Health and Social Care Level 5 Unit 16

Victoria Climbie
Victoria Climbie’s story is tragic and her death at the hands of her Aunt and her new boyfriend could clearly have been prevented.   A relative had rung anonymously to warn social workers that Victoria was in danger; 2 social workers attempted unsuccessfully to see them about a month later, and no further action was taken. The first time Victoria was taken to hospital was after the daughter of her childminder believed she had been scratched and cut, she was referred to a consultant paediatrician, who accepted the wounds were a result of Victoria scratching at scabies sores. Victoria was admitted to hospital a second time suffering from scalding to her head and face, which her Aunt said had been caused when she poured hot water over Victoria’s head to stop her scratching her scalp. Social services didn’t ask Victoria what happened until 2 weeks later and by this time she was being discharged back in to the care of her Aunt. No arrangements were put in place for her to be monitored. The social worker assigned to her case was inexperienced, and there was little exchange of information between the hospital and social services. The PC assigned to the case didn’t visit because she was afraid she would catch scabies. The hospital claimed they had referred the case to a community health visitor; however she said she didn’t receive any instructions or paperwork to follow-up the case. The social worker did eventually make 2 visits to the flat where Victoria was staying after she left hospital, however she claimed she saw no evidence of child abuse on either occasion. A consultant at the hospital wrote to the council’s child protection link with the hospital expressing her concerns about Victoria, but she claimed the letter didn’t arrive for 7 days, and she passed the concerns on to the social worker, although the social worker claimed she didn’t. The consultant wrote a second letter containing evidence of abuse, but the social worker was on annual leave when...