Stab death boy 'left by mother'

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Until a few months ago the family had a social care worker assigned to them

A mother held after her two sons were stabbed to death in Manchester was investigated by social services after leaving one of the boys at a surgery.

Romario Mullings-Sewell, aged two, and his three-month-old brother, Delayno, were found dead in Cheetham Hill.

Their mother Jael Mullings, 21, is detained under the Mental Health Act.

Manchester social services revealed they became involved with the family after Romario was briefly left at a GP surgery earlier this year.

A review into why the family was no longer assigned a social worker is now under way at Manchester City Council.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a medical practice made two 999 calls to police regarding the welfare of the family hours before her sons were found dead on Wednesday afternoon.

The fact that social care for children is not involved does not mean that other support is not in place Pauline Newman, Director of Children's Services

Following the surgery incident earlier this year, a full assessment of Ms Mullings was carried out and a social worker was assigned to the family for about five months.

The boys' great-grandmother, Gloria Buckle, said she believed the children might still be alive if social workers had not been withdrawn from the case.

"Had they stuck with her and given her whatever help she needed, then perhaps them two boys would still be here today, things would not have got that bad," she said.

But council said the child social care worker was only withdrawn after other services were put in place to help Ms Mullings.

Pauline Newman, director of Children's Services, said: "Their job is to put a package of support measures, including health visiting - in this case midwifery support for mum through Sure Start.

"A social worker's job is to do all those things and then a judgement is made about whether the social worker themselves needs to continue.

"It would be signed off by a team manager based on multi-agency case planning and analysis of whether the social worker's role was still needed.

Events on 12 November 1320 GMT - GP surgery dials 999 expressing concern for family's welfare 1350 GMT - Surgery makes second 999 call to police 1450 GMT - Officers check on house on Kilmington Drive, then search local area 1745 GMT - Police called back to house and find boys' bodies

"I think I do need to stress that there has been terms bandied about like 'closed the file' and 'withdrawn the support'. [But] The fact that social care for children is not involved does not mean that other support is not in place."

Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) involvement in the case is also being examined after it emerged that officers had visited the house hours before the bodies were found.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has confirmed that it is investigating GMP's handling of the case.

"The investigation will seek to determine whether the police response was appropriate and whether there was anything that could or should have been done differently," a spokeswoman said.

Officers were first called at about 1320 GMT by someone from a medical practice, who dialled 999 to raise concerns for the family's welfare after being visited by Ms Mullings.

Distressed state

A police call handler briefly spoke to the mother on her mobile phone, but she hung up and later attempts to contact her failed.

A further 999 call was made from the medical practice about 30 minutes later to give additional information about their concerns.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers arrived at the house on Kilmington Drive at about 1450 GMT, an hour after the second call, after being given a number of different addresses.

When there was no answer at the door they searched the surrounding area to find Ms Mullings, who neighbours had described as acting in a distressed state.

Officers were later called back to the property at about 1745 GMT, where they found the bodies of the boys. Both had been stabbed in the abdomen.

Police investigations are continuing and the results of post-mortem examinations are expected to be released later.