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More than ten opportunities were missed by agencies to identify the  risks facing a Kent toddler who died after swallowing a fatal dose of  her mother’s methadone, a report has concluded.

Frankie Hedgecock, two, who lived in De Burgh Street in Dover, died at her home on June 5, 2015.

Lucy  King, 39, was jailed for three and a half years earlier this year over  the death of her youngest child at their home at De Burgh Street on June  5, 2015.

But a report created by the Kent Safeguarding Children  Board said not enough was done to raise concerns over Frankie and her  siblings' "neglect".

It said: “The death could not have been predicted by any agency or individual who knew her.

“However,  there were missed opportunities when professionals could or should have  better identified the risks of the significant harm that the children  may have been exposed to, particularly in respect of neglect.”

Several causes for concern were outlined dating back to 1998, when the agencies were first involved with the family.

It was noted both parents were long-term drug users on a drug treatment programme.

Concerns were raised about Lucy’s use of methadone through her pregnancies and its possible effects on her unborn children.

Lucy was found to have booked late for all her pregnancies and four of her children had been born out of a hospital.

The children had all been admitted to hospital after birth and had shown methadone withdrawal symptoms.

It was also found that the mother "frequently" did not tend to the needs of her children.

On  five separate occasions, anonymous callers to the police and social  care services said that the children “didn’t see the light of day”, that  there was “screaming and shouting in the house by an adult” and the  children seemed “distressed”.

In one incident, police were called after neighbour was not able to return one of the children home.

He had to bang on the door for 40 minutes before the father answered.

The house had been in darkness and “when the father answered the door, there was a strong smell of cannabis.”

The  report said that Lucy had consistently missed health appointments for  her children, which should have been seen as indications of neglect.

It  added: “It is evident that through all five pregnancies, the mother  booked late for maternity care and had unplanned births at home. The  mother did not put the needs of her children before her own needs.”

In March 2012, the police were called when three children were left in “a car crying and screaming”.

The  report said that on at least two other occasions, the children had been  left unsupervised in the street with “a child was seen running across a  car park as a large van was reversing”.

In early 2013, prior to the birth of Frankie, the other children had shown signs of emotional instability.

A  health visitor said that “the children are already insecure and  emotional and emotional needs will increase, having a new baby will be a  challenge”.

There were a high number of missed health appointments for the children.

At  the time of Frankie’s death, the parents were separated with the father  currently serving a nine year sentence in custody for “grievous bodily  harm”.

The  eldest child from a different father was called “bright” but was  recorded to have become involved in “criminal activity and excluded from  school” over poor attendance and violent behaviour.

She also gone missing from the family home at one point.

The report noted: “She received a five day fixed term exclusion from school for bullying.”

Both parents were found to have an “apparent inability to change their lifestyle”.

There had also been three episodes of domestic incidents, of which at least one may have witnessed by the children.

The household was described on occasions as cold, damp, poorly decorated and all children sleeping in one bed.

There was also a lack of money, which on occasions resulted in not enough food.

Little Frankie Hedgecock was described as a lively and a sociable young child and the youngest of five children.

She had drunk the heroin substitute while her mother dozed for five minutes on the sofa.

Just  hours earlier Lucy has poured 15ml of the dangerous drug, into a cup  and left it behind a TV in the living room to take later in the day.

The report recommended all agencies should review their internal safeguarding supervision practices as a result of this case.

This  would ensure that they provide critical reflection, robust challenge,  risk review and support to staff when dealing with families.

Lucy  was jailed for three and a half years after being convicted of killing  her two-year-old daughter after she drank the heroin substitute  methadone.

A previous version of  this article stated that 'Several causes for concern were outlined  dating back to 1988'. We would like to make clear that this should have  in fact stated 1998, and has now been amended.

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