7 Point Briefing: Learning from Case Review - Isla

Isla

Background

Isla was a 16-year-old girl the only child born to both her father and mother. Isla’s brothers and sisters are adults and were not living in the family home when she died. She had lived with her father until moving into independent living. Isla had experienced significant loss in her life, losing her mother, her nana and her auntie when she was a young teenager, all of whom were significant figures in her life.

On the 19th of September 2023, Isla went out with friends but did not return home. Staff at the supported accommodation felt that this was unusual and reported her missing on the 20th of September 2023. An initial strategy meeting was held, and further strategy meetings continued to be held during the timeframe that Isla was missing. North Yorkshire Police launched an investigation and professionals, family members and friends of Isla’s all spent time looking for her. After an intensive Police investigation and a review of CCTV cameras it was believed she had fallen into the River Ouse. The Police began to search the river and sadly Isla’s body was found on the 28th of September 2023.

What areas of good practice were highlighted?

Strong support for Isla from her school
Despite being excluded from school, she was allowed to access school to receive support for her physical and emotional needs
The staff within the supported accommodation tried to be flexible, despite concerns about her behaviour when she lost her room, they still offered access to the Crashpad as they recognised her vulnerabilities and wanted to ensure that had somewhere to sleep
Practitioners who worked with Isla and her father built good professional working relationships and their efforts were always focused on trying to keep her safe and ensure that she had somewhere to sleep
Frequent multi-agency meetings were held with partners where discussion took place regarding Isla’s exploitation vulnerabilities/risk status
Monthly MACEM meetings were established to share concerns about a child or young person who is at risk of, is being exploited, or is frequently missing from home or care
Weekly meetings took place between professionals to share intelligence and develop a picture of the young person at the centre of the exploitation concerns and develop ways to mitigate the exploitation risk
The Social Worker for Isla was in regular contact with her and with partners regarding any changes in her circumstances
On all of the occasions where Isla attended the hospital there was good liaison between staff at the hospital and other agencies
The hospital sought her views and any concerns were documented and shared with partners
There was good engagement between Isla’s father and the professionals supporting them.

Key Learning Points

Learning Point 1

Professionals might have explored with Isla’s father and wider family network at an earlier stage, in terms of what support they could have offered to both her and her father so that she may have felt a sense of belonging and that her basic needs were met.

Learning Point 2

Any professional working with a child/young person that has a Child in Need plan may request/instigate a Child in Need meeting (outside of normal time frames) where there has been a change/trigger in a young person’s circumstance.

Learning Point 3

Where a significant incident occurs, where a young person has an Exploitation risk status, a new assessment of the risk status needs to be agreed with partners through the MACEM process.

Learning Point 5

Professionals understanding their role within a Child in Need process including the importance of meeting timescales.

Learning Point 6

When a young person is subject to a Child in Need Plan, multi-agency partners must give consideration to what actions and interventions are required and include this within the Child in Need plan when they present with alcohol and substance misuse at the earliest opportunity.

CYSCP