A 10-year-old boy, known as ‘Abdur’, suffered severe abuse that came to light when he was hospitalized with various illnesses. The boy was found to have been provided with “mouldy bread and water” for his school lunch. Oldham council’s safeguarding review revealed a grave oversight in failing to detect the mistreatment of Abdur, who was admitted to the hospital with malnourishment, anemia, and scurvy. Under the care of his mother, who had a history of drug addiction, Abdur had to undergo tooth extractions and experienced intense leg pain.
Abdur, described as a charming child, had been under the council’s care for two years before his health deteriorated, despite plans to reduce the care order. Social services were alerted to his declining health in early 2023 after his school reported concerns about his weight loss and neglect, which had been raised multiple times. The boy was observed going to school with inadequate food, including moldy bread and water.
Despite the signs of his declining health, social services initially missed Abdur’s worsening condition. When the boy suffered a knee injury, his parents dismissed his pain, forcing him to walk back to school after a doctor’s visit. It was later revealed that his severe leg pain was due to a severe lack of vitamins. Only when his school nurse raised the alarm was Abdur admitted to a pediatric hospital, where experts deemed his condition preventable and potentially life-threatening without immediate intervention.
The safeguarding report highlighted missed opportunities and failures across various agencies leading up to Abdur’s hospitalization. It mentioned that despite the boy expressing feeling unwell and unhappy to school staff, his complaints were overshadowed by his mother’s explanations. The care order for Abdur remains in effect, and he continues to reside with his family.
In response to the report, Shaid Mushtaq, representing Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership, expressed regret over the distressing situation and acknowledged areas for improvement in safeguarding practices. The council has since implemented changes to enhance risk identification, inter-agency coordination, and prioritizing children’s voices and needs. This incident has prompted a reevaluation of safeguarding practices with a focus on continual improvement.
