Failings by a Labour-run council contributed to the death of a foster mother who was killed by a 12-year-old boy she was caring for.
The boy said to police: 'Is she dead?' and 'looks like I got my first kill?' before insisting: 'It was an accident, I swear.' When he was arrested after trying to run away from police, the balaclava-clad youngster told a policewoman: 'I'm going to f***ing kill your family, you b****, and I don't give a f***.'
All he got was two years for manslaughter, and is probably out roaming the streets by now. The coroner is pointing finges:
She said the circumstances which led to the fatal incident 'were contributed to by the failings of the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to have appropriate systems and processes in place when placing foster children, including but not limited to the lack of accurate and complete documentation, failure to communicate risks and concerns appropriately, failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments and failing to safeguard those in their care'. Ms Whittle said she would be writing a 'prevention of future deaths' report addressing issues including the council's lack of documentation and failure to complete forms; and a shortage of placements, although she said this was a 'national issue' and not just to be directed at Rotherham.
No doubt, but what consequences will there ever be for people who failed their duties, when they work for the State? People who rely on those with this sort of suicidal empathy?
The inquest heard how Mr and Mrs Grant volunteered to take him, despite them being categorised as only able to take in one child at a time, largely because of the complexities Child Y presented to them.
The complexities, or the colour of the child's skin? The foster parents were black, and although his idenntity has not been revealed, I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts the kid is too...
Ms Whittle said that Child X had a youth caution for possessing a knife and had at times talked about wanting to be part of gang culture, but this information was not included on the initial placement referral form, making it 'deficient'. She said Mrs Grant's decision that she could provide Child X with a short term placement 'was made without her full knowledge of Child X's risks' because of 'the failings of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to have in place systems and processes to ensure full details are included and up to date forms were used'.
She's dead, and cannot speak to her knowledge, which is handy for the coroner, I guess!
1 comment:
Borstals used to be the place for such children but their use dropped off after the peak in the 1950s. I guess there must have been some pretty tough justice meted out in these places but to do away with them has to be seen as a mistake.
Post a Comment