Open Letter to new Children’s Minister from The Victoria Climbié Foundation UK

Dear Tim,

In the run up to the general election, both of the parties now in the coalition government made specific promises about changes to the way that serious case reviews into the deaths of children would be carried out.

Top of the list was a pledge by your party to allow local authorities to fully disclose SCR reports.

We are very pleased to see that the this pledge remains in the recently revealed coalition agreement. The Victoria Climbié Foundation (VCF) welcomes the decision by the coalition government to publish serious case reviews in full.

As you may recall, we have campaigned for the full publication of serious case reviews since 2008 following the tragic deaths of Antoine and Keniece Ogunkoya at the hands of their mentally ill mother. Over the past two years, our call for full publication has been repeated in light of further child deaths. We fervently believe that full disclosure will give local authorities and agencies the best chance to learn the lessons of their mistakes in such tragic circumstances. This decision for full publication will enhance transparency in the process; bring comfort to families during this difficult period; and restore public trust.

However, while it is still early days of this decision, many local authorities are unclear as to how this new decision will be implemented.

Having been constrained in what they can say for the past number of years, the parameters of their freedom are yet to be set. There is a clear need for the government to produce guidance on this new approach and ensure that local authorities are capable of producing SCR reports that serve the ultimate purpose of detailing what and where changes need to be made, and how such changes will protect our children. Part of that process will be utilising innovative ways to ensure that families are fully engaged in the process of serious case reviews.

Without proper family engagement, merely publishing the reviews, albeit in full, will continue to disenfranchise families and lead to further mistrust in the process. We trust that your government is committed to this and we look forward to your response.

Mor Dioum
VCF Director