Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Solihull child protection services to be inspected by Ofsted next week

Ofsted will be inspecting care, education, health, police and probation services in Solihull
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The Chief inspector of Ofsted said an investigation into child protection services in Solihull following the murder of Arthur Labinjo Hughes is due to start next week.

Arthur had been seen by social workers just two months before his death, but they concluded there were “no safeguarding concerns”.

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The Government has announced a major review into the circumstances which led to the murder of the six-year-old.

The review will aim to determine what improvements are needed by the agencies that came into contact with Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in the months before he was murdered by stepmother Emma Tustin at their home in Solihull.

His father Thomas Hughes has been jailed for manslaughter.

Emma Tustin (right) was found guilty of Arthur's murder, while Thomas Hughes (left) was found guilty of his manslaughter, after encouraging the killingEmma Tustin (right) was found guilty of Arthur's murder, while Thomas Hughes (left) was found guilty of his manslaughter, after encouraging the killing
Emma Tustin (right) was found guilty of Arthur's murder, while Thomas Hughes (left) was found guilty of his manslaughter, after encouraging the killing

The Government has also separately commissioned four inspectorates, covering social care, health, police and probation to undertake an urgent inspection of the safeguarding agencies in Solihull to whom Arthur was known.

Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of Ofsted told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “What’s important is getting the right focus on how people are working.

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“Alongside the investigation into the particular circumstances of poor Arthur’s death, we’ve been asked to lead a joint targeted area inspection, looking at all of the services that are involved with child protection in Solihull.

“So that’s not just care and education, but also health, police, probation. It’s not an investigation of the case itself, which is a separate piece of work, but we’ll be looking at how those services jointly are dealing with child protection at the moment and what improvements can be made.”

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