Our Story - The Background

Social Services have a duty of care to protect vulnerable members of society, including children. Unfortunately, in our case Oxford social services got things drastically wrong, often failing to intervene to protect a child despite clear indicators of potential risk.  Which ultimately lead to the death of my daughter whilst in the care of Bryn Melyn Care Ltd in 2013.

However, this also raises concerns over my remaining children who are also under the care of Oxford Social Services.

We are aware that the death of my daughter and investigation conducted by Wrexham Police has now been passed to the CPS with a recommendation for Gross Negligent Manslaughter and Corporate Manslaughter.

We as a family, are looking for a solicitor to support and represent our case.

We are hoping to seek a judgement through the civil courts;

1.       Against Bryn Melyn Care Ltd, for its failing and the death of my daughter

2.       Against Oxford Social Services, for its failings, the loss of my children and the death of my daughter

3.       Against named Social Workers, all members of staff at Oxford Social Services, whose incapability, lies and factual errors, mislead proceedings at Family Court and ultimately led to the death of my daughter

4.       Possibly overturn some of the finding by Judge Corrie due to point 3.

Firstly, I’d like to explain the background of the case. I will then proceed to demonstrate how we feel as a family we have been wronged, mislead, and lied to.

Oxfordshire Social Services

The background

All the above, along with services in North Wales are currently under investigation for Corporate Manslaughter and Gross Negligent Manslaughter, currently held by the CPS for decision and upheld by North Wales Police for the death of my daughter which occurred in February 2013.

However, I and my family have consistently and continually been lied to by Oxford Social Services.  Where they have stated that they have no information we have since found out that they have been kept informed throughout by the Wrexham Police investigation and the Coroner attached to this case.  They also failed to notify both the coroner and Wrexham Police of my contact details and interest as an interested party, yet stating to me that they have notified them of my interest and input.

And despite repeated requests for information they have stone walled me and my family.  In an attempt to cover up their lack of coordinated, holistic response to a troubled child’s needs and represented an ‘out of sight, out of mind culture.’ And ultimately causing the death of a 13-year old girl, a death which could have easily been avoided.

I am only providing a sample of ineptitude to demonstrate the incompetency of the social workers which led to the cataclysmic events.  The rest of the documents we have are riddled with the same incompetency, factual errors and blatant lies.  Not only to the Family Court but repeatedly to other agencies, including to the police both Wrexham, Thames Valley and the coroner.

I have never had LAC reports for my daughter, despite repeated requests for these.  I have never been consulted on any LAC reports even though my parental rights have not been severed.  And was in fact established and confirmed by Judge Corrie at the Family Court in Oxford.

My Parental Rights have never been severed though those of (the children’s stepfather) were removed by Judge Corrie, Social Services continuously allowed him to be present, consulted on and invited to meetings regarding my children.

I continually meet stone wall responses when requesting LAC reports for the remaining children.  In 16 Years of Social Services involvement I have never been consulted on any the LAC reports nor been provided with minutes or notes from meetings I have been invited to attend.  But there again I’ve never been contacted to either.

When I have requested, I have either been denied by those dealing with our case under the Data Protection Act, or informed that they need to clarify permission to do so.

Social Services have moved the children without notification or discussion with myself.  At our last meeting with the SCR Board we were pointedly refused the LAC reports by Justine Mannings IRO and LAC Worker, although given a verbal update of what she would like me to know.  The reason they gave for withholding this information is because the judge from the family court ruled Limited Contact for contact with the Children – he did not however, state that limited contact would be with Social Services.  And this isn’t 100% factual either, the judge stated I was to be kept in communication and fully informed.

Sue Lingard is the Area Manager for Children’s services, is not a registered Social Worker and was signing off junior Social Workers such as Mary Guest who was practicing whilst awaiting certification and dealing with such a complex case.  This was discussed during our meeting with John Dixon Interim Deputy Director of Children’s Services, who we met with at our request in 2013 but has flatly refused to meet with me or my family since.

Though the original issues are over 5 years old this case is still on going with the lack of honesty in the Social Workers dealings with us.

Including, that we had to request to meet with the Serious Case Review Board and not the other way round.

Background of the case

In or around 2000, Social Services became involved with the care of

·         born 1 August 1999, died in Wrexham 27 February 2013.

·         born 9 June 1998,

·         born 3 June 2001,

·         born 25 July 2003

·         born 3 March 2004.

Due to contractors from the Housing Authority leaving a gate unlocked at my step daughter aged 4 managing to get out.

In 2007 I left the family home as my now ex-wife wanted to live with her boyfriend (now husband).  At my ex-wife’s request all the children were to call the new partner dad and me, their father, Dave.  A fact that Social Services were well aware off.  I then did not have any further contact at the request of my ex-wife for 18 months.  Again a fact that social services were aware off.

This can be seen in documents we have, during a witness statement taken by DC Andrew Ryan of Thames Valley Police during an allegation of assault by born 25 July 2003 in April 2010. And again in a later document by born 3 June 2001 a year later in 2011.

In April 2008, my ex-wife then “abandoned” born 3 June 2001 and born 1 August 1999 on my doorstep with nothing more than what they were dressed in stating that she could no longer cope with the two.  I then contact social service and worked with Social Services over a number of months to have both removed from the protection order that they were under.  Which I was successful in achieving.

In 2008, born 3 June 2001 and born 1 August 1999 were removed from the protection order as they went to live with me their father.  So remember that in January 2010, Social Services made the catastrophic, cataclysmic decision to split a family unit and place all the children on a “shared Care” agreement.  Reintroducing born 3 June 2001 and born 1 August 1999 back into a family which still remained on the Care Protection Register.  Which ultimately resulted in all the children being placed back on the Care Protection Order.  This put two children off risk to at risk, Social Services placed them at risk.  How was this safeguarding them?  How was this being the children’s best interest?

In 2009 I requested support from Social Services due to the worrying behavior my daughter born 1 August 1999 was displaying after visits to her mother and step-father.  This included but is not limited to

·         Self-harming

·         Sexualised behaviour

·         Bruising

Social services were unhelpful and un-supportive and positively inept.

In January 2010, Social Services took the extraordinary view of shared care.  I was to now share care with my ex-wife and her new husband.  Social Services supported a rotation of 1 week born 3 June 2001 and born 25 July 2003 and the following week born 1 August 1999 and born 3 March 2004.  Why? Especially as from appendix C you will see that born 25 July 2003 had made a serious allegation of abuse and physical assault against her step-father.  Therefore, Social Services literally put these children AT RISK.  Social Services were involved in this allegation as noted by DC Andrew Ryan.

During a protection order meeting, there was a discussion regarding one of the children having dermatitis as diagnosed by a dermatologist and clarified within this meeting to all attending.  However, Social workers still referred to believe this and documented this as abuse! Stating that they believe it to be burn marks even though a dermatologist that they had requested had stated it was not.

In November 2010, born 1 August 1999 whilst at her mother and step-father’s house made an allegation “dad” had been sexually abusing her and it had been ongoing for a while.  Social Services were notified and Thames Valley Police called.  After very little thought or investigation, I was arrested and subsequently bailed pending investigation.  Charges were dropped by the police when investigation found evidence of the dated occasions specified by born 1 August 1999 showed me on CCTV in Tesco with my ex-wife shopping and/or in hospital.  On these occasions all the children had been left in the care of their step-father.

Now please remember that all the children still referred to me, their father, as Dave and their step-father as dad.  Social Services were still aware of this.

Because of the allegation being made by born 1 August 1999 in early November 2010, on 22 November 2010 I moved to Cambridgeshire to live with my sister and her husband.  Social Services launched their own investigation and proceedings commenced.

The evidence – taken from a report written by Sylvie McKay and Sue Hayes

Social Services have documented that the step-father was abusive.

born 1 August 1999 had previously made an allegation against her step father but somewhere in the reporting of this the word STEP was dropped and continues to report on just father.

In April 2010, born 25 July 2003 presented to school with bruising which had been caused by her step-father.  Upon medical examination she was diagnosed with having 13 bruises to her body.  There were also serious concerns of sexualised behaviour from the 3 girls.

Social Service still left the children in the care of their step-father.

After born 1 August 1999 allegation all the children were reviewed by social services and a doctor supplied by social services.  Whilst still in the care of their mother and step-father.

Born 25 July 2003 - This review was made on 13 December 2010 – almost a month after I had left the county.

The findings were and I quote

“small scratch above right clavicle, brown bruise lower part of thigh, small fingertip purple/blue bruise left upper shin.  Four fingertip sized bruises on outer side of left knee”

Upon examination of her genital area she showed evidence of Lichen Sclerousus et atrophicus and cream was prescribed.  She had previously been referred to dermatology clinic with regards to this by Dr King.  Social Services made the assumption that this was a sign of sexual abuse not a possibly inherited condition.  The rest appeared to have remained unchanged.  In March 2011, she was still presenting with bruises which Social Services have documented as being attributed to myself who by this time had had no contact with any of the children for 4 months.

Born 3 June 2001 was reviewed 13 December 2010, This review was made on 13 December 2010 – almost a month after I had left the county.

She was noted as being tight lipped not saying anything.  Her genitals were found to be normal but concern was raised over her being constipated and further treated was advised which was ignored by her mother and step-father for a further 4 months.  Further incidents of presenting at school with bruising were in January 2011.  Here stated that her “dad” had caused this and that he beats them up. Again despite no contact and no possibility for me to have caused harm this was attributed to me by social services.  Even when later it was clarified that by dad she had meant her step-father.  She also stated when angry she wanted to tie people up with rope like what her step-father did. She would consistently present with bruises.  Even when in March 2011 she purposely showed a bruise on her leg which he had caused.  She was also very vocal over her concerns regarding born 1 August 1999 being left at home with her step-father. Why?

Born 1 August 1999 was reviewed 13 December 2010.  This review was made on 13 December 2010 – almost a month after I had left the county.

Her genital area showed some redness and her underwear stained.  Blood tests were requested yet it took until March 2011 for her mother and step-father to act on this even then it was an opportunistic test taken by the GP when she went in for an unrelated issue.

Born 1 August 1999 also stated that two years previously her step-mother had cut her leaving a scar and that her younger sister has swine flu, yet social services state in further reports that this was not true and born 1 August 1999 is not known to lie!  The two remarks counteract each other.

She also continued to present with bruises April 2011 again attributed to me.

From 2009 when I first requested specialist support for born 1 August 1999 to 2012 this was not forthcoming even when advised by medical staff to social services.

Instead Social services removed the children to foster care and sent born 1 August 1999 to Wrexham to a secure unit where in February 2013 she managed to commit suicide despite being on 15 minute observations and a known risk.

Social Services Messed Up

In all these reports and later LAC reviews and FASS reports Social Services systematically insisted that this abuse had been caused by me.  They allowed the children’s step-father to continue access even though they reported him to be violent and abusive.

How if I was not present can I be the abuser?  Why when abuse was still evident did they leave the children in the care of their step-father?

How, have these social workers managed to maintain their careers when they are clearly incapable of seeing facts and are reporting inaccurately.  Even going as far as lying to a family court judge.

A full investigation needs and must be launched into the capabilities of all these involved.  We have contact the HCPC and LAO but again I am meeting difficulties in getting my complaint heard, though I believe the HCPC are trying to investigate.  However, a lot of our evidence is hidden behind the statement “Statement is confidential and must not be disclosed without the consent of the court”.

Even down to Sue Lingard Service Manager, an unqualified social worker signing off work by trainee social workers et al.

We demand answers.  We want to know why when parental rights have not been severed can Social services fail in regular contact with me.  We want to know why LAC reports are not forthcoming and withheld.  We want to know how they can actually lie in a court to a judge and not be reprimanded.  We want to know how they are allowed to report non facts as facts and actually lie on documentation.  We want to know why they make assumptions with no evidence such as instead of stating alleged abuse they state it as a recorded fact.  We want to know how without the facts they can call a child a liar to her face.

We would like to see all those involved suspended whilst a full and open investigation is conducted.  And we would like to see a resolution to this.  It has been 6 years in total, 3 years since born 1 August 1999 died and still there is no closure we are no more further along than we were in 2010.  Serious Case review has not been concluded into the death and no investigation has ever been made into the children’s step-father despite his already having an allegation of sexual abuse against him prior to born 1 August 1999 allegation and that he was known to be friends with a number of people arrested through Operation Bulfinch.

I have enclosed a timeline of events for 2010, to make this clearer.  But as I had limited contact (due to ill health and hospitalizations) with any of the children from October 2010 through to the allegation being made in November 2010 – HOW could I have been causing the bruises that Social Services accused me of?  Social Services were well aware of my illness and hospitalizations; Social Services KNEW exactly where I was.  Social Services still accused me with NO evidence.

I am attaching the documents to demonstrate the incompetency of those involved, the lies, untruths and factual errors.  However, if you would agree to represent my family and I, I would be able to provide you with further documentation from the legal bundles that I have been allowed to have.

Bryn Melyn Care Ltd – Brambley House

My daughter born 1 August 1999 reportedly died on the 27 February 2013 whilst in the care of Bryn Melyn Care Ltd.  Though details are still unclear, Wrexham Police reported that born 1 August 1999 had been found earlier on the 26 February 2013 trying to hang herself in her en-suite.  She was apparently talked down by those in charge and this incident was then reported.  We do not know who this was then reported to or how it was recorded.  What we do know is that the care staff then put everyone to bed and went to bed themselves.  Sometime during the 26^th and 27^th born 1 August 1999 succeeded in committing suicide.  She was not found until the morning.  No checks had been made on her during the night, no one thought to make checks on a suicidal 13-year-old girl.  She died alone, and possibly scared.

Bryn Melyn Care Ltd had a duty of care for the health and welfare of my daughter, they breached this duty in what I can only describe as reckless, with disregard of the danger to the health and welfare of my daughter.  Bryn Melyn Care Ltd were indifferent to an obvious risk of injury to born 1 August 1999 health.  Had they have done their job correctly they would have been able to foresee the risk and prevented the outcome we live with today.

Bryn Melyn Care have continually refused to cooperate with the Police Investigation.

 

It is reprehensible that social services, psychologists and HHJ Corrie have based decisions with regard to my children that not only affect their wellbeing but the wellbeing of my family on this catalogue of errors.

Some of the allegations that social services and psychologists have made are tantamount to defamatory bordering on slanderous against myself and my family, is this yet another case of the CAF report ‘tick list’ or should it read “trick list” being implemented without the application of any common sense being used to solve problems.

Since born 1 August 1999 death there has been minimal to no communication from Oxford social services regardless of the Child Death Review booklet assurances that a rapid response will begin.

Despite the Child Death Review booklet stating, assuring, promising even that a rapid response will take place, and all professionals involved will share information about your child and you should be generally kept informed about the reviews taking place. This lack of communication would indicate that the rapid response is a lethargic hiccup and that social services and or professionals have decided to hibernate or hide rather than give the rapid response as advertised. The only communication that has taken place is at the family instigation. This truly is a distressing state of interaction with so called professional being the root cause.

How is it that a mere child of 13 years old, whilst in the care of social services and whilst living in a secure residential unit under a reported 15minute suicide watch can end up dead in her room?  Where was the safeguarding here? Where was the support? And where were the carers? It is a travesty!

 

None of the family has come through this unscathed, we all bare the scars caused by decisions made by Social Services and those involved not just in born 1 August 1999's care but also the remaining Children.

I cannot reiterate this enough, Social Services and Bryn Melyn Care Ltd had a duty of care for the health and welfare of my daughter, they breached this duty in what I can only describe as reckless, with disregard of the danger to the health and welfare of my daughter.  Bryn Melyn Care Ltd were indifferent to an obvious risk of injury to my daughters health.  Had they have done their job correctly they would have been able to foresee the risk and prevented the outcome we live with today.