Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Isabel Richardson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, written 28 Aug 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report28 Aug 2015
DeceasedIsabel Richardson
CoronerJacqueline Lake
Coroner areaNorfolk
CategoryOther related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

Mr Tom Leverage
Head Teacher
Hewett School
Cecil Road
Norwich

NR 2PL

CORONER

| am JACQUELINE LAKE, senior coroner, for the coroner area of NORFOLK

CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 18 May 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of ISABEL ANN
RICHARDSON, AGE 12 YEARS. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest
on 26 AUGUST 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was Medical Cause of Death: 1a)
Hypoxic Brain Injury b) Cardiac Arrest c) Hanging and Conclusion: Isabel Richardson
took her own life. Her intention at the time was not known.

Isabel's mother died in 2010. Isabel started at Hewett High School in September 2014.
In April 2015 Isabel was found to be self-harming by cutting her arms and legs. She told
school staff and her father she was missing her mother and her step-mother. She was
referred to Nelson's Journey Charity and a Counsellor for help. The school were
telephoned by a parent of a concerned friend after seeing pictures posted on social
media, informing them of Isabel self-harming. On the morning of Isabel's death the
school were again telephoned by a parent about a post made by Isabel on social media
indicating she may kill herself. The school contacted Isabel's father and indicated the
appointment with Nelson's Journey would be chased up. Isabel had failed to attend one
appointment with the Counsellor. It was not clear from the evidence why this was. An
appointment was made with the Counsellor for the next day. It was not clear from the
evidence Isabel had been made aware of this.

CORONER'S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

(1) A Pastoral Team were in place at the School but it was not clear from the evidence
as to.their purpose, how they worked or whether they were trained in the role they were

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH ;
expected to perform;

(2) It was not clear that the Pastoral system was robust or structured enough to deal with
the problems that Isabel presented.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your
organisation has the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 30 October 2015. I, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action..Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons QE and to the LOCAL SAFEGUARDING BOARD. | have
also sent it ((@MA ssistant Head of Democratic Services, Norfolk County
Council, who may find it useful or of interest.

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

28 August 2015

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