child abuse investigation command modernising risk assessment and decision making in child...

Child Abuse Investigation Command

Modernising Risk Assessment and Decision Making in Child Protection

Working together effectively in Hillingdon

SCD5 Child Abuse Investigation Command

Detective Superintendent Richard Henson


Child Abuse Investigation Command – SCD5

History & Background

• SCD5 mission to make children safer in London

• Established post Victoria Climbie’, 2000

• Largest dedicated police child abuse/protection command

in world @ 450 detectives/200 police staff

• Serves Pan London 32 LSCB’s (some wider remit)

• Modernisation program post Baby Peter, 2008-10

• Consolidation 2011.


SCD5 Issues/Challenges/Role• Forefront of Multi-agency working

• Complex arena child abuse investigation

• Child Protection/Safeguarding issues

• Very High Organisational Risk

• Critical decisions often at low levels

• High profile criminal justice cases

• Intense media interest

• Political issues.


What is Risk Assessment?• All assessments of risk require foundation knowledge on which to build

our understandings and shape our interventions with children and families.

• The determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognised threat. Quantitative Risk Assessment requires calculations of two components of risk R, the magnitude of the potential loss L and the probability P that the loss will occur.

• Assessment of risk is complex and not related to the number of risks appearing alone. Rather, the imminent risk posed in a particular situation will be dependent upon what they are and how they apply in that context.

• A risk assessment can only identify the probability of harm, assess the impact of it on key individuals, and pose intervention strategies which may diminish the risk or reduce the harm. Assessments cannot prevent risk.

• A common first step in the risk management process.


Risk Assessment Think Umbrellas!


Child Risk Assessment Model :CRAM Risk Factors

• Based on learning from SCR’s, MARAC, Intel Analysis, SUDI’s etc

• Risk Assessment reviewed & updated on new & current Information


Case Study

Think Risk Factors• Would you recognise them?

• What would they trigger?

• When would you notify or refer?

• When would you intervene?

• How would you intervene?


Death of Baby PeterTIMELINE:

March 2006: Birth of Peter Connelly (Baby P)

June 2006: Mother begins new relationship

November 2006: Steven Barker moves into the home

December 2006: Peter admitted to hospital with bruising (placed in care). 1st police investigation

January 2007: Return to care of mother

April 2007: Admitted to hospital with bruising & swelling (police not informed)

June 2007: Mother arrested for Common Assault after more bruising found. 2nd investigation

July 2007: Peter is smeared with chocolate to hide more bruising

2 August 2007: Mother told not going to be prosecuted

3 August 2007: Peter is found dead in his cot


Tracey Connelly• History of Drug abuse

• Mother: Alcohol/Drug user

• In & out of care

• Socially inadequate

• Special Needs Education

• Previous victim of abuse

• Met ex-husband at 15yrs.


Stephen Barker• Semi-literate

• Allegedly abused as a child

• Mental Health issues

• Special Needs Education

• Animal Cruelty

• Relationship issues.


Jason Owen• Previous convictions

• Drug abuse

• Troubled youth

• Suspected Paedophile

• Name changes

• 15 year old girlfriend.


Post Mortem findings• Fractured spine

• Nine broken ribs

• Avulsed tooth

• Necrosis of finger

• Torn ear

• Head injuries

• No precise cause of death initially at PM.


Medical Chronology• October 2006 Bruising to head GP• December 2006 NAI bruising to head taken into care hospital• January 2007 Old leg fracture found• April 2007 Further bruising to head different hospital• April 2007 Referred to CDC for banging his head• May 2007 Hives GP• 1 June 2007 Further bruising to head hospital• 6 June 2007 Walk in clinic finger infection• 9 June 2007 Walk in clinic ear infection• 9 July 2007 Hospital ear infection• 18 July 2007 Walk in clinic injuries to scalp • 19 July 2007 Injuries to scalp hospital• 26 July 2007 Head lice GP• 1 August 2007 CDC behavioural problems and why bruising• 3 August 2007 Found dead


Death of Peter Connelly• Avulsed tooth 12 hours

• Fractured spine 3 to 5 days

• Nine broken ribs 7 to 10 days

• Necrosis of finger 2 months old?

• Torn ears 2 months

• Head and facial injuries since October 2006 many are recent

• Had most if not all of these injuries when he was seen by professionals - not

just Health!


• Risk assessment (Control measures)• Identifying critical risk in high volume (How?)• Focus on high risk (How?)• Information exchange (Updating & challenging)• Recording - data standards (IT systems)• Supervision (Quality, consistency, timeliness)• Escalation and challenge (Who/How?)• Resilience and capacity. (Skills/training/support)

Police Areas for Improvement – 30 AFI’s


Child Risk Assessment Model CRAM 6 core elements

1. Intelligence

2. Risk factors

3. Risk assessment

4. Supervision

5. Recording

6. Communication


Comprehensive research and collation of relevant information from police records and partner agencies including the continuing evaluation and identification of information gaps to support decision making and operational activity.


Referenced areas of high risk are grouped in relation to the child (Victim), the suspect (offender) and the household (location). The relevance of each must be considered alongside other prevalent risk issues


An on-going process requiring updating as the case develops. The risk assessment is case specific rather than an assignment of status of risk. SMART control measures are a vital to risk management.


Competent, informed and regular supervisory input to support case officers and ensure appropriate case management, effective intervention to protect the vulnerable. Supervision must be proactive and visible with recorded rationale.


Recording information, rationale and decisions is best practice. Records must be available for immediate operational reference and reports to other parties must be clear and concise. References to supporting material must be clear and duplication avoided.


Research, analysis & decisions with rationale are recorded clearly and concisely.

Dialogue is comprehensive & checked to ensure understanding particularly in strategy discussions and when requesting information.

Actions should be completed within agreed time frames or parties informed as to barriers.

Dissent must be recorded and brought to the attention of supervisors.


• "Once risk has been assessed, the more substantial task is to manage it, to think of how to intervene to reduce it"

Munro, E Effective Child Protection 2008

• "The absence of a clear focus on the source of risk to children is important because in such situations child protection registration or any form of supervision is unlikely to be effective." Humphreys & Stanley, DV & CP, Directions for Good Practice.

“RISK”


Reducing risk & repeat victims

Initial Crime Reports

No

of Re

pea

t Victim

s

9.17% were repeat victims

1.34% were repeat victims 3 times or more (in 12months)

0.08% were repeat victims 5 times or more (in 12months)


Reducing risk & repeat victims 2

Initial Crime Referrals/Reports

No

of Re

pea

t Victim

s

Escalation of supervisory review to DCI on 5/12 repeats

Escalation of supervisory review to DI on 3/12 repeats.


ABC - Challenge!

• A Assume nothing….

• B Believe nobody…..

• C Check everything…


• “Although perhaps not consciously, a parent/carer… tests the resolve of the safeguarding child protection systems”

Baby P SCR

• “It is crucial to be sceptical of the accounts that are given for any maltreatment of children… They must be tested thoroughly against the facts.” Biennial review of SCR’s 2005-7

Authoritative Practice


“Of Course they are lying. Everybody lies” David Simon, Creator of “The Wire”

Challenge! Challenge! Challenge! Challenge!

Are they lying?


• We are the ‘Authorities’ … Do you tell the truth?

• Fear is a powerful thing, especially when you are, or you feel vulnerable.

• Child abuse can be addictive.

• Some abusers are professionals!

• Addiction is based on deception and takes many forms, professionals need to challenge.

Authoritative Practice


• Look at the facts. Ask questions, explore your hunches, use your training.

• Where is the evidence of real change?

Research• 75% of parents do not co-operate with CP

Professionals (includes disguised compliance telling workers what they want to hear, learned behaviour & professional language)

Biennial review of SCR’s 2005-7

Think the Unthinkable


Control Measures - RARAR Reduce risk

A Avoid risk

R Remove risk

A Accept risk

Risk assessment is an ongoing process!

Measures must be SMART

Record Rationale.


Supervision

• Timeliness (24hrs, 7days, 28 days Crimes (42days CPP) or on new significant Intel.

• Authoritative supervision (Who)

• Recording rationale and direction

• Challenge

• Prioritisation

• Escalation

• Risk Management


Moving Forward• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

• Implementations Harrow/Haringey Jan'12

• Confidential information sharing

• Improved communication

• Joint service provision

• Improve problem recognition

• Improve outcomes for vulnerable.


The Crambrella !

[email protected]

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