2 Dec 2022 Melsadie Adella-Rae Parris · Prevention of Future Deaths report Buckinghamshire
View report summary
Concerns raised 6 Failure to conduct renewed home visits during child-safety reassessment View source Undue reliance on mental health professionals’ opinions in child-safety assessment View source Failure to obtain updated information from the family during child-safety reassessment View source Failure to ensure accurate and complete independent review findings are reflected in published case-learning conclusions View source Failure to liaise with the mental health team during child-safety reassessment View source Reliance on old irrelevant investigations in child-safety reassessment View source See 3 more concerns
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements No action or position from this recipient is clearly linked to the concerns in this report.
×
AI-generated summary
Melsadie Adella-Rae Parris · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Melsadie Adella-Rae Parris, aged three, died on 18 February 2019 after being struck by a fast non-stopping train at Taplow Railway Station while being held by her adult carer, who also died in a deliberate act of self-harm. The principal concern was that children’s services did not adequately respond to information about the carer’s deteriorating mental health: they did not renew a home visit, seek updated family information, or liaise with mental health services, despite existing guidance encouraging those actions.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Buckinghamshire Council; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to conduct renewed home visits during child-safety reassessment
Wider context from the report “In the course of the investigation and in evidence in the inquest I found that the social work staff in the childrens services were informed on 9th January 2019 by two separate persons, ████████ that the adult with daily care of Melsadie had spoken to Melsadie in terms of describing her as evil. On checking with the adult carer, that person admitted to the social worker that the reports were true. The social work team knew that the adult carer had previously been referred to them by emergency services as a result of genuine and valid concerns about the carer’s mental health such that the carer was suffering from psychosis. The team had removed Melsadie appropriately while awaiting a mental health assessment, which was completed without knowledge of the carer’s remark and before the remark was known to children’s services. The mental health assessment found that the carer was not psychotic, an opinion which was appropriate on the day of assessment. The social work team had earlier conducted an investigation around an older matter of concern involving Melsadie, but this was unrelated to the mental health of her adult carer, and it had arisen two calendar months before the mental health crisis. In respect of that initial concern the social worker had concluded reasonably that there was no evidence to justify the removal of Melsadie nor continuing concern for her safety, but for logistical reasons their file remained open at the time of the new concerns around the carer’s metal health. However the team based their review on investigations conducted some months before the mental health concerns arose and before the remark about evil was made. The team did not conduct a renewed visit to the home , nor seek update information from the family, nor liaise with the mental health team. It is likely that if they had done so they would have discovered more detail of the extent of the carer’s mental illness which was indicative of paranoia with depression, linked to concealment of ongoing episodic psychosis. It is possible that a further mental health assessment would have been sought, and arrangements made to remove Melsadie from the custody of the carer.
I found that existing guidance and policy recognised and encouraged the need to engage with family to gather information, to make home visits, to liaise with mental health and to treat assessment decisions and verification of file closure as dynamic processes requiring rigorous scrutiny.
However, despite the existence of this guidance, the team placed undue reliance on the opinion of the mental health professionals and on old irrelevant investigations. Furthermore, although the department commissioned an independent review of the case, this found that the death could not have been predicted (which I accept), but tended to emphasise perceived shortcomings in the mental health professionals work, without acknowledging the above concerns. In addition it contained factual inaccuracies, such as a failure to identify the revelations of 9th January 2019. The review report was withheld, following complaints by the family as to matters of fact, but the council decided nonetheless to publish an executive summary which maintained the partial reflection of the review conclusions. I am concerned that by so doing the department will persist in a view that its team did not fail to adhere to its own guidance and good practice.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Buckinghamshire Council; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Undue reliance on mental health professionals’ opinions in child-safety assessment
Wider context from the report “In the course of the investigation and in evidence in the inquest I found that the social work staff in the childrens services were informed on 9th January 2019 by two separate persons, ████████ that the adult with daily care of Melsadie had spoken to Melsadie in terms of describing her as evil. On checking with the adult carer, that person admitted to the social worker that the reports were true. The social work team knew that the adult carer had previously been referred to them by emergency services as a result of genuine and valid concerns about the carer’s mental health such that the carer was suffering from psychosis. The team had removed Melsadie appropriately while awaiting a mental health assessment, which was completed without knowledge of the carer’s remark and before the remark was known to children’s services. The mental health assessment found that the carer was not psychotic, an opinion which was appropriate on the day of assessment. The social work team had earlier conducted an investigation around an older matter of concern involving Melsadie, but this was unrelated to the mental health of her adult carer, and it had arisen two calendar months before the mental health crisis. In respect of that initial concern the social worker had concluded reasonably that there was no evidence to justify the removal of Melsadie nor continuing concern for her safety, but for logistical reasons their file remained open at the time of the new concerns around the carer’s metal health. However the team based their review on investigations conducted some months before the mental health concerns arose and before the remark about evil was made. The team did not conduct a renewed visit to the home, nor seek update information from the family, nor liaise with the mental health team. It is likely that if they had done so they would have discovered more detail of the extent of the carer’s mental illness which was indicative of paranoia with depression, linked to concealment of ongoing episodic psychosis. It is possible that a further mental health assessment would have been sought, and arrangements made to remove Melsadie from the custody of the carer.
I found that existing guidance and policy recognised and encouraged the need to engage with family to gather information, to make home visits, to liaise with mental health and to treat assessment decisions and verification of file closure as dynamic processes requiring rigorous scrutiny.
However, despite the existence of this guidance, the team placed undue reliance on the opinion of the mental health professionals and on old irrelevant investigations. Furthermore, although the department commissioned an independent review of the case, this found that the death could not have been predicted (which I accept), but tended to emphasise perceived shortcomings in the mental health professionals work, without acknowledging the above concerns. In addition it contained factual inaccuracies, such as a failure to identify the revelations of 9th January 2019. The review report was withheld, following complaints by the family as to matters of fact, but the council decided nonetheless to publish an executive summary which maintained the partial reflection of the review conclusions. I am concerned that by so doing the department will persist in a view that its team did not fail to adhere to its own guidance and good practice.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Buckinghamshire Council; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to obtain updated information from the family during child-safety reassessment
Wider context from the report “In the course of the investigation and in evidence in the inquest I found that the social work staff in the childrens services were informed on 9th January 2019 by two separate persons, ████████ that the adult with daily care of Melsadie had spoken to Melsadie in terms of describing her as evil. On checking with the adult carer, that person admitted to the social worker that the reports were true. The social work team knew that the adult carer had previously been referred to them by emergency services as a result of genuine and valid concerns about the carer’s mental health such that the carer was suffering from psychosis. The team had removed Melsadie appropriately while awaiting a mental health assessment, which was completed without knowledge of the carer’s remark and before the remark was known to children’s services. The mental health assessment found that the carer was not psychotic, an opinion which was appropriate on the day of assessment. The social work team had earlier conducted an investigation around an older matter of concern involving Melsadie, but this was unrelated to the mental health of her adult carer, and it had arisen two calendar months before the mental health crisis. In respect of that initial concern the social worker had concluded reasonably that there was no evidence to justify the removal of Melsadie nor continuing concern for her safety, but for logistical reasons their file remained open at the time of the new concerns around the carer’s metal health. However the team based their review on investigations conducted some months before the mental health concerns arose and before the remark about evil was made. The team did not conduct a renewed visit to the home, nor seek update information from the family , nor liaise with the mental health team. It is likely that if they had done so they would have discovered more detail of the extent of the carer’s mental illness which was indicative of paranoia with depression, linked to concealment of ongoing episodic psychosis. It is possible that a further mental health assessment would have been sought, and arrangements made to remove Melsadie from the custody of the carer.
I found that existing guidance and policy recognised and encouraged the need to engage with family to gather information, to make home visits, to liaise with mental health and to treat assessment decisions and verification of file closure as dynamic processes requiring rigorous scrutiny.
However, despite the existence of this guidance, the team placed undue reliance on the opinion of the mental health professionals and on old irrelevant investigations. Furthermore, although the department commissioned an independent review of the case, this found that the death could not have been predicted (which I accept), but tended to emphasise perceived shortcomings in the mental health professionals work, without acknowledging the above concerns. In addition it contained factual inaccuracies, such as a failure to identify the revelations of 9th January 2019. The review report was withheld, following complaints by the family as to matters of fact, but the council decided nonetheless to publish an executive summary which maintained the partial reflection of the review conclusions. I am concerned that by so doing the department will persist in a view that its team did not fail to adhere to its own guidance and good practice.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Buckinghamshire Council; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to ensure accurate and complete independent review findings are reflected in published case-learning conclusions
Wider context from the report “In the course of the investigation and in evidence in the inquest I found that the social work staff in the childrens services were informed on 9th January 2019 by two separate persons, ████████ that the adult with daily care of Melsadie had spoken to Melsadie in terms of describing her as evil. On checking with the adult carer, that person admitted to the social worker that the reports were true. The social work team knew that the adult carer had previously been referred to them by emergency services as a result of genuine and valid concerns about the carer’s mental health such that the carer was suffering from psychosis. The team had removed Melsadie appropriately while awaiting a mental health assessment, which was completed without knowledge of the carer’s remark and before the remark was known to children’s services. The mental health assessment found that the carer was not psychotic, an opinion which was appropriate on the day of assessment. The social work team had earlier conducted an investigation around an older matter of concern involving Melsadie, but this was unrelated to the mental health of her adult carer, and it had arisen two calendar months before the mental health crisis. In respect of that initial concern the social worker had concluded reasonably that there was no evidence to justify the removal of Melsadie nor continuing concern for her safety, but for logistical reasons their file remained open at the time of the new concerns around the carer’s metal health. However the team based their review on investigations conducted some months before the mental health concerns arose and before the remark about evil was made. The team did not conduct a renewed visit to the home, nor seek update information from the family, nor liaise with the mental health team. It is likely that if they had done so they would have discovered more detail of the extent of the carer’s mental illness which was indicative of paranoia with depression, linked to concealment of ongoing episodic psychosis. It is possible that a further mental health assessment would have been sought, and arrangements made to remove Melsadie from the custody of the carer.
I found that existing guidance and policy recognised and encouraged the need to engage with family to gather information, to make home visits, to liaise with mental health and to treat assessment decisions and verification of file closure as dynamic processes requiring rigorous scrutiny.
However, despite the existence of this guidance, the team placed undue reliance on the opinion of the mental health professionals and on old irrelevant investigations. Furthermore, although the department commissioned an independent review of the case, this found that the death could not have been predicted (which I accept), but tended to emphasise perceived shortcomings in the mental health professionals work, without acknowledging the above concerns. In addition it contained factual inaccuracies, such as a failure to identify the revelations of 9th January 2019. The review report was withheld, following complaints by the family as to matters of fact, but the council decided nonetheless to publish an executive summary which maintained the partial reflection of the review conclusions . I am concerned that by so doing the department will persist in a view that its team did not fail to adhere to its own guidance and good practice .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Buckinghamshire Council; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to liaise with the mental health team during child-safety reassessment
Wider context from the report “In the course of the investigation and in evidence in the inquest I found that the social work staff in the childrens services were informed on 9th January 2019 by two separate persons, ████████ that the adult with daily care of Melsadie had spoken to Melsadie in terms of describing her as evil. On checking with the adult carer, that person admitted to the social worker that the reports were true. The social work team knew that the adult carer had previously been referred to them by emergency services as a result of genuine and valid concerns about the carer’s mental health such that the carer was suffering from psychosis. The team had removed Melsadie appropriately while awaiting a mental health assessment, which was completed without knowledge of the carer’s remark and before the remark was known to children’s services. The mental health assessment found that the carer was not psychotic, an opinion which was appropriate on the day of assessment. The social work team had earlier conducted an investigation around an older matter of concern involving Melsadie, but this was unrelated to the mental health of her adult carer, and it had arisen two calendar months before the mental health crisis. In respect of that initial concern the social worker had concluded reasonably that there was no evidence to justify the removal of Melsadie nor continuing concern for her safety, but for logistical reasons their file remained open at the time of the new concerns around the carer’s metal health. However the team based their review on investigations conducted some months before the mental health concerns arose and before the remark about evil was made. The team did not conduct a renewed visit to the home, nor seek update information from the family, nor liaise with the mental health team . It is likely that if they had done so they would have discovered more detail of the extent of the carer’s mental illness which was indicative of paranoia with depression, linked to concealment of ongoing episodic psychosis. It is possible that a further mental health assessment would have been sought, and arrangements made to remove Melsadie from the custody of the carer.
I found that existing guidance and policy recognised and encouraged the need to engage with family to gather information, to make home visits, to liaise with mental health and to treat assessment decisions and verification of file closure as dynamic processes requiring rigorous scrutiny.
However, despite the existence of this guidance, the team placed undue reliance on the opinion of the mental health professionals and on old irrelevant investigations. Furthermore, although the department commissioned an independent review of the case, this found that the death could not have been predicted (which I accept), but tended to emphasise perceived shortcomings in the mental health professionals work, without acknowledging the above concerns. In addition it contained factual inaccuracies, such as a failure to identify the revelations of 9th January 2019. The review report was withheld, following complaints by the family as to matters of fact, but the council decided nonetheless to publish an executive summary which maintained the partial reflection of the review conclusions. I am concerned that by so doing the department will persist in a view that its team did not fail to adhere to its own guidance and good practice.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Buckinghamshire Council; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Reliance on old irrelevant investigations in child-safety reassessment
Wider context from the report “In the course of the investigation and in evidence in the inquest I found that the social work staff in the childrens services were informed on 9th January 2019 by two separate persons, ████████ that the adult with daily care of Melsadie had spoken to Melsadie in terms of describing her as evil. On checking with the adult carer, that person admitted to the social worker that the reports were true. The social work team knew that the adult carer had previously been referred to them by emergency services as a result of genuine and valid concerns about the carer’s mental health such that the carer was suffering from psychosis. The team had removed Melsadie appropriately while awaiting a mental health assessment, which was completed without knowledge of the carer’s remark and before the remark was known to children’s services. The mental health assessment found that the carer was not psychotic, an opinion which was appropriate on the day of assessment. The social work team had earlier conducted an investigation around an older matter of concern involving Melsadie, but this was unrelated to the mental health of her adult carer, and it had arisen two calendar months before the mental health crisis. In respect of that initial concern the social worker had concluded reasonably that there was no evidence to justify the removal of Melsadie nor continuing concern for her safety, but for logistical reasons their file remained open at the time of the new concerns around the carer’s metal health. However the team based their review on investigations conducted some months before the mental health concerns arose and before the remark about evil was made . The team did not conduct a renewed visit to the home, nor seek update information from the family, nor liaise with the mental health team. It is likely that if they had done so they would have discovered more detail of the extent of the carer’s mental illness which was indicative of paranoia with depression, linked to concealment of ongoing episodic psychosis. It is possible that a further mental health assessment would have been sought, and arrangements made to remove Melsadie from the custody of the carer.
I found that existing guidance and policy recognised and encouraged the need to engage with family to gather information, to make home visits, to liaise with mental health and to treat assessment decisions and verification of file closure as dynamic processes requiring rigorous scrutiny.
However, despite the existence of this guidance, the team placed undue reliance on the opinion of the mental health professionals and on old irrelevant investigations. Furthermore, although the department commissioned an independent review of the case, this found that the death could not have been predicted (which I accept), but tended to emphasise perceived shortcomings in the mental health professionals work, without acknowledging the above concerns. In addition it contained factual inaccuracies, such as a failure to identify the revelations of 9th January 2019. The review report was withheld, following complaints by the family as to matters of fact, but the council decided nonetheless to publish an executive summary which maintained the partial reflection of the review conclusions. I am concerned that by so doing the department will persist in a view that its team did not fail to adhere to its own guidance and good practice.
” Open source report
Pin
Request correction
Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations