News roundup: Inquiry into hanged girl, 8

By Mithran Samuel on September 15, 2009 in Child safeguarding, Children, Looked after children, Sexual exploitation, Substance misuse, Youth justice

Inquiry into hanged girl, 8

A thorough investigation will be held into how an eight-year-old girl on the books of social services came to be found hanged in her bedroom, Nottinghamshire County Council said yesterday.

Charlotte Moody, who had severe learning difficulties, was found hanged by her parents at their home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday morning.

Ministers retreat on child database

Moves to vet every adult who works with children are set to be watered down after the Government ordered a last-minute review of the controversial anti-paedophile scheme.

Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, acted amid fury that the criminal record checks would affect parents who give lifts to children on behalf of sports teams or voluntary organisations such as the Scouts. The move comes after The Independent revealed that prominent children’s authors, including Philip Pullman and Anthony Horowitz, have threatened to stop visiting schools rather than subject themselves to the “insulting” requirement.

Tories target state pension in battle to balance books

Plans to raise the basic state pension are expected to be delayed by an incoming Conservative government as it seeks to reduce the huge deficit in the public finances.

While Labour yesterday reaffirmed its intention to restore the link between state old age pension and earnings in 2012, Tory sources told the Independent that the party could postpone the start of the bigger annual rises until 2015. But they promised that the move would still be implemented before the general election-after-next.

Foster mother ‘was not told of risk to Down’s syndrome children’

Bernice Taylor and her husband Terry have fostered for 45 years, as well as bringing up five children — both natural and adopted — in their Nottinghamshire home. Now that the couple are in their sixties, they offer respite care only, helping families with special needs children to have a break.

They looked after 12-year-old Harry (not his real name) for a couple of weekends one springtime to give his foster family some time off. When his placement broke down, social services asked if they would consider caring for him from July until a new placement could be found for the start of the autumn school term.