Child protection chiefs in the Highlands were facing questions last night over why a report into the neglect and tragic death of a toddler was kept under wraps for a year.
A significant case review (SCR) found that social workers, police and designated Named Persons all missed opportunities to step in and protect two-year-old Clyde Campbell during months of neglect in Inverness.
Clyde died of cot death four years ago today, and his mother Amanda Hardie was jailed for 10 months in May 2016 after admitting neglect in the run-up to his death.
But concerns were raised after it emerged that the Highland Child Protection Committee (HCPC) review, details of which were revealed by the Press and Journal yesterday, had been completed in December 2016.
Despite the probe having been concluded months earlier, a request from this newspaper to view the findings was rejected last spring, and the executive summary was not published until just before Christmas last year, when it was uploaded onto the committee’s website.
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said: “Given the huge level of public interest in this story, it is surprising that the publication of this report was not flagged up in any way.
“If it was completed in December 2016, I think there are good reasons to ask why it was not made public until 12 months later in December 2017.
“Even then, it appears to have been simply uploaded onto a website. Were it not for the Press and Journal bringing this to light, the wider public would not be aware of the findings.”
A joint statement was issued yesterday by HCPC chairman, Detective Chief Inspector Vincent Mclaughlin, and Bill Alexander, the council’s director of care and learning.
“SCRs should be seen in the context of a culture of continuous improvement and should focus on learning and reflection on day-to-day practices, and the systems within which those practices operate,” they said.
“It was a very sad and challenging case for everyone involved. Professionals want to work in cooperation with parents to provide support, but that support relies on parents’ willingness to receive it.”
Chief Superintendent George Macdonald, Highlands and Islands divisional commander, said: “Having reflected on the findings of the report, the learning point identified for Police Scotland has been taken on board and our processes relating to the sharing of concerns about vulnerable people and children have been improved.”
