REPORT OF AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY ... - Hundred Families

8. All witnesses of fact will receive a letter in advance of appearing to give evidence informing them:
8.1. of the terms of reference, the membership and the procedures adopted by the Inquiry;
8.2. of the areas and matters to be covered with them;
8.3. requesting them to provide written statements to form the basis of their evidence to the
Inquiry;
8.4. that when they give oral evidence they may raise any other matter they wished and which
they felt might be relevant to the Inquiry;
8.5. that they may bring with them a friend or relative, members of a trade union, lawyer or
member of a defence organisation or anyone else they wish to accompany them, with the
exception of anyone connected with the commissioning of the Report;
8.6. that it is the witness who will be asked questions and who will be expected to answer;
8.7. that panel members cannot be cross-examined;
8.8. that their evidence will be recorded and a copy sent to them afterwards for them to sign and
amend if necessary.
9. Witnesses of fact were to be asked to confirm their evidence was true.
10. It is not a principal objective of the Inquiry to seek to blame individuals, although if serious
negligence or incompetence is uncovered, the Inquiry should make such findings known and give
the individuals concerned the opportunity to respond. Any points of potential criticism will
therefore be put to a witness of fact, either orally when they first give evidence or in writing at a
later time, and they will be given a full opportunity to respond.
The commissioners reserved the right to refer individual practitioners to the relevant professional
bodies where negligence or incompetence is identified.
11. Written representation may be invited from voluntary or other organisations and other interested
parties as to present arrangements for persons in similar circumstances as the present Inquiry and
as to any recommendations they may have for the future.
These witnesses may be asked to give oral evidence about their views and recommendations.
12. Anyone else who feels he may have something useful to contribute to the Inquiry may make
written submissions for the Inquiry’s consideration.
13. Findings of fact will be made on the basis of the evidence received by the Inquiry. Comments
which appear within the narrative of the report and any recommendations will be based on those
findings.
14. The Inquiry will prepare an Independent Report including such recommendations as may be
appropriate and useful to the services involved and their commissioners and present it to the
Chief Executive of North East London Strategic Health Authority and the Director of Social
Services in the London Borough of Newham.
15. The commissioners will invite relevant agencies to respond to the Inquiry report through a joint
action plan which will be published together with the Inquiry report.
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