Social workers involved in the case of a Washington state man who killed himself and his two sons should have consulted with law enforcement before allowing supervised visits, according to this article from Reuters.

Josh Powell, who was under suspicion for murdering his wife, Susan, pulled his sons Braden, 5, and Charles, 7,  into his home in Puyallup, Wash. on Feb. 5 and locked the door. Powell then set off an explosion that killed himself and his sons.

Elizabeth Griffin Hall, who some news reports identified as a social worker, case manager or visitation coordinator,  had taken the boys on the court-ordered home visit.

Powell prevented Griffin Hall from entering the home and she pounded on the door and made frantic calls to emergency assistance efore the home erupted into fire.

The Child Fatality Review by a Washington state Department of Social and Health Services panel said that overall work by various professionals involved in the case was “consistent with and sometimes exceeded” accepted standards for child welfare, the article said.

Still, the panel said social workers might have done more to explore a history of domestic violence in Josh Powell’s family. Social workers also did not notify police they were moving supervised visits to Powell’s home.

The Seattle Times has an online copy of the Child Fatality Review. To read the article and report click here.