IMPLEMENTATION of all the actions points demanded by a serious case review into the death of a Thurrock child may not be completed for another year.

That was reported by Thurrock Council's local safeguarding children partnership business manager Priscilla Bruce-Annan who was quizzed at tonight's meeting of the council's children's services overview and scrutiny committee.

Ms Bruce-Annan was giving an update into [L]https://thurrock.nub.news/n/plans-to-improve-service-after-child39s-death-in-thurrock-council-care-are-running-up-to-five-months-behind-schedule [L]how the council is responding to the targets it set itself [.L]and Chadwell St Mary councillor Sara Muldowney was concerned that things were being dragged out.

The child, aged 23 months, died in 2018 and initially Thurrock Council fought against the call for a serious case review. When media pressure forced their hand the review, which would normally take six months, took longer than a year - and now the action plan is running behind schedule.

Cllr Muldowney said: "The child died in January 2018, a serious case review for whatever reason took a long time to happen and now the delay continues.

"There have been six months since we saw this in July and the impression I have been getting is that things are taking too long.

"People don't think we are doing enough and there is anxiety among parents about this incident and in general about safeguarding.

"Although you think you have made good progress, not a lot of action points have been accomplished.

"One of the things has been rag-rated green because a date has been set. How is the action completed by just setting a date for training?

"How will we be able to see that that training has taken place?"

Ms Bruce-Annan said: "I hear your question and your anxiety and I appreciate some time has passed. In terms of the one item, we have set the date and that date has been publicised. Agencies are sending people on that course, that's the start of that training and there will be a whole lot of training that flows from that which will be tracked and monitored."

Cllr Muldowney pressed the point and added: "It feels like the local safeguarding partnership hasn't got going, it is still in a beginning stage.

"A lot things don't appear to be pinned down or embedded."

The response highlighted that there will be delays.

The report put before the committee had suggested everything would be in place by May, but Ms Bruce-Anna said: "I don't think it's totally fair to say we are at the start. But we do need to raise the awareness, we need to develop things further so they are embedded.

"In terms of completion and embedding we are looking at the end of this academic year and some of the work takes us to December this year. That is my ambition."

Corporate Director of Children's Services Sheila Murphy conceded: "It should be a bit more timely than it has been."

Cllr Muldowney continued to express her worries, saying: "I am just a little bit concerned and worried about families that we don't know about.

"Families may well have fallen into problem situations. Are people falling through the net?

"After all, this child did fall through the net!"

Mrs Murphy responded by saying: "In terms of practice, what I can say for children's social care is that our doors are not closed and referrals are still coming in to us.

"We have staff in the building ready to go out when we get referrals saying a child is at risk.

"We are out there doing physical visits.

I meet weekly with CEOS and school headteachers, the schools are not forgetting about those children, teachers are in contact with children and families who they may feel are vulnerable.

We are absolutely clear we are not closed. If there is a risk out there and people make a referral we will be responding."

Cllr Muldowney accepted the reassurance, saying: "I am glad to hear you are more accessible than other services in the council where I am hearing people are difficult to get hold off."