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