Focus On The Victoria Climbie Inquiry Report Social Work Essay

In his statement to the House of Commons when showing Lord Laming ‘s Inquiry Report into the decease of Victoria Climbie , on 28 January 2003, the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, said:

“ It is an all excessively familiar call. In the past few decennaries at that place have been tonss of enquiries into atrocious instances of kid maltreatment and disregard. Each has called on us to larn the lesson of what went incorrect. Indeed, there is a singular consistence in both what went incorrect and what is advocated to set it right.

Lord Laming ‘s Report goes farther. It recognises that the hunt for a simple solution or a speedy hole will non make. It is non merely national criterions, or proper preparation, or equal resources, or local leading, or new constructions that are needed. ”

I will give an overview of the enquiry. I will besides give an overview of the subjects, deficiency of answerability right through the organisations to the most senior degree and staff non adequately trained in kid protection.

I will analyze and review these subjects in relation to bureau policy, legal demands, research, practician cognition and the voice of the service user. Previous enquiries and at that place associate to this enquiry will be discussed along with have we learned any lessons from this. The failure to implement a legal, ethical and political model to inform current best pattern will be utilised. I will reflect on the deductions of grounds informed pattern and how this will inform future societal work pattern.

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This paragraph will supply a sum-up of the events taking to the decease of Victoria Climbie, and set up why there was a demand for the enquiry. From the study ( Lord Laming, 2003 ) we know that Victoria Climbie came to England with her grandaunt, Marie-Therese Kouao in April 1999. Within a twelvemonth, she was dead. On 25th February 2000, Victoria died of hyperthermy at St Mary ‘s Hospital, Paddington. She was merely eight old ages old and had 128 separate hurts to her organic structure. On 12th January 2001, her great-aunt Kouao and her fellow, Carl Manning, were convicted of slaying. The degree of inhuman treatment experienced by Victoria was genuinely hideous, with day-to-day whippings utilizing several different implements. Her concluding yearss were exhausted life and kiping in an unwarmed bathroom in the center of winter, where she was bound manus and pes, lying in her ain piss and fecal matters in a bin bag in the bath. The secretary of State set up the independent statutory enquiry into her decease, under the Chairmanship of Lord Laming, in April 2001, to set up under subdivision 81 of the Children Act 89 the concerns with the maps of the local authorization societal services commissions and the manner they relate to kids. The enquiry wanted to analyze the manner in which local governments in regard of their societal services maps and place the services sought or required by, or in regard of Victoria, Marie-Therese and Carl.

This subdivision will now take to analyze and review the cardinal subject I have identified that emerged from the enquiry study which is deficiency of answerability right through the organisations to the most senior degree and staff non adequately trained in kid protection. Lord Laming ( 2003 ) points out ‘There were at least 12 cardinal occasions when the relevant services had chances to successfully step in to assist Victoria, but had failed to make so. ‘ Within the Report Lord laming ( 2003 ) states ‘That non one of these intercessions would hold required great accomplishment or made heavy demands on staff, sometimes it needed nil more than a director making their occupation by inquiring pertinent inquiries or taking the problem to look in a instance file. ‘ He continues to provinces Lord Laming ( 2003 ) ‘There can be no alibi for such sloppy and unprofessional public presentation. ‘ As Lord Laming ( 2003 ) commented ‘Not one of the bureaus empowered by Parliament to protect kids in places such as Victoria ‘s emerged from the Inquiry with much recognition, what happened to Victoria, and her ultimate decease, resulted from an inexcusable “ gross failure of the system. ‘ Lord Laming ‘s ( 2003 ) expressed ‘His astonishment that cipher in the bureaus had the presence of head to follow what are comparatively straightforward processs on how to react to a kid about whom there is concern of deliberate injury. ‘

The Inquiry Report ( Lord Laming, 2003 ) highlighted “ widespread deficiency of answerability through the administrations ” as the chief ground for the deficiency of protection afforded to Victoria. Who should be held responsible for these failures? As Webb ( 2002 ) provinces: ‘Lord Laming was clear that it is non the hapless and sometimes inexperient front-line staff to whom he directs most unfavorable judgment, but to those in places of direction, including infirmary advisers, I think that the public presentation of people in leading places should be judged on how good services are delivered at the front door ‘ . Professor Nigel Parton ( 2003 ) points out that ‘Too frequently in the Inquiry people justify their places around bureaucratic activities instead than around results for kids. Frankly, I would be the really last individual to state that good disposal is non indispensable to good pattern. Professor Nigel Parton ( 2003 ) continues to province that ‘Good administration-and we did non see a batch of it, I have to say-is a agency to an terminal. I can non conceive of in any other walk of life if a senior director was in charge of an administration and that administration was traveling down the pan-to put it crudely-in footings of gross revenues and public presentation that person would state ‘My function is wholly strategic, do non keep me to account for what happens in the administration ‘ . Peoples who occupy senior places have to stand or fall by what service is delivered at the front door. The Inquiry Report Lord Laming ( 2003 ) highlighted the evident failure of those in senior places to understand, or accept, that they were responsible for the quality, efficiency and effectivity of local services. As Rustin ( 2010 ) states Lord Laming pointed to the ‘yawning spread ‘ in the differing perceptual experiences of the administration held by front line staff and senior directors. Lord Laming was univocal that the failure was the mistake of directors whose occupation it should hold been to understand what was go oning at their ‘front door. ‘ As the Report Lord Laming ( 2003 ) pointed out, some of those in the most senior places used the defense mechanism “ no 1 of all time told me ” to distance themselves from duty, and to reason that there was nil they could hold done. Rustin ( 2004 ) states this was non a position shared by Lord Laming. Rustin ( 2004 ) besides continues to province that Lord Laming went even further in grounds to us, stating us forcefully that, in his position, answerability of directors was paramount, and that the front line staff were by and large making their uttermost. In add-on to the cardinal jobs of a deficiency of answerability and managerial control, it was besides evident in the class of the Inquiry Lord Laming ( 2003 ) that other weaknesss existed in all facets of pattern. This subdivision will measure old enquiries and how they link to this enquiry and have any lessons been learned from them. As Rustin ( 2004 ) provinces: ‘As with many old enquiries into child protection failures, Maria Colwell ( 1973 ) , Jasmine Beckford ( 1984 ) , Tyra Henry ( 1984 ) and Kimberley Carlile ( 1986 ) it was clear that the quality of information exchange was frequently hapless, systems were rough and information failed to be passed between infirmaries in close propinquity to each other. As the Report commented Lord Laming ( 2003 ) ‘Information systems that depend on the random passing of faux pass of paper have no topographic point in modern services ‘ .

The grounds from another study, Maria Colwell, who had died in January of 1973 pointed to similar failings, which were found in Victoria ‘s study these failings were, deficiency of answerability and staff non adequately trained ( Corby et al, 2001 ) .

Inquiry studies are beginnings of grounds to inform societal work pattern and even though they have many failings within them as illustrated. Professor Nigel Parton ( 2004 ) points out that ‘In many respects public enquiries have proved to be the cardinal vehicle through which alterations in policy and pattern have been brought about over the last 30 old ages in relation to child protection policy and pattern in this state. ‘ Professor Nigel Parton ( 2004 ) continues to indicate out that ‘Rather than public enquiries being ignored, they have been cardinal to the manner kid protection operates. In this regard, they are every bit much a portion of the job as they are the solution. ‘

Have lessons been learned from the many public enquiries over the old 30 old ages. It was as if provinces Professor Nigel Parton ( 2004 ) ‘The frontline professionals, and the cardinal administrations and bureaus who have duty for kids and households were rather incapable of larning the lessons and, crucially, seting these into pattern in such a manner that such awful calamities could be avoided. It is hoped by many, hence, that the study by Lord Laming, and the alterations brought about as a consequence, will intend that this will be the last study of its type. ‘

This subdivision will turn to the other subject I have highlighted equal preparation. The inquiry of equal preparation and supervising for staff working in all the relevant bureaus were besides an issue identified in the Inquiry. Professor Nigel Parton ( 2004 ) points out that In Haringey, for illustration, it was observed that the proviso of supervising may hold looked good on paper but in pattern it was deplorably unequal for many of the front line staff. Professor Nigel Barton ( 2004 ) besides points out that nowhere was this more apparent than in the fact that in the concluding hebdomads of Victoria ‘s life a societal worker called several times at the level where she had been populating. There was no answer to her knocks and the societal worker assumed, rather wrongly, that Victoria and Kouao had moved off, and took no farther action. As the Laming Report ( Lord Laming, 2003 ) commented, ‘It was wholly possible that at the clip Victoria was in fact lying merely a few paces off, in the prison of the bath, urgently trusting person might happen her and come to her deliverance before her life ebbed off ‘ .

This subdivision will now look at the failure to implement the legal and political model within the inquiry study. Lord Laming within the study ( Lord Laming 2003 ) told us that he continued to believe that the Children Act 1989 was “ fundamentally sound statute law ” . His recommendations do non reason for a major new legislative model. However, Lord Laming ( 2003 ) states he did non believe that the Act was being implemented in the manner that had been envisaged for it, and, in his position, there was “ a oscitance spread at the present clip between the aspirations and outlooks of Parliament and the certainty of what is delivered at the front door ” . Rustin ( 2004 ) states ‘In the absence of equal managerial answerability, front line workers were obliged to do important strategic determinations, for illustration about the usage of the Children Act, and between utilizing subdivisions 17 and 47 ( associating severally to a kid in demand, and a kid in demand of protection ) ‘ . The subdivisions of the Act had been developed with the purpose of every bit pointed out by Rustin ( 2004 ) ‘Of recognizing the different demands of kids ‘ . How the subdivisions were being applied on the land nevertheless as stated by Lord Laming ( 2003 ) is ‘Quite different, far from using the subdivision of the Act that would outdo run into the demands of the peculiar kid and their fortunes, what they were really making was utilizing these subdivisions to curtail entree to services and to restrict the handiness of services to people ‘ . The Children Act, Lord Laming ( 2003 ) argued to us ‘Should be about advancing the wellbeing of kids, non about seting labels around people ‘s cervix ‘ . Lord Laming ( 2003 ) went on to propose that ‘Front line workers were being forced into doing determinations that should decently hold rested with direction and policy determinations ‘ . This raised major inquiries about the function of public services and the basic rules that should underpin them, as ( Lord Laming 2003 ) stated ‘We need to stand back and say that we need to detect the basic rule that the populace services are at that place to function the populace, non merely some of the populace and non merely some people who can acquire through eligibility standards, or who are sufficiently relentless ‘ . Therefore services must be more accessible and they must be more in melody with their local communities. If, as Lord Laming believes Kirton ( 2009, p.17 ) states ‘The Victoria Climbie instance was non alone, but highlighted widespread and major lacks in the execution of the Children Act, this raises issues that Government should turn to. ‘ I believe that the Children Act 1989 remains basically sound statute law. However, there is concern as pointed out by Professor Nigel Parton ( 2004 ) ‘That the commissariats of the Act which sought to guarantee an appropriate response to the differing demands of kids are being applied unsuitably, used as a agency of rationing entree to services, and have led to subdivision 17 instances being regarded as holding low precedence. ‘ The Laming Inquiry ( Lord Laming 2003 ) recommended that consideration should be given to uniting the Working Together counsel and the National Assessment Framework counsel into a individual papers, puting out clearly how the subdivisions of the Act should be applied, and giving clear way on action to be taken under subdivisions 17 and 47.

Within this subdivision I will discourse the ethical model. It is of import to include the issues of societal category and gender, which were non apparent in the Victoria Climbie enquiry. However, it is issues around ethnicity and race that are more apparent. However, the diverseness referred to is improbably complex. This is illustrated at assorted points provinces Webb ( 2002 ) For illustration: ‘At the clip Victoria ‘s instance was handled in Brent, all the responsibility societal workers had received their preparation abroad and were on impermanent contracts. ( In Brent ) at least 50 per cent of societal workers clip was spent working on instances of unaccompanied bush leagues. ‘ As Webb ( 2002 ) provinces ‘There was grounds that Haringey has one of the most diverse populations in the state, with 160 different linguistic communications spoken locally, a long tradition of travelers settling in the borough and a high proportion of asylum-seeking households ( 9 per centum of the entire population ) . ‘

Within the study Lord Laming ( 2003 ) points out that ‘In relation to all the London boroughs involved there were high degrees of poorness and want, diverse cultural, cultural, lingual backgrounds, every bit good as the diverse backgrounds of the workers themselves. ‘ In many respects, it seems Victoria ‘s state of affairs was non alone in these several boroughs. Webb ( 2002 ) indicated ‘The impact of increased planetary mobility, more specifically the rapid addition in asylum-seeking households, together with the diverse backgrounds of the workers themselves progressively seems to characterize work in many metropolitan countries. ‘ This has a peculiar impact provinces Webb ( 2002 ) ‘On the nature, stableness and coherence of local communities. ‘ It is deserving observing that, compared to the Maria Colwell instance, no referrals are noted in the Victoria Climbie instance from neighbors or other members of the community apart from the ‘child minder ‘ Mrs Cameron. We are non merely speaking about diverseness here but unbelievable complexness. Kirton ( 2009 ) argues that ‘Not merely does it present major lingual challenges but besides it poses major challenges for statutory sections in relation to the familial and cultural individualities of those with whom they work and to whom they have duty. ‘ Issues around racism are clearly of import here, nevertheless they can non be reduced to a simple black and white community and cultural divide.

This subdivision will reflect on the deductions of evidence-informed pattern ( EIP ) and the utility of the enquiry to inform the development of future societal work pattern. Often, in hindsight, those who put people at hazard are blamed for the bad luck and injury they cause. ( Kirton, 2009 ) This is arguably the most signii¬?cant professional context in which EIP has emerged. Harmonizing to Munro ( 1998 ) ‘Social workers rely on obscure appraisals and anticipations, instead than sing what is more or less likely. In mundane life determinations have to be made on a limited grounds base and professional determinations are besides at best debatable ‘ . There are legion unexpected and complex results in societal work, many of which remainder on holding to do judgements under conditions of uncertainness. ( Kirton, 2009 ) The chief jobs associated with doing effectual determinations in societal work as stated by Kirton ( 2009 ) include: hazard and uncertainness, intangibles, long-run deductions, interdisciplinary input and the political relations of different vested involvements pooled determination devising and value judgements. Decision analysis has developed as a statistical technique to assist get the better of these sorts of jobs. Decision analysis is closely related to put on the line appraisal and actuarial patterns. Evidence-informed pattern and policy are self-explanatory. They involve the acceptance of evidence-based protocols and utilize local criterions for carry oning societal work pattern and developing organizationally specii¬?c policies. ( Webb, 2002 ) It has been suggested that evidence-informed protocols feed straight into the practician context to supply guidelines for transporting out EIP. Basically evidence-informed pattern and policy in societal work will imply the explicit and wise usage of current best grounds in doing determinations about the societal attention of service users. This dei¬?nition is widely used and derived from Sackett et Al. ‘s ‘Evidence-based Medicine ‘ ( 1996 ) . A matter-of-fact attack as stated by Sackett ( 1996 ) ‘Has been adopted here, which regards the pattern of grounds as incorporating practician expertness with the best available external grounds from systematic but multiple research methods. ‘ The execution theoretical account outlined is the thought that the practice-based procedure begins with the grounds instead than the single or groups of clients.

Clearly the application of evidence-informed pattern and policies will be governed by the economic range of societal work bureaus in footings of resources and the development of an evidence-informed substructure. ( Kirton, 2009 ) Sackett ( 1996 ) points out that ‘At a local degree it will besides be dependent on incremental acquisition and accumulative professional development which are likely to be facilitated by the pattern research webs and evidence-based briei¬?ngs discussed supra. ‘

In this essay I have analysed and critiqued two cardinal subjects from the enquiry, deficiency of answerability right through the organisations to the most senior degree and staff non, adequately trained in kid protection. I have besides analysed and critique these subjects in relation to bureau policy, legal demands, research, practician cognition and the voice of the service user. I have linked old enquiries and discussed have we learned any lessons from these enquiries. I identified the failure to implement a legal, ethical and political model to inform current best pattern will. I besides reflected on the deductions of grounds informed pattern and how this will inform future societal work pattern.

A shutting quotation mark to complete from the Secretary of State, Alan Milburn ( 2003 )

“ It has felt as if Victoria has attended every measure of this enquiry, and it has been my good luck to hold had the aid of co-workers whose abilities have been matched by their committedness to the undertaking of making justness to Victoria ‘s memory and her enduring spirit, and to making something positive from her agony and ultimate decease. ”