Girl left unwatched by agency worker at psychiatric unit was unlawfully killed, inquest finds

Jury finds failings of worker before Ruth Szymankiewicz, 14, took own life amount to gross negligence manslaughter

• Ruth was failed by system, say parents

A vulnerable 14-year-old girl was unlawfully killed when an agency support worker failed to keep her under observation at a secure psychiatric unit, an inquest jury has concluded.

The worker, who used a false identity, left Ruth Szymankiewicz alone even though she had complex mental health issues and was judged to need constant watching because she was a suicide risk.