Learning from LCSPRs: Children out of sight and safeguarding children during parental mental health crises
In June, Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership published two Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. We encourage practitioners across all agencies to explore the learning from both cases, and dis cuss it further within your teams, to ensure it is shared as widely as possible.
The first review (BSCP 2022-23/04) focuses on the death of a 3-year-old child whose remains were discovered from a garden where the family had previously lived. The family had an alternative lifestyle described as living ‘off-grid’. The second case (BSCP2022-23/03) focuses on a 3-week-old baby, whose tragic death was caused by his father following a catastrophic breakdown in his mental health.
The resources from both cases, including the ‘Learning Lessons’ webinars, can be found below.
BSCP 2022-23/04
Resources
- BSCP2022-23-04 Report
- BSCP2022-23-04 Press statement
- BSCP2022-23-04 Briefing Note
- BSCP2022-23-04 PowerPoint presentation
You can also watch a webinar, hosted by BSCP, which begins with an overview of the case delivered by the Lead Reviewer, Kevin Ball. This is followed by a talk from the Birmingham Children’s Trust’s Quality Assurance Team, with guidance on safeguarding children ‘out of sight’. Razia Butt and Di Rhoden, Co-Chairs of BSCP’s Children Out of Sight Sub-Group further discuss the factors which can contribute to children becoming ‘out of sight’, and provide an update what the Sub-Group is doing to combat this in Birmingham.
BSCP2022-23/03
Resources
For this case’s webinar, Lead Reviewer, Colin Green, provides an overview of the case and key learning. Following Colin’s presentation, Jason Hakin and Melanie Mills from NHS Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust deliver a talk on safeguarding children during parental mental health crises, providing guidance for practitioners on how best to support children and families. BSCP Faith Project Coordinator, Junaid Akhtar, highlights the new Mental Health First Aid training BSCP have commissioned specifically for faith spaces, due to launch in October 2025.
Content warning ⚠
Please note, the resources and webinars for both Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews contain content which some people may find distressing.