Care professionals let needs of killer mother ‘overshadow’ needs of daughter – report

A toddler was stamped to death by her mother after care professionals allowed concern for the killer to “overshadow” the child’s needs, a serious case review has found.

The report by Derbyshire’s Safeguarding Children Board revealed that 21-month-old Ayeeshia-Jayne Smith was killed a day after a multi-agency risk assessment meeting called due to “a growing sense of unease” about her safety.

Kathryn Smith, 24, was jailed for life in April last year following her conviction for murdering Ayeeshia-Jayne at the family home in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in May 2014.

The serious case review, which identified those involved by initials, said all agencies concerned with the family had been “inclined to take what (Smith) said at face value”.

A summary of the report stated: “An attitude of professional curiosity requiring practitioners to examine the lived experience of (Ayeeshia-Jayne) was often missing by all agencies.

“The needs of (Smith) overshadowed the needs of (Ayeeshia-Jayne) frequently.”

Ayeeshia-Jayne, described as thin and slight, was pronounced dead in hospital after suffering a fatal heart laceration inflicted by Smith (pictured), who was also convicted of child cruelty.

The toddler’s stepfather, 22-year-old Matthew Rigby, was jailed for three years and six months for causing or allowing the death of a child.

A trial at Birmingham Crown Court was told that Ayeeshia-Jayne was placed on a child protection plan before she was born because of concerns about possible neglect.

She was taken into care for a period in mid-2013 but later returned to Smith, subject to community supervision, after she “complied with all the expectations” of professionals.

The report into the youngster’s death noted a number of medical incidents and minor injuries involving the toddler between January and April 2014, the most significant being hair loss and a suspected convulsion.

Smith and her daughter moved to a rented flat in Burton from an address in Derbyshire in February 2014, after an eviction notice was served for damage to the property.

The serious case review’s executive summary said: “Domestic arguments between (Smith and Rigby) led to police involvement and a growing sense of unease by professionals about once again the risks to (Ayeeshia-Jayne and Smith) of domestic violence.

“This led to a multi-agency risk assessment conference being held on 30th April 2014. The following day (Ayeeshia-Jayne) died.

“It must be acknowledged that, whilst some risk elements were recognised, in the months leading up to the (Ayeeshia-Jayne’s) death, it would appear the violence between (Smith) and her then partner was escalating, yet being minimised by her.

“Professionals made much of the positive relationship observed between (Smith) and her child and this appeared to lead, at times, to a prevailing sense of optimism and a lack of professional curiosity about the current partner, violent incidents, drug use and his care history and background.”

Although the report’s authors said the killing could not have been predicted, they said care professionals “should have been more inquisitive” about the impact of Smith’s new partner and her other relationships on the safety and health of Ayeeshia-Jayne.

The report said the decision to draw up a child protection plan at birth had been appropriate but professionals then became too focused on the needs of Smith as a potential victim of domestic abuse.

Smith had an appeal against her conviction thrown out by the Court of Appeal in July, but judges reduced her minimum term from 24 to 19 years.

Among nine recommendations made in the report was a call for fathers and other male partners to be adequately supported and assessed, even if they are not the primary carer.

Ayeeshia-Jayne’s birth father told the review he had not been listened to or consulted by health professionals, especially while voicing concerns about her safety.

Commenting on the report Jane Parfrement, the director of Children’s Services at Derbyshire County Council, said the authority accepted its findings in full.

Ms Parfrement said: “For those issues where practice could have been stronger, we apologise to the family, and have already apologised to the family.

“I think in particular, having met with Ayeeshia-Jayne’s dad yesterday, I think we could have engaged him a lot better, worked with him differently.

“I think the tone of our work with him was set quite early on, when there were difficulties in the relationships with social workers.”

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