Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Education Secretary sets out expectations of joint inspection
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has laid out expectations for a joint review into the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in a letter to leaders of key inspectorates.
Writing to Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, Rosie Benneyworth, chief inspector of primary medical services and integrated care, Sir Thomas Winsor HM chief inspector of constabulary and Justin Russell, HM chief inspector of probation, Zahawi calls on agencies to use a new framework for joint targeted area inspections (JTAI) which is currently under review by inspectorates.
“I request that you use this new approach that focuses sharply on the entry point to the child protection system across all agencies,” the letter states.
Zahawi says the inspection should include an evaluation of:
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How agencies work effectively individually and together to improve the wellbeing of children, including ensuring that children get the right help and protection at the right time
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The application of appropriate thresholds, effective information sharing and timely intervention
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How children and young people are protected through effective multi-agency arrangements at the front door
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How leaders and managers have good oversight of practice, work effectively together, create the right conditions for effective practice and act where improvements are needed
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How the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements actively monitors, promotes, co-ordinates and evaluates the work of the safeguarding partners and whether this leads to improvements in the initial multi-agency response at the front door.
Off-site work on the review began on 13 December, with inspectors due to start investigations in Solihull on 10 January 2022, the letter adds.
The letter outlines that the findings of the inspection will be written and published by Ofsted towards the end of February.
Zahawi ordered the inspection last week following the sentencing of Arthur’s stepmother for his murder and father for manslaughter.
Arthur died in June 2020 after the pair subjected him to a “campaign of cruelty” during the first Covid-19 lockdown.
The Education Secretary also appointed Annie Hudson, chair of the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, to work with council, health and education leaders in Solihull to deliver a single, national, independent review of Arthur’s death.
In his letter to chief inspectors, he notes that “there may be early issues identified in the national review that fall within the scope of the JTAI, and we will want to seek assurance on those through this inspection.
“I will ensure regular contact between the two processes, if there are any emerging lines of enquiry.”
Meanwhile, a DfE spokesman has said a Local Child Safeguarding Review into the death of one-year-old Star Hobson will also feed into the national review into Arthur's murder.
Star died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on 22 September 2020.
Her mother's partner Savannah Brockhill, 28, was today (14 December) found guilty of her murder. Her mother Frankie Smith has been found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
A DfE spokesperson said: “Star’s death is deeply disturbing. It is a reminder of why we have taken action to strengthen how safeguarding agencies work together locally to protect children at risk of abuse or neglect – and why we will never hesitate to take robust steps to prevent tragic cases like this happening.
“There are clear systems in place to report serious incidents, which in Star’s case led to a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review. This is due to conclude in January and will mean its learnings can feed into the national review of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ death commissioned this week by the Secretary of State.
“In the months since Star’s death we have also appointed a commissioner to assess Bradford’s capability and capacity to improve. The Secretary of State met with him urgently on Monday 13 December to discuss the progress of his work and whether the council should retain control of their children’s services, ahead of his full report in January. On seeing that we will not hesitate to remove service control if that is what’s necessary to drive rapid improvements.”
