**Foster Carer Fatally Injured by Foster Child Amidst Council ‘Failures’, Inquest Finds**
An inquest has concluded that systemic failures within local government contributed to the death of Marcia Grant, a 60-year-old grandmother and experienced foster carer, who was fatally injured while attempting to prevent a 12-year-old boy, in her care, from taking her car. The tragic incident unfolded outside Mrs Grant’s home in the Greenhill district of Sheffield on 5 April 2023.
The young boy, identified in proceedings as Child X, was sentenced in November 2023 to a two-year custodial term after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving. The original charge of murder was withdrawn. During the inquest, South Yorkshire Coroner Marilyn Whittle described a series of council deficiencies, highlighting significant lapses by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in both documentation and risk management.
The coroner’s narrative findings pointed directly to council “failures” which included a lack of accurate records, inadequate communication of known risks, failure to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, and a neglect of duties around safeguarding both foster carers and children. Mrs Whittle announced her intention to issue a formal prevention of future deaths report to address the shortcomings, notably referencing issues around documentation and the challenge of finding appropriate foster placements—a problem identified as extending beyond the local authority and reflective of wider, national shortfalls.
According to the inquest, Mrs Grant and her husband, Delroy, were valued by their local fostering team and regularly took in some of the area’s most vulnerable children. At the time of the incident, the couple were already caring for another child, Child Y, and their home was designated for single-child placements due to the complex needs of that child. Nonetheless, Mrs Grant agreed to an emergency placement for Child X at the end of March 2023 after the council issued a request to all registered carers.
The subsequent investigation revealed that Mrs Grant had not been given the full picture of Child X’s background. It emerged that he had a prior youth caution for possession of a knife and had made references to gang involvement and violent acts, details which were missing from the initial referral form. The coroner described the form as “deficient” and said Mrs Grant accepted the placement without understanding the potential risks involved—a result of the council’s systemised failings. Moreover, the family’s social worker, tasked with assessing suitability, was similarly left uninformed regarding the boy’s history, a decision that, had they been aware, would have resulted in Child X not being placed with the Grant family.
Further testimony revealed that concerns about Child X’s behaviour escalated shortly after his arrival. Mrs Grant’s decision to store household knives in a separate room, combined with alarming admissions from the child himself—including reports of having stabbed someone and involvement with numerous girls—prompted an independent reviewing officer to advise against extending his stay. Despite these concerns, Mrs Grant was asked to continue the placement temporarily due to difficulties in finding an alternative.
The situation reached a fatal conclusion on 5 April when Child X attempted to steal Mrs Grant’s car. In her bid to intervene and protect her property and the community, she suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by the vehicle.
Following the inquest, Mrs Grant’s children issued an emotional statement expressing deep sorrow and frustration with the local authority. Shaun and Gemma Grant described the loss as a “devastating failure” both for their mother and the foster child, and criticised the council’s lack of accountability. They welcomed the coroner’s recognition of failings but emphasised that this could not undo the consequences of missed opportunities to prevent harm.
Rotherham Council responded with a statement from Nicola Curley, Strategic Director for Children and Young People’s Services, offering condolences to the bereaved family and the fostering community. Ms Curley acknowledged the severity of the coroner’s findings and committed to a thorough review of the events to ensure that lessons are learned and necessary improvements are implemented.
Marcia Grant’s legacy, noted by friends, family, and colleagues, is one of empathy, courage, and commitment to supporting the vulnerable. Yet, as highlighted by the inquest, essential changes are needed within the foster care system to protect carers and children alike, reaffirming the importance of safeguarding and communication in what is, by any measure, a profoundly challenging field.