Latest news with #safeguarding
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
'Missed opportunities' before girl, 14, killed man
"Missed opportunities" possibly contributed to the death of a man who was unlawfully killed when he was stabbed by a violent 14-year-old girl, a coroner concluded. Nimroy Hendricks died after the teenager - only identified as Child A because of reporting restrictions - stabbed him in the chest in October 2020 at an address in the Three Bridges area of Crawley, West Sussex. Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield identified failures from both Sussex Police and West Sussex County Council over the death of Mr Hendricks, a 24-year-old musician. She said that had "additional safeguarding measures" been put in place for the girl then Mr Hendricks might still be alive today. Sussex Police said "no evidence of wrongdoing or misconduct" by the force had been found. The inquest heard that in the early hours of 27 October 2020, police left Child A with a female who they believed to be a family member who would be responsible for her. However, officers did not realise that this person - who had a criminal record and claimed to be a cousin - was not a relative as assumed, and was not living at the address given. Just hours later Child A killed Mr Hendricks - who was known to her family - after he visited the address. The coroner added that it had also not been possible to contact Child A's social worker on that day and "an arranged urgent strategy meeting to consider her recent deterioration and issues relating to her living arrangements had not taken place". "Had these matters been addressed, the perpetrator may not have been in a position to carry out the act which led to Mr Hendricks' death," she said. 'Relieved beyond words' Earlier this month West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Coroner's Court heard how Child A - who is now 19 - had a history of violent crime and mental health issues. She had also threatened to stab her mother in the neck hours before attacking Mr Hendricks, for whose manslaughter she was sentenced to five years in jail in 2022. Mr Hendricks' mother, Lisa, called him "deeply caring and so kind", adding that the family had not only lost their son but their best friend too. Criticising the failings which may have led to his death, she said: "It's appalling that such a trail of devastation has ended in the loss of an innocent young man's life, all because those who could and should have intervened in practical and meaningful ways simply did not." Mrs Hendricks added: "As a family we are relieved beyond words that [Child A] will at last be in a position to receive whatever interventions are necessary to keep her and the public safe." A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "We have fully supported the coronial process, which rightly scrutinised the involvement we and other partner agencies had with Child A prior to Mr Hendricks' death. "We acknowledge the inquest conclusion, which found no causative link between the death and the police actions. "The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigated the case after it was referred by Sussex Police and they found no evidence of wrongdoing or misconduct by the force." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Social services had concerns for killer child Teenager in fatal stabbing known to pose a risk Girl, 15, admits stabbing man to death Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Safeguarding review into malnourished girl nationally recognised
A safeguarding review about a teenager who was hospitalised with levels of malnutrition "not seen in the UK" has been nationally recognised. Commissioned by The Northumberland Children and Adult Safeguarding Partnership, the review identified lessons to be learned from the case of the 13-year-old girl, named Sophia in the report, who weighing just over two stone (13.8kg).The 67-page report is written from Sophia's perspective and details a challenging McKay, head of Northumberland County Council's service for quality assurance, said Sophia was regularly updated on the impact her experience has had on training local authorities. Ms McKay said: "That review has actually had national recognition and we have had a number of local authorities ask how we did that and what the processes were."We have had 200 participants in the training of that information with her parents and carers at the centre of that learning."Sophia was front and centre, her voice is very much in that review." The review, which did not seek to assign blame for what happened to the teenager, was written in the first person as it was felt Sophia had not been "seen or heard for such a long time". In 2020, a GP concluded the youngster had "extensive mental health problems, a history of self harm and problems with eating".Sophia was previously admitted to hospital suffering from pancytopenia – a significantly reduced blood cell count. Malnutrition was identified as the cause, but she was not diagnosed with an eating disorder. 'Wish to be happy' Sophia also had bone marrow failure and paediatricians were unsure she would her hospital stay in 2023, she told mental health practitioners that she did not feel "worthy" of food and "did not feel worthy of life". During the review, she said: "I do not think services or workers listened to me for them to really understand how I was feeling or what was happening at home or in my life. "I wanted someone to help me and to be there for me."If this was different, I think I might be happier, taller or I might like myself more now. "My biggest wish is to be happy." At the time of writing the report, Sophia was described as "confident"."People that know me now say I am bubbly and confident - they regularly see me smiling and giggling," she said."I love shopping, make up, clothes, swimming, cycling and taking photos with my camera. I also enjoy being able to go to school." The report identified 12 key points of learning, including a criticism of descriptions of Sophia as "complex, challenging or a problem" as this assigned also identified strengths and successes that could be made into best included praise for Sophia's school for maintaining contact with the family during the pandemic and for healthcare professionals who gave advice to her step-mum when she became council's children's services were rated outstanding by Ofsted last year. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Care home in special measures over safety concerns
A care home has been placed in special measures after an inspection found multiple breaches in legal regulations. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Woodview Care Centre in Lincoln, which supports people living with dementia and people with physical disabilities and mental health conditions, inadequate for being safe and well-led. The commission said the care home would be kept under close review to keep people safe whilst improvements are being made. The BBC has approached Woodview Care Centre for comment. The CQC said it carried out inspections at the care home, run by Woodview Care Ltd, in April and May after it received concerns about the safety, care and treatment of people using the service. It said it found eight breaches of legal regulations around person-centred care, dignity and respect, consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, good management, safe staffing and recruitment procedures. Areas including caring, responsive and effective were rated as requires improvement. 'Missed opportunities' Greg Rielly, CQC deputy director of operations in the midlands, said: "Leaders and staff didn't always listen to, or learn from, concerns around people's safety, creating missed opportunities to improve care and minimise people's risk of injury." He said staff and leaders did not work to improve people's lives or protect their right to live in a safe environment. "Staff didn't always raise safeguarding concerns in line with the home's policy to ensure suspected abuse was appropriately reported and investigated," he added. The CQC said the quality of care it found at Woodview Care Centre fell far below what it would expect. It said leaders had been told where rapid improvements were expected and it would continue to monitor the service closely to see how their plans develop and keep people safe. The CQC said it had also begun the process of taking regulatory action to address the concerns which Woodview Care Ltd had the right to appeal. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this story Care home remains in special measures Care home rated inadequate after concerns raised Related internet links Care Quality Commission
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Lincoln care home in special measures over safety concerns
A care home has been placed in special measures after an inspection found multiple breaches in legal Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Woodview Care Centre in Lincoln, which supports people living with dementia and people with physical disabilities and mental health conditions, inadequate for being safe and well-led. The commission said the care home would be kept under close review to keep people safe whilst improvements are being made. The BBC has approached Woodview Care Centre for comment. The CQC said it carried out inspections at the care home, run by Woodview Care Ltd, in April and May after it received concerns about the safety, care and treatment of people using the said it found eight breaches of legal regulations around person-centred care, dignity and respect, consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, good management, safe staffing and recruitment including caring, responsive and effective were rated as requires improvement. 'Missed opportunities' Greg Rielly, CQC deputy director of operations in the midlands, said: "Leaders and staff didn't always listen to, or learn from, concerns around people's safety, creating missed opportunities to improve care and minimise people's risk of injury."He said staff and leaders did not work to improve people's lives or protect their right to live in a safe environment. "Staff didn't always raise safeguarding concerns in line with the home's policy to ensure suspected abuse was appropriately reported and investigated," he CQC said the quality of care it found at Woodview Care Centre fell far below what it would expect. It said leaders had been told where rapid improvements were expected and it would continue to monitor the service closely to see how their plans develop and keep people CQC said it had also begun the process of taking regulatory action to address the concerns which Woodview Care Ltd had the right to appeal. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Oxfordshire teacher banned for sexually inappropriate behaviour
A teacher has been indefinitely banned from the profession, after his behaviour was judged to be that of someone "in the early stages of pursuing inappropriate sexual relationships with pupils".Karl Smith had been head of computing at The Warriner School, in Bloxham, when the inappropriate behaviour took place.A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel found Mr Smith privately messaged a female student outside of school, whilst also hugging her and another student during separate was also found that the former teacher had told another female student that it was "good it's non-school uniform-day" as people could "see how beautiful you really are". Concerns were first raised by a pupil about Mr Smith in November 2022, with the school launching an investigation and suspending the teacher - before referring the case to the TRA.A TRA panel found Mr Smith had established a private messaging channel and shared his personal contact details with a female pupil he knew to be the messages, the then-teacher referenced his "dashing good looks", said he was "pretty damn lonely", and told the pupil: "Maybe I'm just a sucker for a pretty face."He later told the student to delete the messages exchanged between the pair. Mr Smith was also found to have called a pupil "beautiful" in a separate incident - which the student told the school investigation had been "creepy and more than a normal compliment to come from a teacher".The TRA panel's judgement found that Mr Smith's actions "had many of the hallmarks of someone in the early stages of pursuing inappropriate sexual relationships with pupils".In prohibiting him from teaching in England, the judgement said: "The panel considered Mr Smith's conduct was not minor in nature, or a mere temporary lapse. It was a sustained course of action."The former-teacher, in a statement to the panel, said: "Even though I was not in my right mind at the time, it was still wrong and should never had happened." "I deeply regret my part in all of this, not just because it has destroyed me mentally, but because of the impact that my actions have had on the young people affected."In a statement, The Warriner School said it "takes all safeguarding extremely seriously, with the safety of our students our priority"."As soon as this was brought to our attention, we took swift action, seeking and following the advice of the Local Authority Designated Officer for Safeguarding and the police," the school said, adding that it had engaged with the TRA process "throughout". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
