Carlisle toddler abuse report says social worker ‘not qualified enough’
A social worker who failed to spot the abuse of a toddler at her Carlisle home was not experienced or qualified enough to deal with the case, a report has revealed.
The three-year-old girl had been repeatedly beaten, bitten and burnt by her father Rueben Williams.
Social services and Cumbria NHS had been tipped off about the abuse but staff believed mum Elodie Massacrier’s lies that nothing was wrong, a new report out today has confirmed.
The child was never examined underneath her clothes and when she was finally rescued 19 months later her body was covered with more than 200 scars.
Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Board (CLSCB) launched a serious case review after the little girl’s parents were jailed.
The review was made public this morning and it raised concerns about the way Cumbria County Council social services, NHS Cumbria and Cumbria Constabulary handled the case.
In relation to social services, the report stated: “This review highlighted issues around lack of experience and appropriate qualifications of the worker allocated the assessment.”
The report says that an anonymous caller had said the little girl was being abused, but that the social worker accepted the family’s claim that the caller was “simply a racist.”
The family moved to Carlisle when the little girl was 16 months-old.
The CLSCB report describes Massacrier and Williams as ‘charming’ and ‘convincing’ in their attempts to cover up the abuse of their daughter.
Health officials from the authority where she previously lived – Northampton – tipped off their Cumbrian counterparts to suspicions of abuse.
When a health visitor went to see the family the child was asleep.
After being convinced that all was well the health visitor concluded that there was no need for concern.
Massacrier went on to cancel several planned health visits.
It was a repeat of her behaviour in Northampton, which NHS Cumbria had been warned about.
The CLSB says opportunities for agencies to share information were missed, including information on William’s background.
The report lists recommendations for good practice.
Among them are making sure a suitably qualified social worker deals with assessments when there are allegations of ‘significant’ abuse and improving information sharing between the likes of social services, the NHS and the police.
A spokesman for the CLSCB said: “Any case involving the abuse of a child is distressing and we are sorry that a child has suffered in this way.
“Through this Serious Case Review 15 recommendations have been made for the board and agencies involved with this child. All those recommendations have been implemented.
“We are closely monitoring the action plan to ensure the changes that have been put in place are maintained. The serious case review is an important part of helping us identify where we could all do things better.
“Ensuring our children are safe and protected from harm is our absolute priority and we will continue to work with all agencies to ensure we do the best we can for children at risk.”
Williams admitted three counts of grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court in February last year.
He was sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison.
Massacrier admitted two charges of cruelty by covering up her partner’s abuse and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.
