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Search forMentally ill mum sparks concern
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 09:00
Dean Ashton, the head of Cornwall's Children's Services Authority, is making urgent inquiries into concerns put by The West Briton on behalf of the grandmother, who has come down to the county to look after the children.
The woman, who has asked not to be named, said her daughter was 40, a single mother and a manic depressive. She had moved to Cornwall to start a new life two years ago after splitting with her partner.
The daughter had sought help from her doctor six weeks ago. Subsequently a social worker arrived at the house in Truro on Friday, October 10, but took no action, said the grandmother who, as well as saying her daughter needed psychiatric help, alleged that the house was not safe for young children because of a lack of child safety locks.
She said the children had stuffed paper into radiators which had caused a small fire. There were no smoke alarms in the house, which was owned by Sanctuary Housing.
The day after the visit of the social worker, neighbours called the police after becoming concerned about the young mother's confused state as she walked outside the house.
She had gone off alone and had left the children with friends.
The following day the police returned and she was assessed and taken into a psychiatric ward at Bodmin.
She was detained for treatment under Section Three of the Mental Health Act and the three children were put into temporary foster care. The grandmother, who is in the house looking after the children, said her daughter was now on the mend.
She said there had been tremendous support from the nursery and school where the children were pupils.
"With all the news we are getting about the death of the baby boy in London, I believe I have to point out that some social workers are not paying enough attention down here as well," she claimed. "Instead of the social worker taking action, it was my daughter's neighbours who called for help and got the police involved."
She has written a letter of complaint to County Hall about the way her daughter was treated.
The Children's Services Authority said they could not comment on individual cases, but were "urgently investigating the matter".
