Poppi Worthington: Could her death have been prevented?

By ITV News North of England Correspondent Damon Green

Health professionals failed to show enough "professional curiosity" about Poppi Worthington - and missed the chance to refer her case to social services before her tragic unexplained death.

A Serious Case Review concluded that no single event could have "triggered" intervention by social workers before she died in 2012, aged just 13 months.

But the report published today found that there was sufficient knowledge of her family background to cause concern - and that a similar case today would prompt an intervention.

The review was conducted by Cumbria Local Safeguarding Childen Board - but without the help of Poppi's father Paul.

He was arrested following his daughter's death on suspicion of assault - but never charged.

He declined an invitation to give evidence in the compiling of today's report.

Poppi Worthington was just 13 months old when she died. Credit: ITV News

The review - which refers to 'Child N' - maintains that she was not "known"' to social services at any point in her life, and that health visitors to her home observed that her mother was "seen to be resilient and coping well."

But it was known that she had experienced "significant historical trauma and loss which were...clear indicators that her parenting may have been compromised."

The review also found:

  • Professionals failed to look at Poppi's family history to identify the risk to her

  • Injuries in the family home were not identified as a pattern

  • And the influence of "fathers and other males" in the house was not examined

A post mortem examination revealed that Poppi had suffered a broken leg before her death - an injury which had never been treated, and was unknown to her GP.

Cumbria Council said today that "four or five" social workers had left its employment following Poppi's death, but that none had been disciplined.

The local NHS held a one-day "learning event" for staff to reflect on failings which had led to it.

A fresh inquest was opened into Poppi's death in March this year.

The Crown Prosecution Service is conducting a review of the evidence surrounding her death.