The court heard that the couple had been housed in a flat in Duckett’s Green, north London, while their baby was still in Barnet Hospital, born prematurely at 31 weeks.
Theresa Ferguson, a social worker at Haringey Child and Family Services, was assigned the case after concerns were raised about the parents’ ability to care for Lily-Mai.
Professionals at Barnet Hospital, including neonatal sister Deborah Hodge, were unhappy that she would be handed over to her parents alone, believing she would be at risk of neglect.
Concerns were raised about Saint George’s mental health, her parenting abilities, and her lack of commitment to her daughter, including not seeing her in the hospital.
Despite their doubts, it was decided on January 22 to have Lily-Mai sent home with close contact with social services.
The day before Lily-Mai was fired, police were called to Hurrell and Saint George’s flat over an alleged altercation between the couple, but no violation was disclosed.
On the same day, Ms Ferguson made a referral for a “legal gateway meeting” – one of the options for social services to take steps to intervene in the care of a baby – but went on annual leave the following day.
Ms O’Neill said: “To describe this timing as unfortunate is perhaps an underestimation of the position.”
An on-duty social worker visited the family on January 26, while Ms Ferguson made a home visit when she returned to work on January 30, followed by health visitor Alberta Nyantaki on the same day.
Although Ms. Nyantaki concluded that Lily-Mai’s needs were satisfactorily met, she expressed her “serious concern” to Ms. Ferguson, who told her that the threshold for a child protection plan had been met due to the couple’s volatility.
The legal process, in the form of a legal gateway meeting, began the following day, and Mrs. Ferguson visited the flat at about 3 p.m. to explain the options for a residential placement for the family, or for Hurrell and the baby to be without Saint. George to go inside.
The court heard Saint George swearing at the social worker and refusing to cooperate, having previously accused Lily-Mai in a text message of not letting her sleep.
“She was unable to restrain herself in front of a social worker who was there to assess her ability as a mother, and there is no doubt that she was unable to restrain herself a few hours later,” the said. prosecutor.