'More still needs to be done': Review into murder of Ipswich man Joe Pooley
22 year old Joe was killed in 2018 - with his body being found in the River Gipping
An review into the murder of Ipswich man Joe Pooley has made several key recommendations - to stop similar cases happening again
The 22 year old was found dead in the River Gipping close to London Road in 2018.
Three people, all known to Joe, where convicted of his murder last March.
35-year-old Sebastian Smith of Hawick, 31-year-old Sean Palmer of Great Yarmouth and 30 year old Rebecca West-Davidson of Roper Court in Ipswich were jailed for a combined 56 years for his killing.
Joe had learning difficulties and was relentlessly bullied in the years before his death.
Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership, which brings together local councils and health and social care services, has since conducted a review of Joe's treatment by local authorities.
It's findings have been published today. In a statement, the Indepedent Chair of the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership Anthony Douglas CBE said:
"Joe’s tragic and untimely death has had a deep and lasting impact on all who knew and cared for him, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected and who are still grieving."
"The Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership conducted a review of Joe’s case in 2021, with learning identified across our partner agencies.
"Whilst the trial has been underway, we have been working closely with those agencies to ensure the learning is being embedded to make systems safer for people like Joe, and we will implement all the recommendations including those actions determined by coroner, however long it takes.
"The review highlighted where agencies have already changed practice following Joe’s tragic death, it is clear that much more still needs to be done."
The review has called for the following measures:
- More work by local authorties to engage with at risk young people, with no assumption that they're OK if they don't directly ask for help.
- The provision of mental health support services to children and young people who do not have a formal diagnosis but who are 'clearly emotionally unwell'.
- The treatment of people without a formal diagnosis should be continuous, and they shouldn't be discharged simply because they're difficult to engage with.
- More awareness of the impact on vulnerable people of being on a waiting list for an essential service.
- A greater understanding of people's mental capacity - with more support for people whose capacity is compromised to take safe decisions about themselves.
- Greater management oversight of the risks to vulnerable young people placed in temporary housing.
Anthony added: "There were opportunities for the system to help Joe more. We must learn from his story and ensure we continually work to improve services to keep young people safer in the future."