Teen was at significant risk before death - report

A 14-year-old boy was at "significant risk" with an outstanding history of self-harm when he was found dead in his bedroom at home, a report said.

Scotty Kenneth Henniker from Essex made several suicide attempts before he died on 24 September 2023.

A Prevention of Future Deaths report said Henniker's previous attempts had not been "appropriately recorded" in the records or shared among professionals.

"Scotty was never offered any adapted therapy as a child with Autism and ADHD where his cognitive understanding was lower than his chronological age," the report added.

North-East London NHS Foundation Trust and Essex County Council have been contacted for comment.

Henniker relied on the Educational Outreach team for extra support, and it was one of the "few constant features" in his life.

However, educational support was not provided during the summer holidays - despite it being available - because his social care team failed to make a funding application, the report said.

In the final months of his life, the teenager also did not have any transport to take him to education support in term time, it added.

The report, issued by Sonia Hayes, area coroner for the county, said that not being able to attend a "significant support network for Scotty and a place that he felt safe" caused him a great level of distress.

In May 2023, the report noted that Educational Outreach raised concerns with social care that Henniker's mood had dramatically changed, and he was saying he was depressed.

"Scotty was the most complex child they had under their [Educational Outreach] care," added the report.

Educational Outreach worried that he might do something "extreme" for family members' affection and attention. The report added he had done this in the past through suicide attempts, but he "did not understand the concept of death".

In June 2023, Educational Outreach raised concerns that Henniker had been hurting animals.

His family also raised concerns that he had not been seen by the right professionals and wanted his medication to be reviewed, the report said.

The inquest heard how it was incorrectly recorded that Henniker and his family had refused services, but the report said that was not the case.

The coroner gave a narrative conclusion to the inquest, which is a factual statement to explain the broader circumstances surrounding the person's death.

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