Kirklees Council official says social workers could not have predicted Shannon Matthews’ abduction

Jun 17 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COUNCIL staff could not have predicted Karen Matthews would abduct her daughter Shannon, a top official has said.

Kirklees head of children’s services Alison O’Sullivan took part in the serious case review into the council’s dealings with the family.

Yesterday she defended the council’s record. “Shannon’s abduction was an unusual, unexpected and challenging event,” she said.

“Very clearly, the serious case review says that actually it couldn’t have been predicted and it couldn’t have been prevented.

“The findings don’t reveal serious failings across the system but there are lessons to be learnt.”

Mrs O’Sullivan told reporters that “the threshold for removing the children” from their mother had not been met.

She added that disciplinary action against any social worker was “not considered appropriate”.

Mrs O’Sullivan said the review found Matthews was not always a neglectful mother.

“At times the parenting was acceptable, at times it fell below that standard and we intervened,” she said.

Dr Carole Smith, the author of the serious case review, agreed.

She said: “There was evidence that this mother was attached to her children and they were attached to her and there was a bond of affection between them.

“The mother found it difficult to interpret that affection into good practical parenting.”

Bron Sanders, who chaired the review, revealed that Matthews refused to take part in the investigation.

She said: “Some members of the family did take part, which was helpful. It would have been useful to talk to Karen but it’s her right to choose not to take part.”

Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell said: “I don’t think there’s anything in this report that would allow anyone to say they don’t have confidence in Kirklees social services.”

But he added: “The lesson that agencies need to talk to each other does need to be learned at some point.”

And Mr Reevell believes too much attention has been given to one family.

The Conservative said: “The story here is not that some members of one family behaved appallingly, it’s that lots and lots of families went out on cold nights to look for a missing girl. That says more about the community of Dewsbury Moor.”