Not enough was done to challenge the lifestyle of a mother whose two-year-old daughter died after swallowing methadone.

A serious case review concluded that the tragedy could not have been predicted, but there were missed opportunities to fully identify risk.

The report by the Kent Safeguarding Children Board looked into the death of Frankie Hedgecock, which lead to the jailing of her mother, Lucy King, this year.

Frankie had died after swallowing the heroin substitute, used by her mother, at her home in De Burgh Street, Dover, on June 5, 2015.

Report author Jane Appleby concluded: “The death could not have been predicted by any agency or individual who knew her.

“However there were missed opportunities when professionals could or should have better identified the risks.

“The mother had been prescribed and taking methadone for a number of years without any specific concerns ever being raised regarding safe storage and misuse of the drug.”

Maidstone Crown Court had heard that King had left the substance in a measuring cup on the floor behind the TV the night before she was due to take it.

Frankie had swallowed the liquid next morning.

Ms Appleby’s report also said: “There was limited challenge to the mother to change her lifestyle, and her ongoing engagement with a drug treatment programme was seen as positive. This resulted in professionals being over optimistic.”

Ms Appleby said that the consistent non-attendance for health appointments should have been seen as neglect.

She added: “Insufficient weight was given to concerns expressed by neighbours.”

Frankie and her family had multi-agency support, including from health visitors and social services.

The report gave a number of recommendations, for instance that all agencies review their internal safeguarding and supervision practices.

This would be to make sure that they provide critical reflection, robust challenge, risk review and support to staff when dealing with families.

KSCB will also review and update its training programme on substance misusing parents and the effects on their young children.

King, 39, who later moved to London Road, Dover, was jailed on April 27 for three and a half years after she was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence.