A SOCIAL worker had ‘no concerns’ about the safety of a baby before he was killed by the woman who wanted to adopt him, an inquest heard.

Leiland-James Corkill died on January 7, 2021, at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, after suffering a catastrophic head injury at the home of Laura Castle in Barrow.

Castle, who hoped to adopt the one-year-old child, later admitted manslaughter, accepting that she had shaken the baby, but after a trial at Preston Crown Court a jury convicted her of murder.

An inquest into the death of Leiland-James, who was originally from Whitehaven, heard Castle had struggled to bond with the infant and social services noted there was ‘no sense of joy’ about the adoption.

Penny Hindle, a social worker for Laura and Scott Castle, said she never had any concerns about the safety of Leiland-James.

Her only concern was that the Castles had not bonded with the child as would have been expected.

She told the inquest: “The information at the time was they were struggling to bond with him. What we would say is, that is going to take time.

“I sensed there was a lack of joy about having Leiland-James, which was concerning.”

She said Castle had been struggling with Leiland-James but she said he ‘wasn’t going anywhere’ because family members were very fond of him.

“I explained that was not a reason to adopt Leiland-James.

“They made plans for his birthday and first Christmas together as a family.”

Ms Hindle said she was later given the ‘terrible news’ that Leiland-James had fallen from a sofa and was at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

She spoke to Laura Castle over the phone and said she was upset and kept repeating that Leiland-James had fallen from the sofa.

But social services were informed that the injuries caused were not consistent with an accident, as suggested by Castle.

She spoke to Castle again on the phone and was ‘absolutely shocked' to learn that Castle had used force to discipline.

Ms Hindle said she had previously asked the Castles about their views on chastisement and they both said they would never use it themselves.

The inquest also heard from Nicki Pettitt, an independent safeguarding consultant, who produced a child safeguarding practice review following Leiland-James’ death.

She said: "It was only after Leiland-James died, during the course of our review, that we scrutinised the assessment, that learning was identified."

Ms Pettitt said there was learning in the health assessment and the process of getting health information about prospective adopters.

She identified some holes in the medical assessment of the couple and how much of the system relies on the self-reporting of medical information.

There was also learning around the financial information of the couple, who had not disclosed a significant debt.

Ms Pettitt said she ‘genuinely believed’ there had been national learning following the death of Leiland-James and there had been changes.

The inquest continues.