How Could You? Hall of Shame-UK-Daisy Holmes case-Child Death
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK, in November 2013, adoptee Daisy Holmes, 16 “who had recently split from her boyfriend killed herself after claims she was raped by an older man and after being called the wrong name by her drunken birth father.”
“Daisy Holmes, 16, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who was fostered from the age of seven, took her own life following a string of difficulties despite being deemed not an ‘immediate suicide risk’.
The vulnerable teenager had a history of self-harming and was left needing intensive therapy by experts after being neglected and physically abused before she was adopted, aged 10.
However, she never received the therapy she needed and began self-harming during her time at secondary school.
Her adoptive parents, Carol and Ann Holmes, now feel she was ‘let down’ by social services, after she killed herself in November 2013, just five days after being dismissed as not at ‘immediate risk’.
A serious case review revealed that social services in Hull, East Yorkshire, offered a ‘fragmented’ approach to her care and said improvements could be made to ‘make the system better’.
Her mother, who took part in the review, said: ‘When she needed help, all the workers were really trying but there weren’t the services Daisy required. They didn’t seem to be talking to one another.
‘It would be nice to think changes will be made now.’
The review heard how Daisy started self-harming in January 2011 and while social services became more involved with the family, they didn’t tackle her problems.
In March 2012, the schoolgirl threatened to jump off a roof but police officers said she had no real intention to harm herself.
A year later, staff at Daisy’s school noticed she was self-harming after her former boyfriend sent her ‘unpleasant texts’.
Daisy, however, did sit all of her GCSEs and applied to join the Army as a medic, but her application was rejected.
Daisy’s adoptive parents, Carol and Ann Holmes, now feel she was ‘let down’ by social services, after she killed herself in November 2013 – just five days after being dismissed as not at ‘immediate risk’
Around the same time as sitting her GCSEs, she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary after being knocked down.
She admitted she had been smoking cannabis and emergency social workers were contacted. At the time, her parents expressed concern she was mixing ‘with the wrong crowd’.
Daisy was part of a group of young people arrested in June 2013 suspected of arson and burglary. While in custody, she threatened to kill herself and was again referred to the emergency team.
Shortly afterwards, she moved into a hostel in east Hull and was allocated a social worker from Hull City Council’s targeted youth service.
She told the worker she had been raped and was supported as she gave a statement.
Weeks later, she was contacted by her birth father and was ‘overwhelmed by excitement’ at meeting him on October 1.
However, he was drunk and she was devastated when he kept calling her the wrong name.
She self-harmed days later and was referred to children’s mental health services, known as CAMHS, run by Humber NHS Foundation Trust.
After breaking up with her boyfriend, Daisy attended a CAMHS assessment on November 11 but was not considered an ‘immediate suicide risk’. She took her own life five days later.
The inquest into her death last year, which returned a narrative verdict, heard the last text message she sent to her ex-boyfriend said: ‘This will be the last time I bother you.’
The serious case review stated: ‘There were many different services responding to her needs and providing help but at no time was there a multi-agency meeting to co-ordinate and agree one coherent plan.’
Rick Proctor, chairman of the Hull Safeguarding Children Board, said Daisy ‘touched the hearts of everyone’ but her death could ‘neither have been predicted nor prevented’.
He said: ‘The board is determined to ensure the learning identified is implemented as part of [Daisy’s] lasting legacy.
‘This will lead to improvements in services for other vulnerable young people in Hull.
‘This isn’t about blame but how to make the system better.’
Daisy’s parents now hope the findings will help to improve services for vulnerable young people.
Following the inquest into their adopted daughter’s death last March, they said:
‘We want children to be able to talk to each other about their thoughts and feelings and get them out in the open.
‘Suicide is a very taboo subject and we want there to be more awareness.’
Her adoptive mother added in a statement that Daisy had been a ‘victim since birth, who had a challenging relationship with her boyfriend, tensions with us, difficulties relating to professionals and disappointment over her career plans’.
She added: ‘Daisy was renowned for her sense of humour and ability to make people smile.
‘We are proud that she touched the lives of so many people she came into contact with; people who have shared with us the endearing impression she has left.
‘We have been overwhelmed and greatly comforted by the love and support from all.'”
[Daily Mail 12/4/15 by Emma Glanfield]
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