NOTE: The Leader has permitted an additional item relating to the National Review into the deaths of Star Hobson and Arthur Labinjo Hughes to be considered at this meeting owing to the reasons of special urgency. 

This is because the report was published on the 26 May 2022 and this report could not be published prior to this due to a national embargo from DfE.  This cannot be delayed until the next meeting of the Executive.

Following the tragic deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull in June 2020, Star Hobson in Keighley, Bradford in September 2020, and the subsequent two murder trials and convictions in December 2021 of their parents and partners, a national review of learning from the two cases was initiated.

The review was undertaken by the national independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. This panel commissions reviews of serious child safeguarding cases, focusing on improving learning, professional practice and outcomes for children, based on the possibility of identifying improvements from cases that it views as complex or of national importance.

The review's primary focus was to try and understand how and why public services and systems designed to protect children were not able to do so. The review looked in detail at service responses to the two children's experiences, to make sense of what can be learned and must do differently in the future locally and nationally. The review, published on 26May 2022 has six local and eight national recommendations. The Executive report (Document “H”) focuses primarily on the national and local recommendations in respect of Star Hobson.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(1)  There is nothing more important than getting services right for children young people in the district.

(2)  The Council Executive commit to working closely with the partners to deliver on every one of the recommendations within the developmental action plan, and progressing at pace the extensive wider work underway across the partnership.

(Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

(Darren Minton – 01274 434361)

NOTE: the following item was considered in accordance with the Special Urgency provisions set out in paragraph 11 of Part 3D of the constitution because the national review was published on the 26th May and this report could not be published prior to this due to a national embargo from DfE.  Accordingly, the Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that the taking of the decision could not reasonably be deferred.

Following the tragic deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull in June 2020, Star Hobson in Keighley, Bradford in September 2020, and the subsequent two murder trials and convictions in December 2021 of their parents and partners, a national review of learning from the two cases was initiated. The review was undertaken by the national independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. This Panel commissions reviews of serious child safeguarding cases, focusing on improving learning, professional practice and outcomes for children, based on the possibility of identifying improvements from cases that it views as complex or of national importance. The review's primary focus was to try and understand how and why public services and systems designed to protect children were not able to do so. The review looked in detail at service responses to the two children's experiences, to make sense of what could be learned and must do differently in the future locally and nationally. The review, published on the 26th of May 2022 had six local and eight national recommendations. The Chief Executive presented a report (Document “H”) which focused primarily on the national and local recommendations in respect of Star Hobson.

The Leader expressed regret that Star Hobson and all who loved her were let down by all partners.  She added that the National Panel was clear about what needed to be put right and some of the work had been started.  She went on to say that like many local authorities the district had issues regarding social work and the Council was working with Government to address these issues and set up a Children’s Trust.

The Chair of the Children’s Safeguarding Board referred to the key national recommendations and the six local recommendations of the National Panel and outlined the ongoing action being taken to address them.

The West Yorkshire Police, Bradford District Commander expressed sadness for the death of Stat Hobson.  He stressed that the protection of children was a priority for the force and that it would work at pace to deliver the recommendations of the National Panel.  He added that 20 additional specialist officers would be in place by the end of the month.

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services expressed deep sorrow at the death of Star Hobson and the tragic circumstances surrounding it.  She added that there were a number of areas in which Children’s Services did not do well.  She stressed that social workers needed to be given more confidence to question families where there were gaps in what they were being told, so that they better understood the experience of the child.  She emphasised that it was important not to lose sight of the voice of the child so that action could be taken quickly where needed.

The Deputy Chief Executive Bradford District Care NHS foundation Trust welcomed the report and the national and local recommendations and stressed the importance of the journey of the child from birth, putting the voice of the child first.  She expressed her sorrow and added that they could have done better.  She noted that health was working in collaboration with partners and sharing information.  They were looking to provide routine antenatal visits for first time and teenage mothers.  She added that a report on domestic violence was to be published later in the year.  She reported that a joint review had been commissioned of all safeguarding resources of the CCG and providers to establish if resources were in the right place.  The review would be reported to the partnership when it was concluded.

The Leader stressed the importance of the voice of the child and of listening to the wider family as well as carers when working with very small children. 

The Leader of the Opposition group welcomed the national and local recommendations of the National review and stated that no family should be begging the police and social services for help and referred to the red flags that were evident in this case.  She added that members needed confidence that all of the recommendations of the review were embedded into the practice of all partners and implemented in a timely manner.

The Chair of the Children’s Safeguarding Board advised that the partnership was to look at how it was structured and how it could monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the National review.  She added that an inter-agency robust approach was key and that she would be monitoring and holding agencies to account.

The Children and Families Shadow Portfolio Holder stated that this was a shameful chapter for the Council, that the perpetrators were now in prison and that the Council must work hard to never be part of a case like this again in the future and ensure that our own house was in order.  She welcomed the recommendations of the National review and looked forward to their implementation in full.  She added that multi agency failures were not acceptable and that everything that could be must be done to protect children in the district.

The Leader noted that partnership working on a day to day basis was key, so that there were no gaps which people could fall through.  She recognised and acknowledged that front line workers were making difficult decisions on a daily basis.

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Shadow Portfolio Holder noted the increase in agency social workers and asked what was being done to bring this down to the statistical norm.  In response the Strategic Director of Children’s Services noted that it was not unusual to see an increase in agency social workers when an authority had an inadequate Ofsted judgement.  She added that there were significant pressures across social work regarding recruitment and retention of permanent social workers.  She added that since October 2021 work had been undertaken with Corporate Resources as a different approach was needed, building in safeguards such as increasing the length of notice and giving a longer time to hand over when leaving.  She added that they were looking at different ways of recruiting social workers and sharing the benefits of working in Bradford and the opportunities of being part of the improvement journey.  Opportunities were being given to talk to the Senior Leadership Team on their experience of working in Bradford.  She added that overseas students are being encouraged to stay on in Bradford after qualifying.  A number of authorities were working together with other countries to encourage social workers from overseas.  In addition, a social work academy was being set up to increase the number of graduate social workers.

The Children and Families Portfolio Holder expressed deep sorrow at the tragic death of Star Hobson which should not have happened.  She added that some of the recommendations of the National review had started to be implemented. She stressed that protected characteristics should not be allowed to be hidden behind and staff were being encouraged to look at situations with a critical eye.

The Leader concluded that partnership working was vital and how this was sustained this over time was key.  She welcomed the report which was far sighted and strategic and added that the recommendations would be implemented as quickly as possible.

Resolved -

That there is nothing more important than getting services right for children young people in the district.  The Council Executive commit to working closely with the partners to deliver on every one of the recommendations within the developmental action plan, and progressing at pace the extensive wider work underway across the partnership.

ACTION: Chief Executive