Safeguarding: Case Studies of Victoria Climbie and Daniel Pelka

The concept of child maltreatment is generally defined as a mixture of harmful behaviours which are particularly directed against children. The case studies of Victoria Climbie and Daniel Pelka highlight the need for effective child protection policies and legislation. Changes in law and policy have been made after these tragedies to improve child protection in the UK.

Safeguarding.

Table of Content.
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CASE 1............................................................................................................................................3
Brief overview of case as published in media.............................................................................3
Key events linked with case.........................................................................................................4
Case scenario linked with safeguarding and child protection......................................................4
Changes in law and policy due to this tragedy............................................................................5
CASE 2............................................................................................................................................5
Brief overview of case as published in media.............................................................................5
Key events linked with case.........................................................................................................5
Case scenario linked with safeguarding and child protection......................................................6
Changes in law and policy due to this tragedy............................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The concept of child maltreatment is generally defined as a mixture of harmful
behaviours which are particularly directed against children (Child abuse, 2021). The child
maltreatment can take various forms. The concept of child maltreatment in general is a
psychological issues or the perversion of an abuser. Whereas, an abuser is specifically referred to
as a offender of an abuse. In this, any of the intentional mistreatment or harm to a child who is
under 18 years old is considered as a child abuse. It can take various forms that may occur at
similar time duration such as sexual maltreatment, physical maltreatment, medical maltreatment,
emotional maltreatment and neglect as well. In addition to this, the children who are abused can
feel confused, guilty or ashamed as well. The children often feel afraid to tell anyone about their
mistreatment or abuse, more specifically with their parents. So, it is quite important for parents to
look after their children and watch for the crucial signs and symptoms of it such as alterations in
behaviour, anxiety, depression, self-harm, loss of self-confidence and many more. In UK, it is
determined that about 6% of total children who are under age of 11 years, 20% of the children
involve age group of 11 to 17 years and about 25% of the young adults among age group of 18 to
24 years had experienced major harm or maltreatment at some of points during their childhood
(Child abuse extent and nature, England and Wales: year ending March 2019, 2020). There are
some of the protection act against the child abuse that can help the children to reduce the
unwanted abuse across country such as The Children Act 1989, Children and Social Work Act
2017 and many more. In this report, there is a discussion about the case studies that include story
of some of the children about their child abuse. In addition to this, there is also a discussion
about the articles linked with case studies to know more about the case scenarios and provided
with some recommendations to overcome the child abuse across United Kingdom.

MAIN BODY
CASE 1
Overview of case scenario published within media.
Article 1.
Victoria Adjo Climbie was a 8-year-old, Ivorian girl, she was generally tortured as well
as murdered by her boyfriend and great-aunt. Death of Victoria Adjo Climbie significantly lead
to a public enquiry and has produced a great alterations in the child protection legislations and
policies as well within UK. In this, the media reporting has specifically deep-mined the efficacy
of the social care work over the years, but can the tides be change? Says, John Carvel, editor of
Guardian social affairs generally point to the recent case of Victoria Climbie and generally
senses a mood alteration towards the profession. In this, when the parents of Victoria were
generally found cleared of assert of maltreatment, the social care providers were chastise as an
anti-family meddlers who specifically interfere too, and avoiding the real interest of the children.
In addition to this, the Victoria was generally let down as much by the healthcare staff workers
as well as the police man as three social care service departments which help her files (Blame
culture, 2022).
Article 2.
it is identified from the case scenario that those who take on the work of protecting the
children who are at risk of intentional injury can face a hard as well as challenging task. The staff
who do such works specifically need an effective professional skills as well as personal qualities,
not least of which are persistence as well as courage. The adults who intentionally exploit the
exposure of the children can specifically behave in untrusty as well as minatory manner. In
addition to this, from the death of Victoria, the agencies as well as the child services in the case

were broadly criticised. The case scenario of Victoria has amounted to shocking tale of an
individual professional failure as well as the systemic incompetence. There were some of the
weaknesses which has significantly led to same mistakes, having the similar missed chances to
save the tortured lives of the vulnerable children.
Key events linked with case.
After troubled months of the tragic maltreatment, Victoria Adjo Climbie was died just 8
on the 25th February, 2000. Nearly about past 18 months, her parents had sent her for their place
in a shanty town within Ivory Coast in order to live with her great-aunt in a hope that she will get
some good education or can enhance her skills and understanding as well as enjoy a better life.
Victoria was beaten up with a bicycle chain and her great-aunt had kept tied up in a plastic sack
in a dark, unheated bathroom. Victoria's great-aunt was found guilty of her murder at the Old
Bailey in the year 2001, January. Victoria Adjo Climbie lived with Kouao and her boyfriend in
his small flat studio in the Tottenham, North London. The Kouao who a French citizen, forever
negate mistreating the girl, whom she called Anna and generally claimed the horrendous harms
of the girl were self-inflicted. In addition to this, she also resistance her niece to a church to be
exorcize and assertion that the 8-year-old was obsessed by the evil spirits (Inquiry Data Corpus
Online, 2001). Up to death of Victoria Climbié, the police, department of social services of four
local authorities, NHS, local churches and the national society for the prevention of cruelty to
children (NSPCC), these all had contacts with Victoria Climbié and had noted the signs of abuse.
Case scenario linked with safeguarding and child protection.
As per the case scenario of Victoria Climbié, there must be used the Child Protection Act
1989 so that the abuse or maltreatment of the child can be effectively overcome. There were no
following of legislations and policies regarding child abuse which led to death of Victoria

Climbié. Her death can lead to a public enquiry as well as has produced some major alterations
within the child protection policies across United Kingdom. In the report of starvation, torture
and an ultimate murder of Victoria Climbe, Lord Laming generally notable that any of the
particular case of a child abuse or injury to a child is mainly a serious as well as potentially fatal
situation which the generally deserves the same quality of diagnosis as well as the care treatment
as a brain tumor or a cardiovascular illness. In this, he mainly points over the value of accurate
written records, the happening plans as well as a better information system. In addition to this,
the proposed new national as well as the local managerial structures must enhance the
supervision, the skilfulness as well as responsibility (Hart, Brassard and Wernham, 2022).
Changes in law and policy due to this tragedy.
After the death of Victoria Climbié, she was mainly responsible for the specific
alterations within the child Protection in England, containing the manufacture of a programme
named “Every Child Matters”. In this, an inaugural is generally planned to enhance the lives of
various children, a section of the Child Act 2004, an Act of the Legislative assembly which gives
the base of legislations for various reforms. In addition to this, there is a artefact of Contact-
point, which is a database generally planned to hold the evidences over every children across
England and Wales. Furthermore, the artefact of the post of children's administrator, who
generally heads the office of the children's administrator, that is a federal agency that
significantly serves numerous children and their families (Child services reforms after Climbié
death are hampering efforts, says watchdog, 2008).
CASE 2
Overview of case as published within media.
Article 1.

Daniel Pelka was murdered by his mother, named Magdelena Luczak and her partner in
the March 2012, can follow a period of continuous abuse. On the day of his murder, the
postmertum exhibit the cause of death was a major harm on his head. Daniel was generally 4
year and 8 months old when he died on the 3rd of March in 2012. In this, for at least 6 months
earlier to his death, he had been malnourished, neglected, assaulted and abused. And, his elder
sister was specifically expected to illustrate away her younger brother's injuries as accidental. In
addition to this, his mother and his step-father, they both acted collectively to impose the pain as
well as troubled on him and generally were condemned of a murder in the year 2013 August and
both were conviction to about 30 years of punishment (Serious case review re Daniel Pelka:
born 15th July 2007 died 3rd March 2012: overview report, 2013).
Article 2.
The educators, social care workers, police officers as well as the healthcare professionals
generally treated a 4-year-old boy as if he was invisible for them, they fail to prevent Daniel’s
mother and his step father from murdering him after a campaign of torture as well as starvation.
In addition to this, a serious case was published on Tuesday which could find no specific records
of any of the communication that the healthcare professionals had with Daniel about his personal
life at home. There is no discussion about his feelings or his personal relationships with his
mother and with his step-father (Daniel Pelka: Professionals failed 'invisible' murdered boy,
report says, 2013).
Key events linked with case.
The key events that are specifically linked with the case scenario was that his post-
mortem report exhibit that he had a major injury over his head. In this, the father of Daniel had
brought the house to the United Kingdom in the year 2005 as well as stay with the family until

his return to the Poland in the year 2008. In this, during the specific time period, the very first
incidence of abuse took place. Both the adults were inebriated as well as violent and Luczak was
generally pregnant with Daniel. From that first incidence of the domestic violence and till 2011,
the police have responded up to 27 reported case of domestic violence incidents. Most of these
such were fuelled by the alcohol as well as involved violence that can sometimes outcomes in the
injuries to Luczak. In addition to this, Daniel’s mother is suffering from psychological state and
was regularly abusing the alcohol, on the very two occasions she took an overdose and which
resulting in the treatment in healthcare organization. Despite all the challenges, both Daniel and
his elder sibling Anna do attend schools but some problems generally start to begin with regard
their attendance as well as injuries caused to his brain. In this, Daniel was generally known to be
withdrawn as well as solemn, exhibiting less interactions with other children. And, his main
issue was specifically the barriers caused by the language he uses as he knew less English than a
2 and half year-old child knows (STAFFORDSHIRE & STOKE-ON-TRENT SAFEGUARDING
CHILDREN BOARDS, 2013).
Case scenario linked with safeguarding and child protection.
In context with child protection and safeguarding , if an maltreatment or neglect is known
or suspected to be a factor in the child's death, it can need that the Local Safeguarding Children
Board must always conduct a major case review into an engagement of the organization as well
as the care professionals in the lives of both the children and their families and however in
response to this guidance, Exclusion Local Safeguarding Children Board generally accredited a
serious case review which follows the Daniel tragic death (Donnelly, 2019). The Daniel’s case
was highlighting the significant urgent requirement for the new legislations needed the
mandatory reporting of the child abuse for people who can work with children.

Changes in law and policy due to this tragedy.
As per the case scenario, there is urgent requirement for the new legislations needed the
compulsory reporting of a child maltreatment for the people who generally work with children,
as already exists in various other countries as of year 2012. In addition to this, every people is
required to understand such critical hole of the legislations, there is currently no legal needs of
each of the working people with children to report the suspected or the known abuse to either an
appropriate local government. Although, the child maltreatment is a crime, and reporting it is
incredibly, entirely unrestricted. In addition to this, the compulsory reporting legislations not
only aid protect the vulnerable children, they can also provide the staff essential legislative
empowerment when confronted with surpassing challenging conditions. In this, the time and a
serious case review can exhibit that the staff are specifically aware the child maltreatment is
happening but generally fail to report it for various reasons, consisting the anxiety of in some
manner getting it wrong, being proprietary a trouble maker or a whistle-blower etc. In addition to
this, Daniel was significantly troubled to survive in a full view of staff at his institution and no
other person has interfere to aid him efficiently. And if the mandatory reporting legislations had
been placed, then the system would not have unsuccessful him as it so tragical did (Holmes,
2022).
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is concluded that the child abuse can make a negative
impact over the lives of children. Safeguarding is generally an action which is effectively taken
to promote the well-being and welfare of every children as well as protect them from causing
harm. It specifically means protecting the children from maltreatment and abuse. It is analysed
that there are some of the legislations that can help the child free from abuse and maltreatment.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Donnelly, S., 2019. Mandatory reporting and adult safeguarding: A rapid realist review. The
Journal of Adult Protection.
Franklin, A. and Goff, S., 2019. Listening and facilitating all forms of communication: Disabled
children and young people in residential care in England. Child Care in Practice, 25(1),
pp.99-111.
Hart, S.N., Brassard, M.R. and Wernham, M., 2022. Psychological Maltreatment: A Threat to
Children Not to Be Ignored. In Handbook of Child Maltreatment (pp. 93-115). Springer,
Cham.
Holmes, D., 2022. Transitional Safeguarding: The Case for Change. Practice, 34(1), pp.7-23.
Merkel-Holguin, L., Fuller, T., Winokur, M., Drury, I. and Lonne, B., 2019. How can differential
response inform a public health approach to child maltreatment prevention?. In Re-
visioning public health approaches for protecting children (pp. 181-196). Springer, Cham.
Penhale, B. and Parker, J., 2020. Adults at risk of abuse. Human Growth and Development in
Adults: Theoretical and Practice Perspectives, Policy Press, Bristol, pp.269-287.
Online:
Blame culture, 2022 [Online] Available through:
<https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/may/21/guardiansocietysupplement8>
Child abuse extent and nature, England and Wales: year ending March 2019, 2020 [Online]
Available through:
<https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/
childabuseextentandnatureenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2019#:~:text=It
%20estimated%20that%206%25%20of,at%20some%20point%20during%20childhood.>
Child abuse, 2021 [Online] Available through: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/child-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20370864>
Child services reforms after Climbié death are hampering efforts, says watchdog, 2008 [Online]
Available through: <https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/oct/29/victoria-climbie-
children-services-reform>
Serious case review re Daniel Pelka: born 15th July 2007 died 3rd March 2012: overview
report, 2013 [Online] Available through:
<https://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/serious-case-review-re-daniel-pelka-born15th-
july-2007-died-3rd-march-2012-overview-report/r/a11G0000002W3m7IAC>
STAFFORDSHIRE & STOKE-ON-TRENT SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARDS, 2013
[Online] Available through:
<https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/cme/DocMan1/Corporate%20Business
%20and%20Partnerships/Safeguarding/Serious--Case-Review---Daniel-Pelka.pdf>
Victoria Climbié Inquiry Data Corpus Online, 2001 [Online] Available through:
<http://victoriaclimbie.hud.ac.uk/background.html>

Daniel Pelka: Professionals failed 'invisible' murdered boy, report says, 2013 [Online] Available
through: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/17/professionals-failed-report-daniel-
pelka