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| Fiona Anderson case: 'Killed' children 'needed more help' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More could have been done to help three children thought to have been drowned by their mother before she fell to her death from a car park, a report has found. | |
| Fiona Anderson, 23, died shortly before the bodies of her daughter and two sons were found in Lowestoft in April. | |
| The children had been subject to a child protection plan 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 prior to the deaths. | Independent consultant Ron Lock, who conducted the review, examined how public agencies worked with the family prior to the deaths. |
| 'Significantly compromised' | 'Significantly compromised' |
| Social services and other agencies were alerted to Ms Anderson and her partner, Craig McLelland, because of concerns about their parenting abilities. | Social services and other agencies were alerted to Ms Anderson and her partner, Craig McLelland, because of concerns about their parenting abilities. |
| They were in communication over a three-year period, with a 14-month gap in between, when concerns diminished. | They were in communication over a three-year period, with a 14-month gap in between, when concerns diminished. |
| During that time, there were reports that Levina and her baby brother Addy had slept for 13 nights in a double pushchair while being fed only biscuits. | During that time, there were reports that Levina and her baby brother Addy had slept for 13 nights in a double pushchair while being fed only biscuits. |
| The report concluded that, while procedures were followed, Suffolk County Council's children and young people's services (CYPS) was not decisive enough. | The report concluded that, while procedures were followed, Suffolk County Council's children and young people's services (CYPS) was not decisive enough. |
| Mr Lock found that attempts to engage with the family had failed, but there were no warning signs to suggest Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old Kyden were in immediate danger. | Mr Lock found that attempts to engage with the family had failed, but there were no warning signs to suggest Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old Kyden were in immediate danger. |
| Court proceedings to remove Levina had been initiated but were withdrawn following a legal challenge and insufficient evidence. | Court proceedings to remove Levina had been initiated but were withdrawn following a legal challenge and insufficient evidence. |
| However, the report states, the process led the relationship between the family and children's social care to become strained. | However, the report states, the process led the relationship between the family and children's social care to become strained. |
| "Despite interventions by a number of practitioners, there was no success in effectively engaging the family in interventions by professionals", Mr Lock found. | "Despite interventions by a number of practitioners, there was no success in effectively engaging the family in interventions by professionals", Mr Lock found. |
| "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." |
| 'Unconstructive' | 'Unconstructive' |
| The report cited how 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 cited how 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 found that almost three years before the children's deaths, in June 2010, concerns had diminished sufficiently for formal involvement to cease. | The report found that almost three years before the children's deaths, in June 2010, concerns had diminished sufficiently for formal involvement to cease. |
| "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." |
| 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. |
| "Psychological and psychiatric" assessments of the mother were proposed and discussed with her, the report concluded, but "were never achieved because of her reluctances". | "Psychological and psychiatric" assessments of the mother were proposed and discussed with her, the report concluded, but "were never achieved because of her reluctances". |
| It added: "At the time of writing there has been no coroner's inquest, although current evidence would suggest that the mother took the lives of the children prior to taking her own life. " | |
| The report identified 13 "learning points" aimed at preventing future repetitions in similar cases. | The report identified 13 "learning points" aimed at preventing future repetitions in similar cases. |
| Peter Worobec, independent chair of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board, said "things have and will continue to change". | Peter Worobec, independent chair of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board, said "things have and will continue to change". |
| "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. | "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. |
| "We have identified a further 21 actions that will be taken to ensure that practice is improved." | "We have identified a further 21 actions that will be taken to ensure that practice is improved." |