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A woman sued Child Services after they failed to remove her from her mother, who was working as a prostitute.
The woman has won $30,000 in damages from a Birmingham social services after social workers failed to take her away from her abusive mother when she was a child. The claim against Child Services is believed to be the first of its kind in Great Britain.
Collette Elliott, 35, of Erdington, Birmingham, who is now happily married, was abused by her mother, and she was not properly fed. Elliott had a difficult childhood filled with neglect and abuse. Elliott gained access to her social services files, which revealed that the child service agency was well aware of her suffering but did nothing to protect her.
According to the social services reports, they were first alerted to the neglectful behavior of her mother, Maureen Batchelor, when Elliott was only two-months-old, as they visited the home on two occasions before the girl was 4-years-old. The report reportedly stated that the child was often taken to hospital with infections, and she was undernourished.
They were apparently aware of the criminal history of the mother’s boyfriend. The also knew about Batchelor’s brushes with the law, and her occasional homelessness.
“She is a brave woman. Every social worker should be held accountable for every child who suffers under their watch. Denise Rogers, 24, of Columbus, Ohio said.
“If they cannot handle their case load then they should hire more people. Many kids get hurt, and some even killed while their biological parents or foster parents have a case open with social services. Something has to change. Maybe if more people sue, they will take action,” Rogers, who was abused by her foster parents, told YourJewishNews.com after hearing about Elliott’s lawsuit against Social Services.
"I was a vulnerable child and left in the care of an unfit and neglectful mother. I was not going to let social services get away with it,” Elliott said.
Elliott hopes that her story will help other people wronged by the system to come forward and get justice. “I survived my ordeal, but some children aren't as lucky,” Elliott said.
The city council will now have to pay $30,000 in damages for its share in the child’s suffering.