Appropriate assessment ‘was not undertaken’ prior to Lola James’ death
The violent and unprovoked attack which resulted in the death of Haverfordwest toddler Lola James has come under scrutiny this week following the publication of a report by CYSUR (The Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Children Board).
The report highlights the domestic abuse to which the two-year-old had been subjected by her mother’s partner, Kyle Bevan, in the months leading up to her tragic death on July 21, 2020.
Four days earlier, Lola was found by ambulance staff having sustained over 100 injuries. These included a large haematoma to her forehead as well as swelling to her left cheek and lips. She was urine incontinent and her pupils were dilating at different levels and in different directions. She had suffered severe brain injuries.
The report, compiled by Emma Sutton, KC, makes reference to Lola’s attempts to vocalise the abuse she had suffered from Kyle Bevan, who had moved into the family home five months prior to the child's death. During the criminal trial of Bevan and Lola’s mother, Sinead James, there was evidence of the child spitting and crying whenever Bevan was near her.
Lola, states the report, should have been regarded as vulnerable, based on the information that was known about her domestic situation, and ‘a more robust’ approach in her care should have been adopted by the authorities.
The report states that the authority’s intervention in assessing Lola’s safety was wholly inadequate, despite her mother having been in a number of abusive relationships prior to meeting Bevan and despite both Bevan and James being made subject to significant inter-agency involvement.
Bevan was known to the police from at least March 2019, with police logs including domestic related incidents between himself and his own mother.
The CYSUR report states that Lola’s assessment by children’s services was lacking in content, detail and analysis. It had not been completed by the named social worker as a result of her being on sick leave, but instead had been opened on March 18 and closed on March 30, by the team manager. The report states that “to anyone looking at the system, these assessments would appear as if they had virtually no information in them.” However the team manager had explained that the assessment team was struggling under the pressure of what was described as ‘the relentless workload’ as well as a lack of staff.
The CYSUR report states it is ‘impossible for the system to work without sufficient numbers of staff’.
There were also a number of missed opportunities by the health visiting service and social services. Concern was raised at the agencies’ failure to communicate and share information concerning the domestic issues they had encountered at the family home. The agencies also failed to maintain consistent follow-ups whenever Lola exhibited signs of distress or abuse.
CYSUR has now called for:-
IMPROVED staff training;
IMPROVED inter-agency communication and consultation procedures;
IMPROVED systemic workload issues and
GUIDANCE for heads of service regarding additional funding requests.
In a statement following the report’s publication, Tessa Hodgson, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Social Care and Safeguarding, apologised to everyone who has been affected by Lola’s murder.
“This…has been an opportunity for the local authority to reflect on its practice and to learn from the observations contained in the independent report,” she said.
“The local authority takes extremely seriously its duties within the safeguarding arena, and places the protection and support of the most vulnerable in society as its key priority.
"While we would always strive to demonstrate good practice, there is always room for improvement.
“We hope that the report will contribute to wider ongoing learning and improvement in relation to a number of safeguarding issues across all agencies.”
On April 25, 2023, following their trial at Swansea Crown Court, Sinead James was convicted of causing or allowing Lola’s death, while Kyle Bevan was convicted of Lola’s murder. The mother was sentenced to six years imprisonment and Bevan was jailed for life. He must serve at least 28 years in custody.
Imposing sentence, the judge said that Lola James’ death was a culmination of several months of physical child abuse at the hands of Kyle Bevan.
Appropriate assessment ‘was not undertaken’ prior to Lola James’ death
The violent and unprovoked attack which resulted in the death of Haverfordwest toddler Lola James has come under scrutiny this week following the publication of a report by CYSUR (The Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Children Board).
The report highlights the domestic abuse to which the two-year-old had been subjected by her mother’s partner, Kyle Bevan, in the months leading up to her tragic death on July 21, 2020.
Four days earlier, Lola was found by ambulance staff having sustained over 100 injuries. These included a large haematoma to her forehead as well as swelling to her left cheek and lips. She was urine incontinent and her pupils were dilating at different levels and in different directions. She had suffered severe brain injuries.
The report, compiled by Emma Sutton, KC, makes reference to Lola’s attempts to vocalise the abuse she had suffered from Kyle Bevan, who had moved into the family home five months prior to the child's death. During the criminal trial of Bevan and Lola’s mother, Sinead James, there was evidence of the child spitting and crying whenever Bevan was near her.
Lola, states the report, should have been regarded as vulnerable, based on the information that was known about her domestic situation, and ‘a more robust’ approach in her care should have been adopted by the authorities.
The report states that the authority’s intervention in assessing Lola’s safety was wholly inadequate, despite her mother having been in a number of abusive relationships prior to meeting Bevan and despite both Bevan and James being made subject to significant inter-agency involvement.
Bevan was known to the police from at least March 2019, with police logs including domestic related incidents between himself and his own mother.
The CYSUR report states that Lola’s assessment by children’s services was lacking in content, detail and analysis. It had not been completed by the named social worker as a result of her being on sick leave, but instead had been opened on March 18 and closed on March 30, by the team manager. The report states that “to anyone looking at the system, these assessments would appear as if they had virtually no information in them.” However the team manager had explained that the assessment team was struggling under the pressure of what was described as ‘the relentless workload’ as well as a lack of staff.
The CYSUR report states it is ‘impossible for the system to work without sufficient numbers of staff’.
There were also a number of missed opportunities by the health visiting service and social services. Concern was raised at the agencies’ failure to communicate and share information concerning the domestic issues they had encountered at the family home. The agencies also failed to maintain consistent follow-ups whenever Lola exhibited signs of distress or abuse.
CYSUR has now called for:-
IMPROVED staff training;
IMPROVED inter-agency communication and consultation procedures;
IMPROVED systemic workload issues and
GUIDANCE for heads of service regarding additional funding requests.
In a statement following the report’s publication, Tessa Hodgson, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Social Care and Safeguarding, apologised to everyone who has been affected by Lola’s murder.
“This…has been an opportunity for the local authority to reflect on its practice and to learn from the observations contained in the independent report,” she said.
“The local authority takes extremely seriously its duties within the safeguarding arena, and places the protection and support of the most vulnerable in society as its key priority.
"While we would always strive to demonstrate good practice, there is always room for improvement.
“We hope that the report will contribute to wider ongoing learning and improvement in relation to a number of safeguarding issues across all agencies.”
On April 25, 2023, following their trial at Swansea Crown Court, Sinead James was convicted of causing or allowing Lola’s death, while Kyle Bevan was convicted of Lola’s murder. The mother was sentenced to six years imprisonment and Bevan was jailed for life. He must serve at least 28 years in custody.
Imposing sentence, the judge said that Lola James’ death was a culmination of several months of physical child abuse at the hands of Kyle Bevan.