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Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting responds to the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) report outlining failings in Valdo Calocane's care.

Source: Department of Health and Social Care published on this website Thursday 15 August 2024 by Jill Powell

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has) called for the recommendations made by an independent review to improve mental health services to be implemented across the country following the tragic death of 3 people in Nottingham.

Valdo Calocane was known to police and mental health services prior to the attack in June 2023 where he killed Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and seriously injured 3 others with a van. He had previously been treated by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for mental health issues.

Earlier this year, the government commissioned CQC to carry out a rapid review into the local NHS trust and mental health services provided, in order to get answers for the victims’ families and ensure any failings are urgently addressed. The report published today is the final strand of that review, which has found that failings in Calocane’s care may have contributed to the tragic events after he was discharged from the trust’s mental health services.

The NHS has already accepted all of CQC’s recommendations from strands 2 and 3 of CQC’s review and initiated a series of measures, including ensuring every provider of mental health services across the country reviews the care that people with serious mental illness receive.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

My thoughts are with the families and friends of Barnaby, Grace and Ian. This report makes for distressing reading, especially for those living with the consequences of their loss in the knowledge that their untimely deaths were avoidable.

Action is already underway to address the serious failures identified by CQC and I expect regular progress reports from the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

I want to assure myself and the country that the failures identified in Nottinghamshire are not being repeated elsewhere. I expect the findings and recommendations in this report to be considered and applied throughout the country so that other families do not experience the unimaginable pain that Barnaby, Grace and Ian’s family are living with.

Other measures the NHS has already undertaken include:

ensuring every provider of mental health services has clear policies and practice in place to treat patients with serious mental illness
issuing guidance to trusts reiterating instructions not to discharge patients with serious mental health issues if they do not attend appointments
commissioning an independent investigation into the incident, which will be published by the end of 2024
increasing funding to community mental health services by £2.3 billion per year to transform services
continuing to improve data on community mental health services including developing metrics around access to psychological therapies for severe mental health problems and outcomes for people accessing community mental health services
establishing an expert advisory group to oversee the development of core standards for safe care in community mental health services

While there is no single point of failure identified in the report, part 2 of CQC’s review, published August 13, identified serious shortcomings in Valdo Calocane’s care including being discharged too early and failings in follow ups when he evaded contact with the community mental health team.

The findings of the first part of the section 48 review, which were published in March 2024, assessed the progress made at Rampton Hospital as well as patient safety and the quality of care provided by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The Health and Social Care Secretary recently met with NHS England to discuss how they and the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are taking all the recommendations from all 3 strands of the CQC review forward and how they will work together to make swift, sustained improvements to mental health services.

Specific actions the local trust has taken include:

putting a new crisis telephone system in place, attending to the issues with responsiveness
reviewing the approach to managing beds - there are early positive signs of a reduction in patients being placed in incorrect care settings as a result
the patients waiting to access community support have been reviewed and the waiting list has reduced from 1,500 to 1,092

Church of England issue statements regarding BBC File on Four Blackburn Cathedral case

Source: Church of England (CofE) Published on this website Wednesday 14 August 2024 by Jill Powell

Statement from the Church of England:

“The case highlighted on the BBC today is complicated and very difficult for everyone involved particularly those who came forward. A number of allegations were made about the Canon over a number of years and a risk assessment was conducted according to the House of Bishops 2017 safeguarding guidance. In the event, none of the allegations resulted either in a conviction in the criminal courts, or in a determination of misconduct in the independent Church courts through the Clergy Discipline Measure.

“He was removed from office on health grounds by the former Bishop of Blackburn, in 2021, under the Church Dignitaries (Retirement) Measure 1949 , but the Canon then brought a claim in the High Court for judicial review of that decision and payment was made in settlement of that claim. The Church of England is currently reviewing the disciplinary procedure for members of clergy (Clergy Discipline Measure), as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA and a review of the risk assessment regulations and guidance is under way.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, said:

“We are truly sorry when survivors are let down by the Church. We were both made aware of this case, including the concerning background and the challenges caused by statutory and Church processes ending with no further action.

“We absolutely believe that there is no place in ministry for people who are a risk or pose a risk to others and continue to work to ensure that our systems are made ever stronger and more robust.

“This case highlights the complexity of our structures and processes and is just one example of why we asked Professor Alexis Jay, the former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, to provide options and recommendations for how further independence of safeguarding within the Church of England might be achieved. This work is now being taken forward.

“As the Bishop of Blackburn told the BBC, the Church has made huge strides in safeguarding in the past 10 years particularly in listening to the voices of survivors and victims. However, this case, which goes back many years, shows that we are still working to get our processes right and we must learn from the mistakes of the past.”

Finding support

If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by the publication of this report and want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk

Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area or the National Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@churchofengland.org.

There are also other support services available.

Young people face potentially life-long consequences of being involved in disorder, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) warns

Source: Crown Prosecution Service(CPS) published on this website Monday 12 August 2024 by Jill Powell

Published on CPS website 5 August 2024, To see updated convictions due to riots CPS

The Crown Prosecution Service has been at the heart of the law enforcement response to the appalling outbreaks of violence and disorder across the country.

Over the weekend they deployed dozens of extra prosecutors to provide real-time advice to the police and authorise charges where we were given the key information that we need. If more resources are required, they will provide them. Alongside our dedicated out-of-hours service, we have a central surge team at the ready, to be deployed wherever needed.

One of the most striking features of the current outbreak of disorder is that many young people are involved. Children as young as 11. This is deeply disturbing. They may face life-long consequences: conviction, and a permanent record of their involvement on the Police National Database. This can limit their employment options in the future and ability to travel to certain countries.

For adults, these offences can attract lengthy sentences of imprisonment, beyond the two-year maximum detention available for young offenders. Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, but from the evidence that I have seen, sentencing guidelines suggest that immediate imprisonment will be appropriate for the type of violent disorder that has been witnessed.

If this seems harsh, the reality, from reports I have received from prosecutors, is that there has been a terrible impact on communities: people barricaded in properties, businesses destroyed and police officers facing violence while trying to keep people safe.

Within the CPS, our national structure has meant that consistent messages are reaching prosecutors quickly. This includes my direction that we should make immediate charging decisions as soon as the evidential threshold for charging is met.

More widely, we have established a gold command structure to bring together police, prosecutors, and the courts service, coordinating action to make sure prosecutions can progress quickly and efficiently. If necessary, this will include special emergency courts with dedicated prosecutors to support them.

Seeking to prosecute cases swiftly does not mean a compromise in quality. The CPS and police together are building strong cases – with clear guidance from us about the evidence needed from the outset.

In some cases, people have already pleaded guilty to violent disorder – an offence committed where three or more people are using or threatening violence which causes people to fear for safety. These have been sent to the Crown Court for sentence.

In other cases, evidence is being assembled with the aid of CCTV, body-worn video, and facial recognition technology.

It is important to note that people do not even have to be directly involved to commit crimes: inciting violence from your computer is also an offence.

The work of the criminal justice system will continue in overdrive in the coming days to build the cases against the people who have been arrested and to identify the many others who have been involved.

Justice is coming for those who have rained chaos on their local streets – to secure this, the CPS will act swiftly, working alongside our partners in the criminal justice system.

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions

Court Report: Eastbourne man who raped and assaulted a young girl has been convicted at court.

Source: Sussex Police published on this website Tuesday 13 August 2024 by Jill Powell

Keith Matthews, 60, of Tintern Close in Eastbourne, subjected a girl to multiples rapes, and physical and sexual assaults, in May, 2020.

The victim was under 13 years old at the time of the offending.

The incidents were reported to Sussex Police after the victim confided in a family member, who raised the alarm.

She was given support by specialist officers and our partners, while Matthews was arrested.

He was subsequently charged with four counts of rape of a child, and one count each of assault by penetration of a child, sexual assault of a child and cruelty to a child.

Following a five-day trial, he was found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 2 August.

He has been remanded in custody to be sentenced at a court to be confirmed on 20 September.

Detective Sergeant Nick Green, of Eastbourne’s Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: “The young victim in this investigation has shown incredible bravery in reporting these horrific crimes. She has provided evidence under extremely difficult circumstances and has shown such strength throughout the investigation.

“Thanks to her resilience, we have been able to secure this conviction.

“This has been a deeply upsetting case and I hope she can now start to rebuild her life, safe in the knowledge that Matthews now faces a significant custodial sentence.”

If you are a victim of sexual offending, please report it to the police online or via 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

We will support you and we will do everything we can to get you justice.

Food businesses prosecuted for failing to protect customers with allergies

Source: Lancashire County Council published on this website Friday 9 August 2024 by Jill Powell

Two recent prosecutions highlight Trading Standards' vital work to ensure that food premises focus on the importance of food allergies.

All food businesses in the UK have a legal responsibility to provide accurate allergen information to all customers that request it, and ultimately to provide food that is safe for people with allergies.

Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards food officers regularly test that food premises are meeting their responsibilities through an allergens sampling programme. Businesses found to have failed to take sufficient measures to ensure a person with specific allergies is not inadvertently supplied with food that may trigger an allergic reaction face further compliance checks.

Not doing so can have fatal consequences, as was the case with 15-year-old Megan Lee, who suffered a fatal asthma attack in 2017 after unknowingly eating a takeaway meal containing peanuts.

Following the tragedy, Megan's parents, Gemma and Adam Lee, worked with Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards officers to produce Megan's Story, a short film featuring treasured photos and video of the Oswaldtwistle schoolgirl growing up, to make businesses aware of the risks associated with allergens and ensure other families don't have to go through the same ordeal:

Two recent prosecutions demonstrate the serious consequences businesses face if they continue to fail in their duties to keep allergen sufferers safe.

The two takeaway establishments failed to ensure the safety of their food for allergy sufferers, despite receiving specific advice about the need to make improvements prior to formal action.

On 26 October 2022, a trading standards food officer posing as a customer with a milk allergy purchased a lamb seekh kebab on chapati from Mansha Sweet Centre, a takeaway in Nelson which has three other branches in the North West. It was found to contain milk protein at a level potentially harmful if consumed by someone with a milk allergy.

As a result, the business owner Mansha Sweets Limited appeared at Blackburn Magistrates court on 10 July and pled guilty to two charges of supplying food that was injurious to health and not of the nature demanded by the purchaser. The company must now pay £7229.72 in fines, a victim surcharge, and costs.

Eastern Promise Takeaway in Accrington was visited by a trading standards officer on 6 February 2023. Despite declaring a milk allergy at the time of ordering, the chicken curry purchased by the officer was also found to contain milk protein at a potentially harmful level to an allergy sufferer.

Shop owner Rafiq Hussain, 31, of Tremellyn Street, Accrington was charged with the same offences. At Blackburn Magistrates Court on 19 June, 2024 he was sentenced and must pay £1,212 in fines, surcharge, and costs.

Megan Lee's parents, Gemma and Adam, said: “We thank Lancashire Trading Standards who continue to take action on food businesses that fail to comply with the law. This is vital work that protects the consumer and raises awareness of the dangers of allergies.

"We urge all food businesses to access the training material and resources that are freely available to them, as the consequences of getting it wrong could cost another life. There really is no excuse to be negligent in the area of allergen control.”

Councillor Michael Green, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "The unforgettable Megan's Story campaign led by Megan's brave parents has made a lasting impression on everyone who saw it. Our Trading Standards team, in memory of Megan, will always do everything in their power to continue to raise awareness of the importance of food allergens.

"The failures by these two takeaways could have had severe consequences if a person with a milk allergy had then consumed the food, which is why it is so important that our officers continue with their programme of covert food sampling.

"Well done to our Trading Standards team for their important work on this. We will continue to ensure that we do everything in our power to raise awareness of this vital issue.

"Symptoms of an allergy to milk can range from relatively mild symptoms such as swelling of the lips and face, vomiting and nausea, through to severe symptoms including difficulty breathing and unconsciousness, and even death.

"Reactions are unpredictable and there is no reliable way of knowing how an individual may react even with low levels of the allergen. It is crucial that food businesses take all necessary precautions to prevent inadvertent inclusion or cross-contamination of allergens in their food."

Lancashire County Council has a dedicated web page titled 'Allergen Information for Food Businesses' which contains guidance, and links to specific training around allergens: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/allergy-information-for-food-businesses/