In the same way that police forces must refer themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates deaths or serious harm to an individual from police contact, we want the same for social services.

We call upon the Government to establish an independent oversight body akin to the IOPC for social service workers to refer themselves for deaths or serious harm to individuals who social service workers have come into contact within the work done by social services. We believe that in doing so, it could enable vital recording and investigation of these deaths or serious harm, foster a culture of prevention, and make way for an up-to-date, responsible, accountable and transparent oversight body.