Latest news with #RotherhamCouncil
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Foster child, 12, killed carer just six days after he was placed with her after social workers failed to uncover gang and knife links, inquest hears
A 12-year-old 'gangster' who ran over and killed his foster mother had been placed in her care six days before the tragedy despite concerns raised by a social worker, an inquest has heard. Marcia Grant, 60 had been working as a foster carer for seven years before she was twice run over by the knife-wielding child outside her home in Greenhill, Sheffield, on April 5, 2023. She and her husband Delroy Grant had tried to stop the boy taking her car outside their home before he then reversed 'aggressively' over her at speed 'like a dart'. A wheel of the Honda Civic ended up on top of Ms Grant who suffered fatal crush injuries to her chest and died at the scene. The boy later said to cops: 'Is she dead?' and 'looks like I got my first kill?' before insisting: 'It was an accident, I swear.' When he was arrested after trying to run away from police, the balaclava-clad youngster told a policewoman: 'I'm going to f****** kill your family, you b****, and I don't give a f***.' The boy, referred to as Child X, was sentenced to two years in custody in November 2023 after admitting causing Mrs Grant's death by dangerous driving, when a murder charge was dropped. A week-long inquest today began at Sheffield Coroner's Court with her family saying: 'To say mum's life's calling was to help those in need is an understatement.' The hearing will look at Rotherham Council's decision to place Child X with Mrs Grant and her husband Delroy, the support they were given and the events outside their home on the evening of April 5, coroner Marilyn Whittle said. Ms Whittle heard how Mr and Mrs Grant were experienced foster carers who were highly regarded by the council's fostering team. They were caring for another child, referred to as Child Y, when a call went out to all Rotherham's foster carers for an emergency placement for Child X on March 30 2023. Mr and Mrs Grant volunteered to take him, despite them being categorised as only able to take in one child at a time, largely because of the complexities Child Y presented to them. But Ms Whittle heard that the rules meant that they could take another child for up to six days in an emergency situation. The coroner was told that the six days expired on April 5 - the day Mrs Grant died - and the boy was collected by social services but returned later that day. Social worker David Wade, who supported the Grants in their fostering, told the inquest that he was consulted about the initial emergency placement of Child X and said he did not agree with the decision because of the potential impact on Child Y, who was clearly being helped by the family. But Mr Wade said the decision was made by a more senior manager. The social worker told the court that he did not know the details of Child X's self-reported history of gang-related activity and possession of knives. He told the coroner that, if he did, he would have been more robust in his insistence that this was not a suitable placement. Mr Wade said he had absolutely no concerns over Mr and Mrs Grant's ability to care for Child X and stressed that his prime concerns were about the impact on Child Y. He said: 'They just wanted to help all the time. They were just incredibly open to helping children.' Matthew Boud, who worked at the time as head of service for Rotherham Council's children in care service, signed off on the placement of Child X with the Grants. He explained how council faced difficult, 'finely balanced' decisions over emergency placements and, if the Grants had not agreed to take the boy, he could have ended up in an unsuitable setting, possibly including a hotel or being transported miles from Rotherham. He said: 'We were desperately trying to provide some stability for Child X in that context.' Mr Boud said he thought it was an 'appropriate decision' in the circumstances. Child X's social worker Tessa Goodacre told the court she was not aware of concerns in the few days he was with the Grants. She was asked by the coroner whether she was 'aware that Mrs Grant was struggling and colleagues were saying she was looking shattered', but she said she was not aware. Ms Goodacre said the boy was very chatty and acted like a normal teenager. She said he enjoyed football and told her he wanted to be a police officer when he grew up. The social worker said she was aware Child X had a youth caution for possession of a knife and had talked about gang-related activities, which were unsubstantiated. The inquest opened on Monday with a pen-portrait of Mrs Grant, read by her daughter, Gemma. The family said she was a 'soul like no other' with an 'unshakeable ethical compass' and a 'proud and loving mother' with an 'infectious laugh'. Ms Grant outlined her mother's long career working for charities and in social care, saying she always supported people who were 'overlooked, dismissed or mistreated'. She said she provided a 'safe haven for children in need' and added: 'She wore the achievements of those she loved as if they were her own.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Foster mum offered to care for boy who killed her
A foster carer who was killed by a 12-year-old boy she had been looking after had volunteered to care for him following an emergency request, an inquest has heard. Marcia Grant, 60, died outside her home in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on 5 April 2023 when the boy reversed over her in her own car. The boy, referred to during Monday's hearing as Child X, was later sentenced to two years in custody after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. Assistant Coroner Marilyn Whittle said the inquest would examine the decision to place the boy with Mrs Grant and her husband and the support provided to the couple by Rotherham Council, as well as the events leading up to her death. Sheffield Coroners' Court heard Mrs Grant and her husband, Delroy, were both experienced carers and were already looking after one child at the time they took on the boy's care. The hearing was told managers approved the temporary placement of the boy with the couple on the understanding it could only run for six days and it must be constantly reviewed. It had been a finely balanced and child-focused decision, one manager told the court. However, another social worker told the inquest he had not thought it was a good idea to place the boy with the couple. He said he had been concerned about the impact it would have on the child they were already looking after. The inquest heard that on 5 April 2023, six days after the start of Child X's placement, he had reversed over Mrs Grant in her own car as he had attempted take it. Mrs Grant was left with catastrophic injuries and died at the scene. Gemma Grant, Mrs Grant's daughter, told the inquest her mother had "a soul like no other" and had an "unshakeable moral compass". "To say mum's life's calling was to help those in need is an understatement," she said. Ms Grant outlined her mother's long career working for charities and in social care, saying she always supported people who were "overlooked, dismissed or mistreated". She said she provided a "safe haven for children in need", adding: "She wore the achievements of those she loved as if they were her own." The inquest continues. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North 'No justice' for killed foster mum, says family Boy who killed his foster mum with car sentenced Boy, 13, admits killing woman with her own car
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
£265k government grant for Rotherham council building upgrades
Three council-owned buildings in Rotherham will undergo upgrades funded by a £265,000 government grant to cut carbon Gardens, 115 Middle Lane South and Swinton Customer Service Centre and Library will be fitted with low-carbon heat pumps, smart-controlled LED lighting solar panels, improved insulation, double glazing and water-saving fixtures.A fourth building, Peacock Lodge Children's Home, will be upgraded using council funding after narrowly missing eligibility for the grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation total cost of the scheme is estimated at £422,000, with the council contributing around £156,000 from its decarbonisation budget. It is expected to cut around 30 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, contributing to Rotherham Council's commitment to its operations being net zero by reductions will not be as significant, with the council anticipating yearly energy savings across the four sites to be about £3, buildings were chosen based on the condition of their existing heating systems and their suitability for efficient decarbonisation works, according to the Local Democracy Reporting is expected to begin later this year, with all upgrades to be completed by March 2026 in line with the scheme's funding of contractors will begin over the summer, with construction starting in the autumn. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New clean-up crew set to bin Rotherham's litter
Rotherham Council is doubling its clean-up team, with new jobs created to tackle fly-tipping and littering. It follows a £307,000 investment in its 2025-26 budget aimed at making the South Yorkshire borough greener. The number of staff dedicated to maintaining rural verges and main roads will rise from four to eight. A report set to go before the council's cabinet on 9 June says the additional staff will allow for more regular litter-removal, better identification of fly-tipping hotspots, and increased intelligence-sharing with enforcement officers. There will also be two new performance management officers, to track the service and develop long-term litter-busting strategies. The roles are expected to begin in July or August, with the cost of new vehicles, uniforms and equipment all factored into the budget, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Rotherham had 5,689 fly-tipping incidents in 2022, with 2,070 classed as large or multiple items. There are 326 roadside verges in the borough which are currently cleared of litter and cut once a year, between May and October. However "as a result of the investment, the capacity in this area will be doubled," the report concludes. A progress update will be presented to the council's cabinet in April 2026. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Council set to spend £4m on replacing bin lorries Fines plan for putting waste into wrong bins
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Rotherham: New clean-up crew will target fly-tipping and litter
Rotherham Council is doubling its clean-up team, with new jobs created to tackle fly-tipping and follows a £307,000 investment in its 2025-26 budget aimed at making the South Yorkshire borough number of staff dedicated to maintaining rural verges and main roads will rise from four to eight.A report set to go before the council's cabinet on 9 June says the additional staff will allow for more regular litter-removal, better identification of fly-tipping hotspots, and increased intelligence-sharing with enforcement officers. There will also be two new performance management officers, to track the service and develop long-term litter-busting roles are expected to begin in July or August, with the cost of new vehicles, uniforms and equipment all factored into the budget, according to the Local Democracy Reporting had 5,689 fly-tipping incidents in 2022, with 2,070 classed as large or multiple are 326 roadside verges in the borough which are currently cleared of litter and cut once a year, between May and October. However "as a result of the investment, the capacity in this area will be doubled," the report concludes.A progress update will be presented to the council's cabinet in April 2026. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
