News In Focus
20 August 2009
Government to strengthen child protection procedures
The Scottish Government will appoint a national child protection co-ordinator to work with the country’s 30 child protection committees to improve standards and ensure a coherent approach is taken.
The move is part of the Government’s response to an independent review into the death of Dundee toddler Brandon Muir that identified weaknesses in the way the authorities attempted to safeguard him from harm.
The two-part review consisted of an independent inquiry into the events leading up to Brandon’s death, conducted by former Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary Peter Wilson, and a significant case review undertaken by independent social work consultant Jimmy Hawthorn. Commissioned by Dundee Child Protection Committee, the review was published yesterday.
Brandon was a month short of his second birthday when he was killed by mother’s boyfriend, Robert Cunningham, in March 2008.
The review said Cunningham’s assault of Brandon “could not have been predicted” and that the authorities had little opportunity to prevent the killing. However, it said there had been a breakdown in communication between social workers regarding 23-year-old Cunningham's past and said police had failed to attend an earlier meeting at which it was decided Cunningham's own child should be removed from the at-risk register.
No legislation
Children's Minister Adam Ingram said the review would be sent to all of Scotland’s child protection committees to ensure that the recommendations and lessons were shared with all child protection agencies and staff.
He said all national recommendations from the reports would be taken forward as part of the national review of child protection guidance, which is already underway and will be published next year. A national child protection co-ordinator will be appointed to work with local authorities to implement and embed best practice on child protection, building stronger local professional networks and improving joint working between areas
Mr Ingram rejected calls for the Scottish Government to legislate to ensure that more children are taken into care, and sooner, to prevent them being put at risk. “Given the complex nature of family relationships and circumstances, legislating for every eventuality would be an impossible task. That's why we believe that such decisions must be made by frontline professionals, based on all the circumstances of an individual case and with the overriding factor being to ensure the best interests and welfare of the child.
"To support that we are ensuring there is better training, support and advice for social work and other staff to take those hard decisions, and better recruitment, training and support for carers."
The full review can be read at www.dundeeprotects.co.uk/documents/SCR_Report_Brandon_Lee_Muir.pdf