Boy's death highlights care failures

A 14-year-old boy, Scotty Kenneth Henniker, was found deceased in his bedroom on September 24, 2023, with a history of self-harm and suicide attempts. A Prevention of Future Deaths report indicated that his previous attempts were not appropriately documented or communicated among professionals involved in his care. The report also highlighted that Scotty, who had Autism and ADHD, never received adapted therapy tailored to his cognitive understanding.

Crucially, the report noted that essential educational support, provided by the Educational Outreach team, was not offered during the summer holidays. This lapse occurred because his social care team failed to submit a funding application for the period. The absence of this support network, a place where Scotty felt safe, caused him significant distress. His family had also raised concerns about him not being seen by the right professionals and requested a review of his medication.