A local authority was fined a six-figure sum after two social workers were attacked by a vulnerable child's mother - who had a history of violence.

Social workers employed by Brent Council were struck over the head with a "metal object" during a visit to the home of a vulnerable child, leaving one unconscious.

The council was ordered to pay out a £100,000 fine and ordered to pay costs of £10,918.88 after it was found to have failed to carry out a risk assessment, on November 29.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how, on July 3 2015, two social workers employed by London Borough of Brent visited the home of a vulnerable child to carry out a child safety plan assessment.

While note-taking, both social workers were struck over the head with a metal object by the mother, resulting in one of them being knocked temporarily unconscious.

Both social workers received serious wounds to the head, and the employee knocked unconscious was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Council 'failed to adhere to its own procedure'

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, Neil Fry, said: "Violent and aggressive incidents are the third biggest cause of injuries reported to HSE from the health and social care sector.

"The local authority in this case failed to adhere to and implement its own systems and procedure for the management of lone working and violence and aggression against social workers.

"This risk could have been reduced in a number of ways including carrying out the visit in a controlled environment, such as the local social workers’ office."

The HSE investigation found that the local authority failed to follow its corporate lone working policy or violence and aggression guidance.

No risk assessment was completed and staff were not trained accordingly, HSE said.

London Borough of Brent also failed to add an aggression marker to make the social workers aware of the hazards posed by the mother who was known to have a history of violence.

Brent Council pleaded guilty to breaching the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, section 2(1) and were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,918.88.

'Something that we are extremely sorry for'

A Brent Council spokesperson said: "Although this was an isolated incident, the procedures that were in place were not followed as thoroughly as we would expect and ultimately that was our responsibility.

"The fact that two social workers were hurt in doing the valuable work that they do is totally unacceptable and is something that we are extremely sorry for.

"Since the incident in 2015 we have provided support to the staff involved and cooperated fully with the Health and Safety Executive in their investigation.

"We have gone above and beyond what has been asked of the council in reviewing and tightening our procedures, particularly in lone working arrangements and risk assessments."

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