NHS monthly social work reviews after Baby P case (From The Bolton News)

NHS monthly social work reviews after Baby P case

9:30pm Wednesday 28th January 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

REPORTS on the safety of children will go to NHS Bolton’s board every month instead of every year, in the wake of the Baby P case.

Tim Evans, chief executive of the Primary Care Trust, said the town could not afford to be complacent about the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

Baby P, a seven-month-old boy, died in August, 2007, after suffering horrific abuse. He had been on the register of at-risk children in Haringey, London at the time.

He suffered more than 50 injuries in eight months and had been visited 60 times in eight months by social workers, police and health professionals.

Baby P’s mother, her boyfriend and their lodger, Jason Owen, were convicted of causing the death of the toddler in November Their sentencing has been delayed for legal reasons until March or April this year.

Yesterday, NHS Bolton, previously known as the NHS Primary Care Trust, held its monthly board meeting.

It looked at a review of the Haringey Baby P case and approved actions and recommendations put forward to ensure that NHS Bolton safeguards and promotes the welfare of children.

Mr Evans said: “This is a serious issue and we cannot be complacent about it.

“We need to regularly review our processes and, as a board, we need assurance that these are in place.

“We don’t want to know there is a problem because an incident reaches us.

“We need reports coming to us regularly as a board and need to see them monthly — not annually.”

The board unanimously approved actions and recommendations, including putting in place monthly reports.

This issue will be looked at in the board’s February meeting, with a view to implementing the change in March.

Other recommended actions include audits and reviews of records, ensuring information is shared appropriately and the improvement of child protection training.