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The girl named Little Heart has already been cared for at BB and placed in a family home. When she was two and a half years old, the appeal court ruled that compulsory care would cease, despite concerns from social services and information about abuse in the family.
In January of this year it was found the dead girl, wrapped in plastic and towels, under a cot in her parents’ apartment. He had wounds all over his body and various substances classified as drugs in his blood.
The case has attracted a lot of attention. Many have wondered: Why did society not protect the girl?
Since May, the Inspection of Health and Care Services has examined the processing of the girl’s case by the municipality. On Tuesday, the authority presented its decision and directs wide criticism of the social welfare committee in Norrköping municipality.
The authority points to a long list of serious errors and shortcomings in handling.
– They have not used all the space that exists within existing legislation to take action and achieve protection, says Ivo CEO Sofia Wallström.
– It is a capital failure on the part of society and has cost the child’s life.
Ivo CEO Sofia Wallström during the press conference.
Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT
According to Ivo, the board has, among other things, let parents control the planning of how the relocation would take place. The board has also backed away from the earlier demands when parents objected to them. Nor has it been considered whether there were grounds for requesting a relocation ban for the correct reasons.
Ingela Larsson, Ivo’s inspector:
– We assess that it is the child’s needs that should govern. Of course, parents should be involved in this process, but it is of the utmost importance that the board take responsibility for evaluating what is best for the child. In this case, the board has not assumed that responsibility.
– The board found there was no reason to proceed with the move ban because the parents agreed with the care plan. However, he had fully adapted to the wishes of the parents, says Ingela Larsson.
During the last girl Weeks old, social services received two reports of concern, including information that the girl appeared drugged on Christmas Eve. When social services arrived at the apartment on Christmas Day, they were not allowed to enter, claiming that the girl was asleep. During a police questioning, an officer said that the girl’s father was threatening and that he noticed that the girl’s younger brother, who was in his mother’s arms, appeared “suspended.”
“The child did not hit, did not move and seemed completely out of place /…/ The mother seemed affected by something and gave the impression of being very lethargic.”
However, social services did not provide emergency care.
When the officers returned the next day, on the second day, they were allowed in. But based on the observations in the apartment, it was assessed that there was no urgent concern for his state of health.
A couple of weeks later, in early January 2020, a disturbing new report arrived. Social services booked a home visit, which was later canceled by the father.
Ingela Larsson, Ivo’s inspector.
Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT
Ivo considers in his decision that the welfare board has not investigated the reports of concern or obtained information correctly.
– Here we also believe that it is clear that the board has not been responsible for the child, says Ingela Larsson.
Sofia Wallström does not want to speculate on the importance of correct handling for the course of events.
– I don’t want to speculate about it. But we can affirm that the municipality has not used all the space that exists within the current legislation to guarantee the protection of the child. That is a very important lesson.
Ivo believes that the Norrköping municipality social welfare board handles cases in such a way that it can harm other children as well. With a fine of one million crowns, the municipality of Ivo Norrköping orders measures to be taken to ensure that the needs and rights of children are met. The municipality has until February to correct the errors.
– We use our sharpest tools. But this is also a very serious matter, says Sofia Wallström.
Sofia Wallström means that Ivo’s decision is also an important signal for the other municipalities of the country:
– I believe that the Little Heart case should make municipalities more successful in using existing tools within existing legislation to harness the best interests of each child.
In district court, Little Heart’s mother was sentenced to 1 year and 9 months in prison for causing the death of another person. The mother believes that the girl died after a fall accident in the bathtub, but says she has no recollection of important parts of the course of events. The verdict has been appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Little Heart’s father died in custody a few weeks after her death and was therefore dismissed on suspicion.
