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| Poppi Worthington death: past abuse in family 'was overlooked' | Poppi Worthington death: past abuse in family 'was overlooked' |
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| A series of health workers failed to spot the warning signs of “multi-generational abuse” before 13-month-old Poppi Worthington died in suspicious circumstances, a serious case review has found. | A series of health workers failed to spot the warning signs of “multi-generational abuse” before 13-month-old Poppi Worthington died in suspicious circumstances, a serious case review has found. |
| Poppi died after she was found with serious injuries at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 12 December 2012. | Poppi died after she was found with serious injuries at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on 12 December 2012. |
| A high court family judge concluded that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, sexually assaulted her shortly before her death and that she died as a result of the injuries she suffered during the assault. | A high court family judge concluded that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, sexually assaulted her shortly before her death and that she died as a result of the injuries she suffered during the assault. |
| Now a serious case review has found that six official agencies – including health workers, midwives and child safeguarding experts – missed significant indicators that Poppi’s upbringing may have been compromised by her mother’s own childhood experience of trauma and abuse. | Now a serious case review has found that six official agencies – including health workers, midwives and child safeguarding experts – missed significant indicators that Poppi’s upbringing may have been compromised by her mother’s own childhood experience of trauma and abuse. |
| Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named, suffered a “difficult and traumatic” upbringing through “inter- and multi-generational abuse” and had spent time in care, according to the review by Cumbria’s local safeguarding children board. | Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named, suffered a “difficult and traumatic” upbringing through “inter- and multi-generational abuse” and had spent time in care, according to the review by Cumbria’s local safeguarding children board. |
| “[Poppi’s mother] had experienced significant historical traumas and loss which were, in themselves, clear indicators that her parenting may have been compromised and that her children could be at risk,” said the series case review by Clare Hyde, director of the charity Foundation for Families. | “[Poppi’s mother] had experienced significant historical traumas and loss which were, in themselves, clear indicators that her parenting may have been compromised and that her children could be at risk,” said the series case review by Clare Hyde, director of the charity Foundation for Families. |
| Related: Poppi Worthington death: toddler was sexually assaulted by father, says judge | Related: Poppi Worthington death: toddler was sexually assaulted by father, says judge |
| The review also found that health workers failed to show “professional curiosity and scepticism” when Worthington, then 40, began a relationship with Poppi’s mother, who was 17 years his junior. | |
| They found that professionals knew nothing about Worthington and his parental ability was never assessed or even considered. | They found that professionals knew nothing about Worthington and his parental ability was never assessed or even considered. |
| Poppi appeared to be a happy and healthy baby in the months before she died, according to the report, but social workers failed to question this outward appearance despite expressing concern that the baby’s sibling looked “withdrawn and sad”. | Poppi appeared to be a happy and healthy baby in the months before she died, according to the report, but social workers failed to question this outward appearance despite expressing concern that the baby’s sibling looked “withdrawn and sad”. |
| The local authority has been criticised for failing to protect Poppi’s siblings for almost a year after her death. The council did not discipline social workers but instead applied for a draconian order in an attempt to cover up the failings. | The local authority has been criticised for failing to protect Poppi’s siblings for almost a year after her death. The council did not discipline social workers but instead applied for a draconian order in an attempt to cover up the failings. |
| After a high court judge criticised the authority over Poppi’s care, council bosses applied for an order to bar the media from reporting their failings. | After a high court judge criticised the authority over Poppi’s care, council bosses applied for an order to bar the media from reporting their failings. |
| The council applied for the secrecy order in June 2014 after a high court judge, Justice Peter Jackson, found that it had failed to put in place any adequate measures to ensure Poppi’s siblings were safe after her death. | The council applied for the secrecy order in June 2014 after a high court judge, Justice Peter Jackson, found that it had failed to put in place any adequate measures to ensure Poppi’s siblings were safe after her death. |
| The application was made by Lyn Burns, assistant director for families and children, who subsequently stepped down from her role last year after government inspectors plunged the department into special measures for the third time in four years. | The application was made by Lyn Burns, assistant director for families and children, who subsequently stepped down from her role last year after government inspectors plunged the department into special measures for the third time in four years. |
| The full details of Poppi’s death were disclosed for the first time earlier this year in a report published by Jackson. | |
| The judge concluded that the investigation into her death was hindered by police errors, including not securing the scene, failing to take vital items for forensic analysis and a senior detective not visiting the family home. | The judge concluded that the investigation into her death was hindered by police errors, including not securing the scene, failing to take vital items for forensic analysis and a senior detective not visiting the family home. |
| Worthington, 47, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter. | Worthington, 47, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter. |
| In his judgment, Jackson found that, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Worthington had abused Poppi in the hours before she died. | In his judgment, Jackson found that, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Worthington had abused Poppi in the hours before she died. |
| The serious case review, published on Monday, referred to Poppi as Child N. | The serious case review, published on Monday, referred to Poppi as Child N. |
| Gill Rigg, the chair of Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Board, said: “Our deepest sympathy is with Child N’s family and those who knew her. Child N had very limited involvement with agencies during her lifetime, and when she did she appeared well cared for. | Gill Rigg, the chair of Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Board, said: “Our deepest sympathy is with Child N’s family and those who knew her. Child N had very limited involvement with agencies during her lifetime, and when she did she appeared well cared for. |
| “While the review has identified important learning regarding working with families with complex histories, there is nothing to suggest that her death could have been predicted or prevented. | “While the review has identified important learning regarding working with families with complex histories, there is nothing to suggest that her death could have been predicted or prevented. |
| “People will be aware of events which followed Child N’s death and there remain important matters which are yet to be concluded. If there is further learning from how agencies worked together post Child N’s death, the LSCB will ensure this is acted upon. I am, however, confident that much has already changed in all of the agencies involved.” | “People will be aware of events which followed Child N’s death and there remain important matters which are yet to be concluded. If there is further learning from how agencies worked together post Child N’s death, the LSCB will ensure this is acted upon. I am, however, confident that much has already changed in all of the agencies involved.” |
| Previous inquiries into the toddler’s death had either been cursory or heard in secret. An inquest in October 2014 took only seven minutes to declare Poppi’s death “unexplained”. | Previous inquiries into the toddler’s death had either been cursory or heard in secret. An inquest in October 2014 took only seven minutes to declare Poppi’s death “unexplained”. |
| An earlier fact-finding judgment into the death from March 2014, also by Jackson, had been kept private so as not to prejudice any criminal proceedings. | An earlier fact-finding judgment into the death from March 2014, also by Jackson, had been kept private so as not to prejudice any criminal proceedings. |