Barnet Council is confronting urgent questions over its safeguarding procedures following the deaths of two more teenagers who were in its care. This tragic development comes just over a year after the suicide of 18-year-old Nonita Grabovskyte, whose case was highlighted in a Sky News documentary for critical systemic failings.
A Disturbing Pattern of Tragedy
The north London council has confirmed that both of the recently deceased were 18-year-old care leavers. One died in December 2024 and the other in January 2025. This means that three care-experienced young people connected to Barnet have now died within a devastating 13-month period.
Their names have not been publicly released while their families are being informed. The confirmation of these deaths has intensified serious concerns about what the council learned from the death of Nonita Grabovskyte, who took her own life on 28 December 2023.
Delayed Reviews and Missed Opportunities
Sky News has learned that a joint learning review into the deaths of Nonita and a second young person, known only as Young Person E, was actually completed in February. However, its publication was delayed for almost a year, until after the conclusion of Nonita's inquest in October.
This timing has prompted growing scrutiny over whether vital lessons were identified on paper but not acted upon quickly enough to protect other vulnerable young people. The coroner's report into Nonita's death had previously described an "absence of coordinated transition" between children's and adult services during the most vulnerable moment of her life.
An inquest process is now under way for the most recent death, referred to as Young Person R, with a review expected to be launched. An inquest into this case is scheduled for February.
Council Response and National Context
Council leader Barry Rawlings stated: "We're sorry for what happened. We do realise there have been some failures by different agencies, including the council. It shouldn't happen, and we need to learn from that." He added that the council would do all it could to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.
The delayed learning review into the deaths of Nonita and Young Person E is finally set to be presented to the Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership on 27 November, after which its findings will be published. This partnership includes the police, NHS, and council.
This local tragedy reflects a national crisis. Sky News analysis found that 91 care leavers aged 16 to 25 died in the past year alone in England – nearly two every week. Hundreds of young people who grew up in care have died since 2020.
While the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently in parliament with the intention of improving children's social care, campaigners have criticised it for not going far enough to prevent further deaths. This unfolds as local authorities in England now spend more than £14 billion a year on children's social care.
