To wonder what can be done for vulnerable people? (Trigger warning) [Content warning added by MNHQ: mentions child abuse]

[Soubriquet]

This poor little boy starved to death after his father died of a heart attack. He was found curled up next to his dad.

Apparently a social worker tried twice to gain access, even contacting the police, but still didn’t do anything until she went to the landlord and gained a key in which it was far too late.

Why didn’t the neighbours report a child who was surely crying with hunger?

Why didn’t the police investigate when the social worker reported twice that she was getting no response from a vulnerable family?

lonk

This is fucking heart breaking and it's happened before. Years ago, very similar circumstances with a mother and her son with SEN. Somewhere in London I think. The son was a bit older I think.

I’ve only just spotted there is a thread in chat so apologies for starting a repeat

It is so, so sad.

I think this is why we need stronger communities. Neighbours, friends and family to raise the alarm if no contact for a few days.

I saw that mum was blaming social workers but IMO we can't blame statutory services as they were repeatedly visiting and raising the alarm.

Whether Police visit every time a vulnerable family aren't in for a scheduled appointment is another question, however that would take huge resources. I don't think it would be workable.

So so sad. Both that it happened and to think no one from family and no friends had checked on them or raised concerns in all that time. Did he not have a mum/grandparents etc? Sorry I haven’t read the article as avoid DM

This is so sad and agree about stronger communities. Wonder what was going on with the mother that she couldn’t check in on her child for such a long period of time, not even a phone call? And now she’s saying it’s all Social Services’ fault? Trying to hold judgement until I know more, maybe she was in hospital or something.

I can't believe the mum is blaming Children's services. She didn't check in on her 2 year old all that time! If she had and then raised the alarm, he would still be alive. Heartbreaking.

Social services visited and raised the alarm. What makes you think thr mother would have been more successful?

The fault lies with the police who ignored the social workers concerns. They could have done a welfare call and broken the door down if no response.

Absolutely. You don’t mention his mum OP, why?

Why didn't the police do their job?

Always the social's fault, innit? Never St. Bobby.

This is heartbreaking. Absolutely devastating for everyone. Difficult to know what can be done. I don’t see it was anyone’s ‘fault’ - it was a terrible terrible accident.

Well, the mother could have directly broken the door down if she got no response from the police. But she would have had more time to visit the home and escalate it to the police over a matter of hours.

Oh, absolutely!

The father had adult children, and they were not in touch
The child had a mother who was not in touch
The SW had best picture of the family and the child's vulnerability. And attempted to visit twice.

The SW then obtained a key (beyond stat duty) The SW cared.
The SW did the right thing and notified the police each time
The police choose not to visit twice.
Strengthening communities Yes, it's a lovely phrase, but no, it won't happen in many communities.
Lessons learned will inevitably be 'better communication between professionals'.
The real lesson learned is we need a bigger police force to respond to 'small' issues

It's utterly heartbreaking, but maybe if we could stop demonising social workers in the media. Start properly funding public services, the Police would be able to go back to providing welfare checks, and there would be support services on offer. Unfortunately, we will always have parents who struggle to parent and support is what they need. This government has all but decimated the support systems that we once had and pitted groups against one another whilst lining their own pockets and those of their cronies for the past 13 years.

The articles I've read mention the dad had been ill for some time with heart problems so I think in that scenario, if you are responsible for such a small child, you need to take some responsibility to set up your own "emergency" plan, be that with a neighbour or relative. It doesn't sound like this heart attack came out of the blue. Surely the mum knew how ill he'd been. Why did she do nothing?

The one person who sounds like they did all they could, the social worker, is the one now being blamed! The police should have done the welfare check. So serious questions need to be asked as to why that didn't happen, when the SW called them twice in a couple of days.

Are Police now saying they don't do welfare checks? Cos they always used to.

Because they are seriously underfunded, and most forces have dropped welfare checks and just route the calls to MH services, who also cannot cope.

Unfortunately, it is literally the same conclusion each time. Not enough working together between different agencies. Until that problem is solved these incidents will go on happening. Of course if the SW had a smaller caseload, if she didn't have umpteen children on her caseload that were at significant risk of harm, if she had support staff...

They did, but more and more have needed to cut the service. Most transfer the call to the crisis team who don't have legal powers or even enough staff to cope with demand.

I’ve just seen the police have self referred to watch dog. So obviously they are getting flack for it as they rightly should have.

I didn’t mention the mother because..well I don’t know. It’s easy to point fingers and say it’s her fault for leaving her two year old with her ill husband but at the same time she left him with his dad..

Yes she should have asked about her son but I expect she was trying to get her self settled for her single life. She does have cheek blaming the SS though

Why didn’t the neighbours report a child who was surely crying with hunger?

It happened around Christmas and New Year.

Many people aren't at home then.

I thought MH services routed the calls to the police to do welfare checks? Or has it changed in the past couple of years?

The blog of MentalHealthCop details the way police are the last resort service who end up attending situations where other services have failed - notably mental health - and I know from this there has been some effort at pushback and not letting other services pass the buck. But surely in this situation they should have attended. They are the only ones allowed to break in!

The social worker should not be blamed for this. It must be horrifying for them. I hope they are able to continue in their role as we need good social workers.

Yes she should have asked about her son but I expect she was trying to get her self settled for her single life. She does have cheek blaming the SS though

SS may be the reason why her child was living with his dad.

She may also not be allowed to go to the property. This is what happens if you decide to fight with and lie about the other parent if your child.

I thought MH services routed the calls to the police to do welfare checks? Or has it changed in the past couple of years?

Police no longer do mental health checks.