Full Story: http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0850.htm
An investigation has been launched into how a five month old girl was killed by her father while being monitored by social services. Elisha Allen was classified as "at risk" even before she was born and died from head injuries after being shaken to death by Gary Allen. Allen, 25, and her mother Claire Morton, 30, were scrutinised by social workers in Sunderland during the pregnancy. But two months before the birth, the pair moved two miles away into a different local authority area with its own social services department in County Durham. Elisha was killed in January last year while they were living in Bournmoor having moved from Penshaw, Sunderland. Child protection experts from both authorities are conducting a Serious Case Review into the death and the results will be released when criminal proceedings have been concluded. Among their consideration will be whether Sunderland's social services passed on sufficient information about Allen's propensity for violence. Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, in whose constituency the family were living when Elisha was killed, said: "Clearly someone has to be brought to account for this. "This is an appalling case and someone needs to explain why just because these parents moved across a local authority border nobody saw fit to keep the case under review." Allen has admitted manslaughter as a result of a "sudden loss of self control" and Morton, has pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of her baby daughter. Both will be sentenced in August
Monday, 9 June 2008
Probe launched after baby dies
Full Story: http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0849.htm
A PROBE is under way by child protection experts into the death of a baby classified as being at risk even before she was born. Little Elisha Allens violent father and cowed mother were being monitored by social workers in Sunderland when they lived within the city boundaries in the months leading up to her birth. But two months before Elisha was born her parents moved two miles from Avondale Road, Penshaw, Sunderland, to Marigold Crescent, Bournmoor, between Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring, just over the border into County Durham, and into a separate local authority with a separate social services department. It was there that Elisha was shaken to death by her father Gary Allen, 25, in January 2007. She was just five months old. Now child protection experts in both Sunderland and Durham are conducting a Serious Case Review into whether more could have been done to prevent Elishas death. A key part of the probe concerns whether or not Sunderlands social services passed on sufficient information if any about Allens propensity for violence. Last night Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, in whose constituency the family were living when Elisha was killed, said: It is an absolutely appalling situation if a vulnerable child was left unprotected simply because she moved a couple of miles. I will be writing to Sunderland City Councils director of social services to find out exactly what happened. This case was awful, an absolute tragedy.
A PROBE is under way by child protection experts into the death of a baby classified as being at risk even before she was born. Little Elisha Allens violent father and cowed mother were being monitored by social workers in Sunderland when they lived within the city boundaries in the months leading up to her birth. But two months before Elisha was born her parents moved two miles from Avondale Road, Penshaw, Sunderland, to Marigold Crescent, Bournmoor, between Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring, just over the border into County Durham, and into a separate local authority with a separate social services department. It was there that Elisha was shaken to death by her father Gary Allen, 25, in January 2007. She was just five months old. Now child protection experts in both Sunderland and Durham are conducting a Serious Case Review into whether more could have been done to prevent Elishas death. A key part of the probe concerns whether or not Sunderlands social services passed on sufficient information if any about Allens propensity for violence. Last night Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, in whose constituency the family were living when Elisha was killed, said: It is an absolutely appalling situation if a vulnerable child was left unprotected simply because she moved a couple of miles. I will be writing to Sunderland City Councils director of social services to find out exactly what happened. This case was awful, an absolute tragedy.
£10k bill for sex scandal claims
Full Story: http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0848.htm
A sacked social worker accused of inventing allegations that a council failed to supervise paedophiles has been told to pay Pfund10,000 expenses after dropping his unfair dismissal claim. Tony Child, of Dalston, complained he had been unfairly sacked by Dumfries and Galloway Council for whistle-blowing. He had been dismissed for making malicious allegations of bullying and harassment against former colleagues, but abandoned his case during the fifth day of an employment tribunal yesterday. During extended proceedings into his claim, Child, 61, made a series of sensational allegations which the council insisted were invented and which he subsequently withdrew. Jessel Gair, representing Dumfries and Galloway Council, told the tribunal in Glasgow that Childs behaviour had been vexatious, unreasonable or at the very least misconceived, and urged a judge to award the maximum Pfund10,000 costs against him. The solicitor added that the council maintained Child had invented allegations that the authority failed to supervise 17 known paedophiles due to lack of qualified staff. Other claims denied were that the council failed to police-check certain education staff with access to children, engaged an offender in a disability team, permitted unqualified staff to do work which should be carried out by qualified staff, detained two older clients inappropriately and forcibly in a secure unit in Dumfries, alleged a carer obtained money by deception from clients, inappropriately controlled finances and money of clients and failed to respond to safety concerns. Mr Gair said the council had no records that Child, of Sunnyvale, Highbridge, had ever made these disclosures to them.
A sacked social worker accused of inventing allegations that a council failed to supervise paedophiles has been told to pay Pfund10,000 expenses after dropping his unfair dismissal claim. Tony Child, of Dalston, complained he had been unfairly sacked by Dumfries and Galloway Council for whistle-blowing. He had been dismissed for making malicious allegations of bullying and harassment against former colleagues, but abandoned his case during the fifth day of an employment tribunal yesterday. During extended proceedings into his claim, Child, 61, made a series of sensational allegations which the council insisted were invented and which he subsequently withdrew. Jessel Gair, representing Dumfries and Galloway Council, told the tribunal in Glasgow that Childs behaviour had been vexatious, unreasonable or at the very least misconceived, and urged a judge to award the maximum Pfund10,000 costs against him. The solicitor added that the council maintained Child had invented allegations that the authority failed to supervise 17 known paedophiles due to lack of qualified staff. Other claims denied were that the council failed to police-check certain education staff with access to children, engaged an offender in a disability team, permitted unqualified staff to do work which should be carried out by qualified staff, detained two older clients inappropriately and forcibly in a secure unit in Dumfries, alleged a carer obtained money by deception from clients, inappropriately controlled finances and money of clients and failed to respond to safety concerns. Mr Gair said the council had no records that Child, of Sunnyvale, Highbridge, had ever made these disclosures to them.
Climbie social worker successfully appeals decision
Full Story: http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0847.htm
The Haringey social worker struck off following Victoria Climbie's death has successfully appealed the decision. Lisa Arthurworrey, who handled the Climbie case, was dismissed by Haringey Council for gross misconduct following the eight-year-old's death on February 25, 2000. And she was removed from the social worker register by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) on December 18, 2006. Victoria lost her life at the hands of her abusive great-aunt Marie Therese Kouao and her boyfriend Carl Manning while living under their care in Tottenham - despite social services being aware she was in danger. She died from malnutrition and had 128 separate injuries at the time of her death, including burn marks and scars caused by a scabies infection. The couple are serving life sentences for her murder. The case, considered one of the worst instances of child abuse in British history, had been given to Ms Arthurworrey without a proper handover. On Monday the appeal was unanimously upheld by the Care Standards Tribunal which found the GSCC decision had made Ms Arthurworrey "a scapegoat".
The Haringey social worker struck off following Victoria Climbie's death has successfully appealed the decision. Lisa Arthurworrey, who handled the Climbie case, was dismissed by Haringey Council for gross misconduct following the eight-year-old's death on February 25, 2000. And she was removed from the social worker register by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) on December 18, 2006. Victoria lost her life at the hands of her abusive great-aunt Marie Therese Kouao and her boyfriend Carl Manning while living under their care in Tottenham - despite social services being aware she was in danger. She died from malnutrition and had 128 separate injuries at the time of her death, including burn marks and scars caused by a scabies infection. The couple are serving life sentences for her murder. The case, considered one of the worst instances of child abuse in British history, had been given to Ms Arthurworrey without a proper handover. On Monday the appeal was unanimously upheld by the Care Standards Tribunal which found the GSCC decision had made Ms Arthurworrey "a scapegoat".
Social services director says farewell
Full Story: http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0846.htm
AFTER spending five years heading up Trafford's community services and social care, Mike Cooney is stepping down this week. Under Mike's guidance the department has been transformed into a 'three star' social care service, which provides quality services people at a time they need or deserve it. Mike said: "Having a strong management team and committed people within each of the specific service areas has made it possible to turn around what was a failing service in such a short period of time. We all recognised the need to move away from the previous 'one size fits all' approach to providing services, to one that places the needs and expectations of each individual as its top priority." advertisementCouncil leader Cllr Susan Williams thanked Mike for contributions made during his time in Trafford. She said: "Mike's contribution to Trafford Council has been exceptional and I am sure I speak for staff and elected members in thanking him for his service to this borough. I also wish him well in his retirement, but suspect he might be in demand to lend his advice to other authorities in the future and in that I am sure he will be very sucessful."
AFTER spending five years heading up Trafford's community services and social care, Mike Cooney is stepping down this week. Under Mike's guidance the department has been transformed into a 'three star' social care service, which provides quality services people at a time they need or deserve it. Mike said: "Having a strong management team and committed people within each of the specific service areas has made it possible to turn around what was a failing service in such a short period of time. We all recognised the need to move away from the previous 'one size fits all' approach to providing services, to one that places the needs and expectations of each individual as its top priority." advertisementCouncil leader Cllr Susan Williams thanked Mike for contributions made during his time in Trafford. She said: "Mike's contribution to Trafford Council has been exceptional and I am sure I speak for staff and elected members in thanking him for his service to this borough. I also wish him well in his retirement, but suspect he might be in demand to lend his advice to other authorities in the future and in that I am sure he will be very sucessful."
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