Yet another tragic failure to protect children by Haringey Council

The Evening Standard reports:

Ten children in one family suffered “appalling” neglect and cruelty during seven years of abuse in the borough where Baby P was killed.

An investigation in Haringey has found that social workers, NHS staff, housing officials and pest control workers all failed to ensure that the children were protected despite the abuse occurring over a “prolonged” period.

Warnings from teachers, a nursery and members of the public about the dirty condition of the children — who were aged between eight months and 16 when police were finally called in — failed to prompt action.

The failings continued even after the children were placed on Haringey’s child protection register…

The report says Haringey failed to act because the abuse involved persistent, but apparently less serious neglect rather than one major incident.

It also blames autocratic management and criticises the lack of action when one social worker reported the younger children to be “flat and unresponsive” and when social workers were refused access to the home. Only one child was registered with a GP; the registration of the others was a requirement of a child protection plan but the council did not ensure this happened.