Children: Social Services
Children, Schools and Families
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
Tim Loughton (Shadow Minister (Children), Children, Schools and Families; East Worthing & Shoreham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2009, Official Report, columns 1404-05W, on children: social services, when Ofsted expects to have received the remaining serious case reviews.
Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families; Bristol South, Labour)
This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Libraries.
Letter from Christine Gilbert:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
Ofsted has now received 21 serious case reviews relating to child deaths cited in the report "Learning Lessons, taking action: Year 2", which covered the period April 2008 to April 2009, These relate to 27 children.
Ofsted is awaiting three serious case reviews relating to child deaths cited in the report and two of these are likely to be submitted to Ofsted imminently. The third is due to be completed by
Seven Local Safeguarding Children Boards informed Ofsted that a decision had been made not to conduct a serious case review in relation to child deaths cited in the report. Each of these related to one child. One further Local Safeguarding Children Board is still awaiting the final results of the post mortem in order to consider whether the criteria for instigating a serious case review are met. This case also relates to one child.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.