Safeguarding review into death of city teenager makes ‘significant progress’

“SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS” has been made with a review into the death of a Leeds teenager who starved to death in his home.

The review into the death of 18-year-old Jordan Burling was commissioned back in 2017 by Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board, Leeds Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and Safer

Leeds Executive.

However, the review being undertaken was only made public in July this year after Jordan’s mother, grandmother and sister were jailed for their roles in his death.

It marks the first time that all three bodies with responsibility for safeguarding in Leeds have jointly commissioned such a wide-ranging review.

A spokeswoman for the commissioning organisations said: “This reflects how Leeds has responded as a city to this tragic event in a joined up manner, to understand exactly what happened within this family, and learn all we can for the future.”

Jordan weighed less than six stones when paramedics found him covered in sores and lying in filthy conditions at his family home in Butterbowl Garth, Farnley, in June 2016.

The spokeswoman said the review had made “significant progress” but was paused so that judicial matters would not be prejudiced in any way.

“When the judgment was handed down in July 2018 the review was immediately resumed, so that whatever learning we can gain from this case can guide future professional practice across Leeds,” she said.

“As a consequence of the need to allow the independent review to conclude their work fully and not wishing to prejudice the review process, no specific timescales have been set for finalising the report. It will, however, be concluded as soon as practicably possible.”

The review – led by Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board chairman David Ashcroft and North Tyneside Safeguarding Children Board chairman Richard Burrows – will be subject to Home Office approval.