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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 following an alleged sexual offence, 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 following an alleged sexual offence, 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 may have been at risk due to her mother’s own troubled upbringing. | |
| Poppi’s mother suffered a difficult and traumatic childhood, the report said, including “inter- and multi-generational abuse” and time spent in care that could have compromised her own parenting. | Poppi’s mother suffered a difficult and traumatic childhood, the report said, including “inter- and multi-generational abuse” and time spent in care that could have compromised her own parenting. |
| 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 by Cumbria’s local safeguarding children board found that Poppi’s mother appeared a competent mother coping with a rapidly growing family but social workers should have offered help earlier. | The review by Cumbria’s local safeguarding children board found that Poppi’s mother appeared a competent mother coping with a rapidly growing family but social workers should have offered help earlier. |
| Dr Amanda Boardman, the GP lead for safeguarding children on NHS Cumbria clinical commissioning group, said: “If professionals had put all the pieces of the puzzle together then early help should have been offered but at the time this tragic event happened early help was just starting. Now we have a much more robust system in place.” | Dr Amanda Boardman, the GP lead for safeguarding children on NHS Cumbria clinical commissioning group, said: “If professionals had put all the pieces of the puzzle together then early help should have been offered but at the time this tragic event happened early help was just starting. Now we have a much more robust system in place.” |
| The report also found that health professionals failed to act on concerns that Poppi’s sibling looked “withdrawn and sad” in the family’s chaotic three-bedroom home. | The report also found that health professionals failed to act on concerns that Poppi’s sibling looked “withdrawn and sad” in the family’s chaotic three-bedroom home. |
| Poppi appeared to be a happy and thriving baby, the report said, but had not been seen by doctors in the weeks leading up to her death. A postmortem found she had suffered a broken leg within weeks of her death but was not treated by doctors. | Poppi appeared to be a happy and thriving baby, the report said, but had not been seen by doctors in the weeks leading up to her death. A postmortem found she had suffered a broken leg within weeks of her death but was not treated by doctors. |
| Professionals also failed to show “curiosity and scepticism” when a then-40-year-old Paul Worthington began a relationship with Poppi’s mother, who was 17 years his junior, the report found. | Professionals also failed to show “curiosity and scepticism” when a then-40-year-old Paul Worthington began a relationship with Poppi’s mother, who was 17 years his junior, the report found. |
| Social workers knew nothing about Worthington, now 47, and his parental ability was never assessed or even considered, officials admitted, despite him being known to police. | Social workers knew nothing about Worthington, now 47, and his parental ability was never assessed or even considered, officials admitted, despite him being known to police. |
| A judge ruled in January that on the balance of probabilities he sexually abused Poppi in the hours before her death, but Worthington has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. | A judge ruled in January that on the balance of probabilities he sexually abused Poppi in the hours before her death, but Worthington has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service is considering whether to bring charges over her death. Worthington 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. | The Crown Prosecution Service is considering whether to bring charges over her death. Worthington 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. |
| Gill Rigg, the chair of Cumbria local safeguarding children board, said the review team had been in contact with Worthington’s solicitors and that he was “not in a position to take part in the review”. | Gill Rigg, the chair of Cumbria local safeguarding children board, said the review team had been in contact with Worthington’s solicitors and that he was “not in a position to take part in the review”. |
| She confirmed that authorities do not know Worthington’s whereabouts and admitted it would have been a “fuller report” with his involvement. | She confirmed that authorities do not know Worthington’s whereabouts and admitted it would have been a “fuller report” with his involvement. |
| At a press conference in Penrith following the publication of the report, Rigg said early help should have been offered to Poppi’s mother but insisted that there was nothing to suggest her death could have been predicted or prevented. | At a press conference in Penrith following the publication of the report, Rigg said early help should have been offered to Poppi’s mother but insisted that there was nothing to suggest her death could have been predicted or prevented. |
| “With hindsight if all of the practitioners had all that information we would have offered an early help assessment,” Rigg said. She added, however, that social care could not act as “universal surveillance” on families with a troubling history. | “With hindsight if all of the practitioners had all that information we would have offered an early help assessment,” Rigg said. She added, however, that social care could not act as “universal surveillance” on families with a troubling history. |
| The full details of Poppi’s death were reported for the first time earlier this year in a report published by the high court judge Justice Peter Jackson. | The full details of Poppi’s death were reported for the first time earlier this year in a report published by the high court judge Justice Peter Jackson. |
| He 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. | He 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. |
| Jackson found that, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Worthington had abused Poppi in the hours before she died. | 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. |
| Rigg added: “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. | Rigg added: “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.” |
| 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 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 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 council on Monday said it had spent nearly £12,500 on legal fees surrounding the injunction. | The council on Monday said it had spent nearly £12,500 on legal fees surrounding the injunction. |
| 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. |
| Cumbria police referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in summer 2014 and said three officers were subject to the investigation, with the suspension of one while the other two had moved into different roles. | Cumbria police referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in summer 2014 and said three officers were subject to the investigation, with the suspension of one while the other two had moved into different roles. |