Case reviews branded 'inadequate'

Sally Keeble MP wants a review of children's services

Ofsted has found three serious case reviews about children who died or were seriously injured in Northamptonshire were "inadequate".

Inspectors looked at Northamptonshire's children's services as part of a national sweep of local authorities.

This was brought about following the case of Baby P who was on the At Risk Register in Haringey, London, but died after months of abuse.

Northamptonshire County Council said an improvement plan was now in place.

Serious case reviews are carried out in cases where a child dies or sustains serious injuries.

Ofsted evaluated how reviews of serious cases were carried out rather than the level of care offered.

'Reviews inadequate'

Chris Few, independent chair of the local safeguarding children board for Northamptonshire, said: "We completely share the concerns raised by Ofsted and regret our processes for carrying out serious case reviews have been inadequate.

"It is important to note that Ofsted's evaluation of serious case reviews is purely about the way the review itself was carried out.

"It is in no way a comment on the quality of actual services and safeguarding arrangements in the county."

MP for Northampton North, Sally Keeble, said she wanted to see a full review of children's services in the county.

"The serious case reviews should provide a tool for service improvement and it is worrying if some are inadequate," she said.

"I am writing to the council to ask for them to have a careful review of these procedures so that we can ensure that the best possible safeguards are in place for our most vulnerable children."