Council's formal apology over foster carer death

A council has made a formal apology to the family of a "much-loved" foster carer who died after being run over by a child in her care.

Marcia Grant, 60, died from catastrophic chest injuries after trying to stop the 12-year-old from stealing the car from outside her home in Greenhill, Sheffield, in April 2023.

Following an inquest, assistant coroner Marilyn Whittle recorded a narrative verdict in which she cited shortcomings with Rotherham Council's handling of the child's placement with Mrs Grant.

At a full council meeting, leader Chris Read gave the council's "deepest and sincerest condolences" to her family, adding: "We are truly sorry for their loss."

Read said Mrs Grant was "a much-loved and highly respected foster carer, a central figure within Rotherham's foster community".

"She was caring and compassionate, providing a home and support to some of our borough's most vulnerable children," he said.

At the inquest earlier this month, shortcomings were found around how the council handled the child's emergency placement and how this contributed to the circumstances leading to Mrs Grant's death.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Read acknowledged the coroner's findings and said the council had begun making changes before the inquest began.

He also promised further action would follow.

"The inquest found grounds to believe the council had played a contributing role in Marcia's death," Read said.

"I am and we are deeply sorry for any failing on the council's part.

"There is nothing more important than the safety of our children".

The coroner said had proper processes been followed, the boy would not have been placed with the Grant family, who had been fostering for seven years and were highly regarded by the council's fostering team.

Read said Rotherham Council was already improving its record keeping and risk assessments, and was awaiting a formal Prevention of Future Deaths report.

He said the council's director of children's services had also been asked for a "comprehensive action plan" for council members to examine.

He paid tribute to the wider social care workforce, acknowledging the "complexity and difficulty" of their decisions and stressing the huge responsibility and "heartbreak" when things go wrong.

He said: "We honour [Marcia's] memory today in service of all our foster carers who do so much to make the world a better place."

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