Press Release from Cllr Karen Garrido and Cllr Christine Gray
We met with the Chief Executive of Salford Council, Barbara Spicer today (30th June), to discuss the ‘Serious Case Review Executive Summary’. We had a number of questions not only about the report but also concerning the 66 recommendations contained within the summary.
We asked to see the full report only to find that we were not allowed to see the full report, but what shocked us was that the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council are also not able to obtain a copy. In Salford the only people allowed to see the full report are the members of the Safeguarding Board Sub Group, who are members of the panel. Cllr Garrido said “As elected councillors who represent the people of Salford, we are not allowed to see the report which means that we have a situation in Salford where there has been a death of a child and the full information is being withheld from those in a position to question’. We had hoped that after the Victoria Climbie case, lessons had been learnt, clearly not”.
Councillor Gray said “With regards to the 66 recommendations, many of which are Government Guidelines, which all agencies involved with the family, should have already have been working towards” she went on to say “We asked a number of questions regarding not only Salford’s services but those of the Health Authority and the Greater Manchester Police about their involvement. I am writing to Professor Eileen Fairhurst asking for a meeting for us to question her about the involvement of her staff”.
One of our concerns is the total lack of action from Salfords Children’s Services when members of the public contacted them with their serious concerns about the welfare of Demi. Even formal complaints from the police went unanswered. It takes courage to phone up to report these concerns and what has happened over this case must not put people off reporting.
We were dismayed to hear that Jill Baker the Strategic Director of Childrens Service had made an announcement “that members of staff will not be formally disciplined” even though they had not fulfilled their roles and responsibilities. What message does this send out to the staff working with children and families? At this stage the door should not be closed on any action being taken on any member of staff.
The obvious failing of all agencies in the care of Demi Leigh Mahon, reminds us that nothing has been learnt by the Victoria Climbie case and we believe only a Public Inquiry will find the truth as how this matter has been dealt with and satisfy the concerns of the people of Salford that the correct actions are being taken to prevent tragedies of this kind occurring again.
We are therefore calling for a Public Inquiry to be held at the earliest opportunity.
