The lack of verification of Laura Wenham’s condition was a sign of “systemic” problems, the court said in News UK

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The coroner’s court heard that the failure of social workers to conduct adequate examinations weeks before a frail, severely mentally ill woman died alone in her home was a sign of “systematic” deficiencies.

The body of Laura Wenham, who is believed to have died in November 2017 at the age of 38, lay undisturbed in her flat in Woking, Surrey, for three and a half years before her “skeletal and mummified” remains were discovered by police and family members. . Wenham’s family said she was “abandoned” by local agencies.

Attorneys representing Wenham’s family argued at a pre-inquest review hearing Monday morning that the investigation – scheduled for April – should be expanded to consider whether local public services were operating “safe and effective services” capable of protecting Wenham from “real and immediate risks to her life”. .

They highlight Surrey County Council social workers’ decision not to carry out a face-to-face care assessment of Wenham, despite receiving an official police warning in October that she was malnourished, self-neglecting and unable to look after herself or get help.

Although the council’s adult welfare teams knew Wenham was very vulnerable, they made no attempt to contact her personally. They tried to contact her – despite telling her her phone didn’t work – and when she didn’t answer, they wrote her details of a local food bank and support teams before closing the case two weeks later.

Under Section IX of the Care Act, local authorities are required to formally assess an adult when it is clear that they have clear care and support needs. Surrey County Council did not, although Wenham, who was suffering from schizophrenia, was clearly at risk of starvation, argued the family’s solicitor, Kate O’Rajale.

She also argued that Wenham’s landlord had repeatedly failed to adequately examine her, despite her awareness that she had a disability and a history of mental illness. It was Wenham’s flat at the time of her death and, for five years afterwards, was being managed by New Vision Homes on behalf of Woking County Council.

Winham did not respond to calls, texts, and visits from the owner, who sought to enter the property multiple times between 2018 and 2021 for gas safety checks. Welfare checks have not been carried out by the landlord, despite having the ability to enter the property. Wenham’s gas supply was cut off in January 2019.

“It is the context that reveals systemic deficiencies [on the part of the county council and landlord]Uragalay said.

The court heard that investigators were trying to track down a gas engineer who recorded a successful gas safety inspection at the property in January 2018, several weeks after Wenham was believed dead. Wenham’s signature appeared on the safety check form even though the court heard it did not match previous signatures Wenham had submitted.

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Surrey County Council representative Katie Ayres said there was insufficient evidence in court of “systemic failures” on the part of the council, although there may have been an “individual failure” to carry out a Wenham care assessment following a police referral in October 2017.

Woking Council, which restored direct management of social housing formerly run by New Vision in 2022, argued that there was no evidence to warrant the coroner broadening the investigation to examine alleged systemic and operational failures.

The Surrey County Coroner, Karen Henderson, said she would make a written decision on the scope of the inquiry in the next few days. Another pre-inquest review hearing is scheduled for March.

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