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October 2015: SCR – Liam

Final Report and Board Response: Brighton & Hove LSCB Serious Case Review: Liam

Published October 2015

Introduction from Graham Bartlett, Independent Char of Brighton & Hove Local Safeguarding Children Board

During the first seven weeks of his life Liam was injured on at least two occasions and experienced fractured ribs, a fractured femur and bilateral skull fractures. Liam has since recovered from his injuries and is currently living with family members and has regular contact with his mother.

As a result of Liam’s injuries I requested the Board undertake a Serious Case Review to ascertain lessons from the ways in which agencies had worked singly and together to support Liam and his family. Liam’s injuries provided a poignant opportunity to look more closely at our multi-agency child protection arrangements in Brighton & Hove, and afforded West Sussex Local Safeguarding Board a likewise opportunity.

The Review was conducted using the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) Learning Together systems methodology; a model we have had experience of in Brighton & Hove and is a process which triggers as much change to local practice and culture as the actual findings within the report.

The solutions to the problems the findings identified were not necessarily easy to find. Nonetheless, we have been committed to looking at how best to strengthen our procedure and guidance, knowledge, training and skillset so as Brighton & Hove can become a safer place for children to live and thrive.

Board Members, including colleagues from West Sussex, attended an Extraordinary Meeting of the LSCB on 24th November 2014 to consider the questions the Review raised for both the Board and its partner agencies with implications for commissioners, managers and frontline staff. An action plan was created from this energetic discussion the progress of which is closely monitored by the Case Review Subcommittee.

What is set out within this document is the product of these discussions. What you read here is a concise account of critical points in the management of the case, the Reviews’ findings, the Board’s response and our planned actions. It has been written to be meaningful and manageable to all professionals across different sectors, professions and agencies and to dispel any perception held that ‘this couldn’t happen to us’. It is hoped it will also assist policy makers and the public to better understand the complexity of keeping children safe from harm

We have produced a briefing for staff working in Brighton & Hove to summarise the Learning from this review Baby Liam – Learning Together from Case Reviews

The LSCB will be holding two seminars to share the Learning from this review with frontline staff and managers whilst considering how agencies can implement any changes to improve practice. Please use the links below to book a space at these events:

Friday 13th November: 9-11am

Monday 23rd November: 9-11am