The torture, abuse and eventual murder of Victoria Climbie, by her great aunt and her boyfriend, prompted the largest ever review of child protection arrangements in the U.K,
This being due to the disastrous communication errors between professionals and agencies.
There was a clear lack of clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of other agencies, and policies and procedures not being followed.
This contributed towards poor work practice being followed and the subsequent failure to protect and safeguard Victoria from on going abuse and eventual death.
This led to an inquiry, headed by Lord Laming which was the first in Britain to use special wide ranging powers to look the role of Social services, Police and Child protection arrangements.
Lord Laming's report highlighted 17 recommendations which were to implemented these are as follows:
Recommendation 1
With the support of the Prime Minister, a ministerial Children
And Families Board should be established at the heart of government. The Board
should be chaired by a minister of Cabinet rank and should have ministerial
representation from government departments concerned with the welfare of
Children and families.
Recommendation 2
The chief executive of a newly established National Agency
For Children and Families will report to the ministerial Children and Families Board.
The post of chief executive should incorporate the responsibilities of the post of a
Children’s Commissioner for England.
Recommendation 3
The newly established National Agency for Children and
Families should have the following responsibilities:
• to assess, and advise the ministerial Children and Families Board about, the
impact on children and families of proposed changes in policy;
• to scrutinise new legislation and guidance issued for this purpose;
• to advise on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child;
• to advise on setting nationally agreed outcomes for children and how they...