Council ‘sorry’ for bungled checks on child carer’s record

The error happened after the grandmother of the girl – in whose care she had been placed – started a new relationship.

As part of official safeguarding procedure involving new adult family members of children in care, a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check is done along with other checks.

But in the case of the girl – who is from the Belle Isle area of Leeds – the family were told the CRB check had been completed when it had not.

In a letter from Leeds City Council’s social services department, which looks after 200 children in the care of a relative as a foster carer, bosses admit the man’s CRB form had been completed and signed, but never sent on.

They admit this is “poor practice and not according to procedure”.

The family’s complaint has been fully upheld and further investigation promised.

The letter acknowledges: “It is a safeguarding issue... the potential risks (to the child) have not been fully understood.”

The YEP understands the social worker dealing with the case is currently on long-term sick leave,

The grandmother contacted this newspaper to express her concern, saying that had the case involved another girl and a potentially dangerous individual, the consequences could have been disastrous.

She said that in the light of this and other issues following on from it, she has now been forced to choose between her granddaughter and her partner, and he has moved out of the house.

“I started a new relationship and we have been together for around 14 months,” the woman explained. “They asked him for some documents for his CRB check. They did the CRB and the social worker told me it was fine.

“They said it was OK and (my boyfriend) could go and pick her up from school. For several months he was allowed contact with the girl. He used to take her everywhere and she even said ‘can I call you grandad’?”

Leeds council said a management review of the case had now taken place.