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Judge criticises council over foster care injuries investigation

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 6 Nov, 07:11 · Archive

A judge has condemned Cumberland Council for delays and shortcomings in responding to unexplained injuries suffered by a one-year-old girl in foster care. The girl and her two-year-old brother had been living with foster carers since March. HHJ C Baker handed down his judgement at Carlisle Family Court, finding the council's response fell below the standard reasonably expected.

The girl suffered several injuries including a mark to her nose which remains unexplained. The nose injury was reported on 26 May, but a multi-agency strategy discussion was not held until 30 June. The judge said: 'The response to the nose injury was insufficiently prompt.' A GP described the injury as a superficial friction burn, though its precise cause could not be established. The judge criticised the 'incomplete' medical investigation and said the council 'initially treated the injury too much as a discrete minor accident'.

The girl also suffered bruising, scratches and bumps to her head and face. The judge highlighted previous concerns about supervision involving other children cared for by the foster carer, saying the council had been slow to recognise the significance of repeated incidents. He noted: 'It was the parents' escalation of the concerns which led to the retrospective strategy process.' The judge warned that parents' concerns must not be dismissed as 'misplaced, exaggerated or merely troublesome'.

Judge criticises council over foster care injuries investigation
Image: Westmorland Gazette

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In this story: Cumberland Council · Carlisle Family Court · HHJ C Baker

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