Following the tragic death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull, the Isle of Wight Council has been reassured its children’s services are ‘responsive’ and ‘dealing with safeguarding in a really strong way’.
There was a national outcry when Arthur died in June 2020 after he was tortured and killed by his father, Arthur Hughes, and stepmother, Emma Tustin.
He was seen by social workers two months before his death, but it was concluded there were ‘no safeguarding concerns’, the courts heard at their trial.
National review for the ‘benefit of other children’
Since the conviction and sentencing of Arthur’s killers, though, questions have been raised as to why social services did not intervene sooner, prompting a national review for the ‘benefit of other children’, the government said.
Speaking at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s policy and scrutiny committee for children’s services, Cllr Richard Quigley (Lab) asked if there is ‘anything we need to change on the Island, or we may be in danger of falling into’, following Arthur’s death.
Ashley: Review piloted in Hampshire
Stuart Ashley, deputy director of children services for Hampshire and the Island, said the type of national review that is set to be carried out was piloted in Hampshire after the service volunteered for the inspection.
It focused on the front door of children’s services, where all the incoming work goes and just after the multi-agency service hub to see what the response to risk was and what were the thresholds applied when referrals were being made.
Initial feedback ‘exceptionally strong’
Mr Ashley said the initial feedback from inspectors, which included Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, was exceptionally strong and the council could be confident the thresholds set for referrals are ‘absolutely right’ and that children are being safeguarded.
Whatever the outcome of the national review, Mr Ashley said, the service will consider, and apply, if it is relevant as they are constantly learning.
Ashley: If bad people want to do bad things to children, they will do them
However, Mr Ashley had a frank warning for the committee saying,
“If bad people want to do bad things to children, they will do them and I cannot sit here and say there won’t be an Arthur on the Island or in any other area.
“It may not necessarily be the Island, but these cases happen. They are awful and tragic, but they happen. As much as all agencies will want to protect children it is not always possible to do so.”
Demand in children’s services has been high for nearly a year now, Mr Ashley said, with an element of over-referring from the Island.
That was something he was comfortable with as it is a sign people want to share concerns and worries for children.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: Tadeusz Lakota under CC BY 2.0
