Shake-up under way in bid to stop more tragedies

The serious case review published yesterday in Bradford detailed the steps being taken to minimise the chances of similar tragedies happening again.

These include the development of a new assessment method for children which officials say is “less process driven but rather supports the intelligent questioning, understanding and analysis of information gathered that tells the child’s story”.

The report’s author also lists 19 “significant themes for learning” which have implications for the way policies are developed and staff are trained.

One message passed to staff is that “troubled families and parents who are suspicious or unwelcoming of contact from sources of help and support are also the most at risk of becoming isolated and invisible”.

Another passage says: “Thorough and reflective practice requires people having time and capacity to spend time with children and for talking with each other in enough detail.”

The review adds: “Children may not feel able to articulate emotional and psychological distress and can face emotional and psychological barriers in providing full disclosure of information out of loyalty to their family or to other significant people in their lives.”

The serious case review was written by Peter Maddocks, an independent consultant and trainer with more than 35 years experience of social care services.

Nancy Palmer, the independent chair of the review, said senior members of nine of the key local agencies that had contact with Hamzah were also on the review panel but that none had any direct responsibility for work involving the tragic four-year-old and his family.

Ms Palmer said: “It is also important to draw attention to the good professional practice that was identified by the serious case review.”

This included “persistent efforts” by a police officer to encourage Amanda Hutton to accept help in response to domestic violence and the midwifery service arranging ante-natal home visits during one of her pregnancies.

Ms Palmer said the review into Hamzah’s death “raises challenges for local and national policymakers to consider how far systems should rely on parents making the right decisions for their children”.

She said: “It is important that the learning from this review is disseminated and that actions to improve services result from this learning. Some key developments have already improved services, for example, the establishment of a multi-agency assessment team that includes a police officer, education worker and health visitor working together with children’s social workers.”