AN internal council investigation into Sean Opoku's death cleared the social services department of any blame.

The council's area child protection committee examined the death in March and concluded: "There is nothing to suggest that his death could have been avoided by any action."

Ron Wallace, executive director of community services, this week categorically denied that his department knew that Jennifer Allen was illegally minding children.

Social workers last had contact with Mrs Allen in 1989, when they wrote to her to inform her she could be prosecuted for looking after children under eight without being registered, he said.

Since that date there was "no evidence" she had continued to flout the law, he claimed.

At the inquest Det Sgt Neil Casey, who initially investigated Sean's death, said a mental health worker who visited Mrs Allen at home before Sean died discovered she was minding children. According to DS Casey, the visitor notifed social workers immediately.

The council denies any conversations between the health worker and its staff ever took place.

Mr Wallace said: "Det Sgt Casey in giving evidence states that social services was informed that Mrs Allen was childminding in 1999. That is not correct. Social services received no such information and is seeking police assistance in explaining this claim."

Mr Wallace is seeking a transcript of the coroner's hearing because he takes issue with much of the detective's evidence.

He denied Det Sgt Casey's assertion that the council's legal adviser refused to allow staff to tell Sean's parents about Mrs Allen's mental health problems after Sean's death because it would infringe Mrs Allen's human rights.

Mr Wallace said: "The opinion of the police officer in this case was that social workers should inform the parents of Mrs Allen's history immediately. This was an issue requiring very great sensitivity. The impact of sharing this information immediately was unclear.

"Once social workers had built up a relationship, it was judged appropriate to inform them of the facts."

Since the death, the child protection team has met the local Early Years partnership to discuss ways of highlighting the dangers of parents leaving their children with unregistered minders.

As a result, literature on childminders has been placed in libraries. Parents can also visit any library to view a list of registered childminders in their area.

Nine months after Sean's death, Ofsted the authority responsible for monitoring childminders sent Mrs Allen an enforcement notice warning her of the threat of prosecution if she continued to mind children. No further action has been taken.

Mr Wallace concluded by saying: "There can't be a more important decision to take as a parent as to where to leave children in the care of other people. I would advise parents to exercise extreme caution."

July 18, 2002 12:00