The inspection outcomes: Safeguardingservices Overall effectiveness Grade 4 (inadequate) 9. The overall effectiveness of the council and its partners in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in Torbay is inadequate. There is no track record of achieving continuous improvement in service provision and outcomes. Serious deficiencies in the quality of social work practice were identified by external consultants commissioned by the council over 14 months ago and it was concluded that the arrangements for protecting children at risk of harm were not consistently safe. This was reported to the Children’s Trust Boards, the TSCB and elected members. Actions were taken to resolve the difficulties based on a detailed improvement plan. Nevertheless the unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements undertaken by Ofsted in May 2010 also identified serious concerns regarding the quality of practice which left children and young people at risk. While further improvements have been made to some key processes and systems since May 2010, this has not yet led to improved outcomes for children and young people.
Mother, 24, leaps off Dartmoor tor with five-year-old boy after killing two-year-old son at their home following 'fight' with her lover, 52
- Katharine Hooper, 24, and Joshua, five, fell 100ft from Haytor, Dartmoor
- They both died shortly after the fall from rocks at 11.50am on Friday
- Police searching her Paignton home found the body of a two-year-old boy
- The second boy is thought to be Mrs Hooper's younger son Sam
- Neighbours said she had problems with partner Neil Patterson, 52
- It is thought they were due to go to court after an altercation in May
By PAUL BENTLEY and FRANCESCA INFANTE
|
Died: Police believe Katharine Hooper, 24, killed herself and her two young sons
A young mother killed herself and her five-year-old son by jumping 100ft off rocks at a beauty spot on Dartmoor yesterday.
Police believe Katharine Hooper, 24, also killed her younger son Samuel, aged two. The toddler’s body was found at her home 20 miles away.
Tourists said they saw Mrs Hooper put Joshua, five, on her shoulders before jumping off Haytor in Devon, a spot popular with ramblers.
Police opened a murder inquiry, but said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Friends claimed Mrs Hooper had serious problems in her relationship, which were known to authorities.
She had gone missing a few weeks ago, prompting Devon and Cornwall police to launch a public appeal.
Last night serious concerns were raised about why officers and social services had not acted sooner to protect the children.
Mrs Hooper was last seen alive yesterday morning. She was walking with Joshua by a cliff at Haytor, which is almost 1,500ft above sea level and one of Dartmoor National Park’s most famous landmarks.
Shortly afterwards, horrified onlookers saw the pair lifeless on the ground below, after what they believed was a tragic accident.
Police, paramedics and search teams rushed to the scene and air ambulances were dispatched to airlift the pair to hospital, but both died shortly after the fall.
Later, officers travelled to Mrs Hooper’s home in Paignton, Devon, and found the body of a two-year-old boy, also thought to be her son.
It is unclear how he died but a murder investigation has been launched into the deaths.
Killed: Joshua, five, (left) died after falling 100ft from the Dartmoor beauty spot, while a body thought to be that of Sam, two, (right) was found at Mrs Hooper's home in Paignton
Flowers: The house in Paignton, Devon, where the body of the two-year-old was found
Dartmoor: Police stood guard near the spot where the pair tragically plunged to their deaths
Detective Superintendent Paul Burgan, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: ‘We are keeping an open mind about all three deaths, but at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
‘We are keen to speak to anyone who may have any information or might have been in the Haytor area on Friday.’
Adrian Leisk, acting chief inspector of the force, added: ‘On examination of the scene it appears they have fallen 80 to 100ft, quite a substantial fall.’
He said that the family’s next of kin had been informed, and post-mortem examinations will now be carried out on all three.
Neighbours said Miss Hooper had been experiencing problems in her relationship with the boys’ father, her long-term partner Neil Patterson, 52.
One neighbour, Johnathan Grant, 28, said the couple were both due at a court case in August following an incident in May.
Found dead: Katharine Hooper, who went by the name of Kat, and her son Samuel both died on Friday
Investigation: Police are treating the deaths as murders but are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident
Sons: Joshua, five, (left) and Samuel, two, (right) are both believed to have been killed by their mother
Search: Police outside the Paignton home of Katharine Hooper where the body of a two-year-old boy was found
Mr Grant, who has known Miss Hooper and her children for three years, said the boys were taken into care after the altercation, and stayed there for six weeks while their mother recovered.
She lost her job at a local hotel during the breakdown of the relationship, he said.
But he explained that she and the boys moved back into their home only two weeks ago, and she was just beginning to rebuild her life.
Mr Grant said: ‘She was good-looking, chatty, funny, she would play with the kids outside a lot. She was generally just a lovely lady.
‘This is a massive shock to us, it hasn’t sunk in yet. They were very sweet, very well behaved boys.’
He added: ‘I am horrified what has happened. Kat could not drive so I don’t know how she got up to Haytor with Joshy. It’s a mystery.
'Samuel was meant to be starting his first day at the local nursery yesterday. The boys were lovely and played with my girls. Kat was bubbly and laughing and had come out of her shell.’
His partner Tracey Cole, 42, described how Miss Hooper had struggled financially. She said: ‘Kat did not have a lot of money and she asked me if I could look after her cat as she could not afford to keep it.’
999 call: Emergency services rushed to Haytor on Dartmoor, but could not save Mrs Hooper and Joshua
Tragedy: The body of a two-year-old body was found at Katharine Hooper's home in Paignton hours after she and her son Joshua died at Haytor, Dartmoor
The tragedy unfolded at 11.50am on Haytor as temperatures rose to close to 30C at the tourist spot
Haytor, a steep granite tor, is considered Dartmoor’s most famous site and is popular with coach parties, walkers and sightseers.
During the 19th century steps were cut into one side of the tor and a metal handrail fixed to allow tourists easier access to the summit.
At its highest point it reaches 1,499ft (457 metres) above sea level, providing panoramic views of the south coast, the Teign Estuary and the rolling countryside.
Mike Nendick, from the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said there had been accidents at Haytor before but they were ‘not commonplace’.
‘When you have an attractive landscape, whether it’s on the coast or moors, it attracts people. There’s always the potential for accidents,’ he added.
‘It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on the accident. But we would urge members of the public to wear sensible footwear and consider weather conditions.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2361941/Mum-kills-little-boys-Double-death-Dartmoor-beauty-spot-police-toddlers-body-home.html#ixzz2Z1qbiMEW
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment