Deaths of mother and children ‘could not have been prevented’

Fiona Anderson, 23, who was heavily pregnant, died on April 15 last year after jumping from a car park in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Police discovered the bodies of Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old Kyden, at their home in the town’s London Road South, several hours later. Tests showed they died from drowning.

Officers later said they were not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.

Suffolk Local Safeguarding Children Board yesterday published a serious case review into how public agencies worked with the Anderson family prior to the deaths.

It found that attempts to engage with the family had failed but there were no warning signs to suggest the children were in immediate danger.

Report author Ron Lock said: “There had been no known history of either the mother or the father intentionally causing physical harm to the children, or of any self-harming episodes by the parents themselves.

“In this respect, the deaths of the children and their mother were completely unexpected. It was not predictable or thought in any way likely.”

Social services and other agencies had been working with Ms Anderson and her partner for three years due to concerns over their parenting abilities.

Court proceedings to remove Levina had been initiated but these were withdrawn following a legal challenge and in recognition of the fact there was insufficient evidence.

The report acknowledged that this action resulted in the relationship between the family and children’s social care becoming strained from the outset.

It goes on to say that by June 2010, when Levina was 12 months old, the concerns had diminished sufficiently for formal involvement to cease.

But further concerns prompted Levina and Addy being made subject of child protection plans in August 2011. When Kyden was born in May 2012 he was included in the plan, the report said.

Mr Lock said: “Despite interventions by a number of practitioners, there was no success in effectively engaging the family in interventions by professionals.

“This meant that overall the implementation of the child protection plans was significantly compromised.”

Although procedures were followed, the report found that the lack of progress was not challenged by managers of other professionals. It identified 13 “learning points”, aimed at preventing future tragedies.

Peter Worobec, independent chair of the safeguarding board, described the deaths as a tragedy which had a deep impact on the community.

“All cases where children die and abuse or neglect is thought to be a factor in those deaths are reviewed,” he said.

“The board fully accepts the important lessons from this review and I would want to stress that things have and will continue to change as a direct result of this tragedy.

“In our response to this review the action already taken to eliminate drift in such cases and ensure all child protection cases are subject to robust management oversight, particularly in Lowestoft, is laid out.

“In addition, we have identified a further 21 actions that will be taken to ensure that practice is improved, it has the desired impact and is embedded across the county and in all agencies.

“At this very sad time, I would like to give my sincere thanks to Fiona’s parents and her partner who have worked with us during this review.”