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Second probe likely into death of baby boy
AN independent investigation is expected to be launched – in addition to a police inquiry – following the death of a four-month-old baby boy on Saturday.
The child’s 17-year-old mother and her 19-year-old partner, believed to be from Barnsbury, were arrested and released on bail on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after doctors reported their concerns. They are expected to return to a central London police station in August.
In a letter to councillors and senior Town Hall officials yesterday (Thursday), Islington Council’s director of child protection Kamini Rambellas said: “Given the circumstances of the case, it is certain that a serious case review will be recommended.” The review would consider whether social care and health agencies could learn lessons from the death.
NHS Islington confirmed this week that the mother had been using a number of services offered by the health service and was in the Family Nurse Partnership Programme, which gives extra help to young and vulnerable mothers. The childwas taken to University College Hospital in Euston and transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital last week.
Doctors were so concerned about the serious nature of the baby’s injuries that they alerted the council’s out-of-hours emergency social work team, who called police. The child died at about 3.30am on Saturday.
A post-mortem is due to take place at St Pancras Coroner’s Court next week.
The council has confirmed it was aware of the birth of the child, and had received a routine notification from the midwifery service because of the mother’s age. Aside from this, the baby was not on the child protection register and was not known to social care.
The death has been referred to the Local Safeguarding Board. The board, led by Janet Mokades, has 28 days to decide if a serious case review should be launched. It will meet next week (Wednesday).
Any inquiry is expected to examine which agencies had been in contact with the family, who should have been in contact with them and if the appropriate services had been provided.
A high-level strategy meeting of council officials and police was held on Friday to review the facts. A further meeting took place on Monday.
The council has notified the Office for Standards in Education, responsible for children’s care, and Government Office London, which, in turn, will produce a “for information only” briefing for the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Council Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of a young child in our borough. I will ensure the council does everything in its power to help police find out what happened.”
Labour shadow executive member for children, Councillor Richard Watts, said: “As a father of a young child I am horrified by the news of the death of a baby in such tragic circumstances. It is difficult to say much about this case before the criminal investigation is finished but the council must undertake a review into this incident to make sure everything is being done to protect vulnerable children.”
He added: “The council is still refusing to apologise for the mistakes it made with safe recruitment practices in our schools. I hope they are more responsive in this case.”
A Town Hall spokeswoman said: “Islington Council has been made aware of the death of a four-month-old baby boy. We are supporting the Metropolitan Police with their investigation. Agencies, including the council, are currently making an assessment of whether a serious case review should be carried out. That decision will be made by the Local Safeguarding Board.”
If the board decides a review is needed, it will have to be completed within four months. Serious case reviews are undertaken when a child dies and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor in the death. The board will establish a serious case review panel, involving social care, health and education staff and police.
The purposes of reviews are to establish if lessons can be learned about how professionals and agencies work together, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to identify what those lessons are, how they will be acted on.
An NHS Islington spokesman said: “We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of a four-month-old baby from Islington. This is a great tragedy for all involved. The baby’s death is being investigated by police. We will do all we can to assist with their inquiries, alongside our local partners.”
An Islington police spokeswoman said: “Next of kin has been informed but we await formal identification. Detectives from the Child Abuse Investigation Command are investigating.” |
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