Neglect and serious case reviews (PDF, 735KB) - nspcc

event prompting the Serious case review:
The baby’s post mortem revealed numerous fractures in addition to the
head injury which caused the death.
background to the family and case:
The family of two children (the older sibling was aged five) moved house
regularly and had only been in the new area for three months. Parents were
reluctant to provide information about themselves and their children but it
was gradually discovered that both parents had a number of convictions,
including for drugs and violence. The family appeared self-contained and
socially isolated with no contact with family or other friends and no social
supports. The mother was the dominant parent and was suspicious of
professionals, hostile and resistant to advice. Her history was known to be
difficult but she would not divulge any information about her past. The
father was the children’s main carer and his past included drugs related
offences including for violence. He worked from home. His partner took the
lead in any interactions with helping agencies, while he appeared quiet and
mild mannered. The mother had a job outside the home but also worked
from home and was the major earner.
types of neglect experienced:
3. A thematic analysis of neglect
There was very little ante natal care and the pregnancy was not notified
until six months gestation. Although booked into hospital, Evie’s mother
gave birth to the baby at home with no medical attendance (as had been
the case with the birth of the older sibling). Evie was born healthy and her
early care was said to be ‘good’. Her parents would not allow her to receive
any immunisations and took her to the 6 week check with the GP with
some reluctance. After this first check, all appointments and immunisations
were missed. No health professional saw Evie after the age of 6 weeks.
Evie’s sister had been found crawling outside unattended by a health
professional when she was nine months old. At the age of two years
Evie’s sister was described as ‘desperate for attention’. Later, at school,
the sister was said to not know how to play and appeared ‘resigned’ and
‘measured’ but was always compliant, presenting as charming and smiling,
but occasionally rocked in a foetal position. She sometimes came to school
without any lunch and without a coat in cold weather. Concerns about
emotional neglect were prompted by her behaviour at school.
Conditions at home during Evie’s life were disorganised and cluttered but
not poor. There were no toys visible in the home. When Evie was three
months old a female relative expressed concern to children’s social care
about the family’s social isolation, the lack of toys and the lack of any
stimulation for the children at home.
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