
| "In our response to this review, the action already taken to eliminate drift in such cases and ensure all child protection cases are subject to robust management oversight, particularly in Lowestoft, is laid out. | "In our response to this review, the action already taken to eliminate drift in such cases and ensure all child protection cases are subject to robust management oversight, particularly in Lowestoft, is laid out. |
| "In addition, we have identified a further 21 actions that will be taken to ensure that practice is improved, it has the desired impact and is embedded across the county and in all agencies." | "In addition, we have identified a further 21 actions that will be taken to ensure that practice is improved, it has the desired impact and is embedded across the county and in all agencies." |