William Herbert Laming (1936 – 2026)

Their Story

William Herbert Laming, Baron Laming, was a British social worker and member of the House of Lords. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Laming studied Applied Social Studies at Durham University in 1960. He worked as a probation officer and psychiatric social worker in Nottingham, before moving to Hertfordshire County Council in 1971, becoming director of social services in 1975. Laming was Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate from 1991 until 1998. In 1985, Laming was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was knighted in 1996 and was created a life peer on 27 July 1998 as Baron Laming, of Tewin in the county of Hertfordshire. His most significant contribution to child protection policy came through his leadership of major public inquiries. In 2001, he chaired the public inquiry into eight-year-old Victoria Climbié's death. Laming's report made 108 recommendations, designed to increase the priority placed on children within government, local authorities and other agencies, enhance joint working and significantly improve the quality of practice by social workers and other agencies. Lord Laming was appointed in November 2008 to investigate Britain's social services on a national basis following the death of Baby P. He served as Convenor of the Crossbench Peers from 2011 to 2015 and as Chairman of Committees from 2015 to 2016.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Laming%2C_Baron_Laming