The council responsible for keeping murdered toddler Star Hobson safe has had children’s social services removed from its control.
Bradford council had been alerted to problems by Star’s relatives before the 16-month-old was killed by her mum’s girlfriend.
But killer Savannah Brockhill and Star’s mum Frankie Smith persuaded social workers that marks on the toddler were accidental or that the complaints were made maliciously by people who did not like their same sex relationship.
The government announced today that a trust would now take on children’s social services to ‘drive rapid improvements’.
It will be owned by the council but run at ‘arms-length’, with a new independent chairman and board of directors.
The Government said the decision followed ‘positive’ talks with council leaders, who had ‘voluntarily agreed to the move’.
It comes after its children’s services department was rated ‘inadequate’ by the watchdog Ofsted in 2018.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: ‘Keeping vulnerable children safe from harm is non-negotiable. Where a council is not meeting its duty to do this, we will take action to protect children and put their needs first.’
He said it was clear from recommendations made by Bradford’s children’s commissioner that the council needed ‘support to improve’, and that independent oversight would help with this.
He continued: ‘This is an important moment for children and families in Bradford, and for social workers and other professionals who want to create meaningful and effective relationships with them.
‘These professionals take highly complex decisions each day to protect children and I am grateful for the effort that goes into each one.’
On Monday, the review into agencies’ involvement with Star before her death was delayed.
The review was due to be published at the end of January but has been pushed back for further work, including making sure that Star’s family’s views are fully reflected.
Bouncer and security guard Savannah Brockhill, 28, was jailed for life at Bradford Crown Court in December for murdering Star at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire in September 2020.
Star’s mother Frankie Smith, 20, was sentenced to eight years for causing or allowing the youngster’s death.
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