By Sally Gillen and Reg McKay.

Climbie case had an ‘inexperienced’ social worker

An inexperienced social worker in charge of Victoria Climbie’s case was assigned nearly twice as many “at risk” children as recommended, the inquiry into the child’s death heard yesterday.

Lisa Arthurworrey, who has been suspended from her job at Haringey Council, was responsible for 19 children – seven more than guidelines allow.

Her lawyer Jane Hoyal told the inquiry: “She was perhaps the most inexperienced officer in her office and, in hindsight, was given one of the most complex cases that a child protection officer could be allocated.”

Arthurworrey is being blamed for failing to realise that Victoria was being horrifically abused.

Source: The Independent September 28 page 11

Care home head held over deaths

The manager of a care home for older people was being questioned at Grays police station in Essex yesterday in connection with three deaths. The unnamed woman, who works at the Whitecroft care home in Orsett, Essex, was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter.

Source: The Independent September 28 page 11

Scottish newspapers

McLeish attacked over homelessness

First minister Henry McLeish came under fire from opposition parties after new figures appeared to show a sudden and unexpected increase in homelessness. 

Official statistics showed that applications for housing from people claiming to be homeless rose by 2,000 in the first three months of this year compared with the previous quarter. This is set against the rate of homelessness decreasing steadily between 1999 and 2000. 

A spokesperson for the first minister described the figures as a “statistical blip”.

Source: The Scotsman September 28 page 11

Radio DJ pleads guilty to child sex abuse

A Radio Clyde FM sports commentator is facing a possible jail sentence after sex offences against two young boys in the late 1970s. 

At Hamilton Sheriff Court yesterday, Dougie Macdonald pleaded guilty to lewd and libidinous practices against two boys aged 12 and 13 years by inducing them to perform sexual acts, as well as inducing them to commit sexual acts with two unnamed girls. 

The court heard that Macdonald had an offence from 1981 of a similar nature. Sheriff Canavan deferred the sentence and the decision about placing Macdonald on the sex offenders’ register till he has received social inquiry and community service assessment reports. Macdonald, who is well known for his charity work, will be sentenced next month.

Source: The Herald September 28 page 10