Insufficient Safeguarding Practice in the Final Weeks of Finley Boden’s Life before his Murder

A ten-month-old baby named Finley Boden was tragically murdered by his parents, Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden, just weeks after being returned to their care in 2020. Despite concerns raised by social services regarding the parents’ drug use and the condition of their home, Finley was placed back with them by a family court. The parents inflicted 130 injuries on Finley, leading to his death on Christmas Day. Marsden and Boden were given life sentences for their crimes.

The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership conducted a review into Finley’s death, concluding that he “should have been one of the most protected children in the local authority area.” The review highlighted that while Finley’s parents were responsible for his death, professional interventions should have protected him. The decision for him to return home was deemed significant, and the safeguarding environment leading to that decision was seen as weakened by previous events.

The review noted that many of the issues Finley faced in his final weeks were unknown to professionals at the time, but still found safeguarding practices inadequate. Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples, who sentenced Marsden and Boden, described them as “persuasive and accomplished liars” who had brutally assaulted their son. Derbyshire County Council’s children’s services acknowledged missed opportunities in Finley’s case, apologizing for their shortcomings and taking responsibility for their actions.

The council has since taken steps to review and strengthen their systems, particularly in working with babies and families, in response to Finley’s death. The Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership has accepted the review’s recommendations, which include conducting a multi-agency audit of recent parenting assessments and improving the distinction between informal family arrangements and formal placements. The partnership also plans to work with local substance misuse services and implement effective responses to domestic abuse.

Overall, the tragic death of Finley has prompted a reevaluation of safeguarding practices in Derby and Derbyshire. The review highlighted missed opportunities and weaknesses in professional interventions that should have protected Finley from harm. Moving forward, the council and partnership have committed to implementing the recommendations to reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future. Finley’s death serves as a reminder of the importance of strong safeguarding practices to protect vulnerable children from harm within their own homes.