The Hesley Group children’s homes include two residential special schools and charged local authorities £250,000 a year to care for each young person.
A total number of 104 reports showcased an upsetting number of concerns made at three of the Hesley Group homes between early 2018 and 2021.
This ignited the police investigation – Operation Lemur Alpha in March 2021.
Most of the children placed in these homes, were described to be society’s most vulnerable, typically with learning disabilities, autism, and complex health needs and recent reports have revealed that 99 reports of concern were made in relation to these vulnerable young adults in 2012.
What did the abuse include?
The abuse these children were subjected to included:
- Being locked outside in freezing temperatures.
- Having vinegar poured on cuts.
- Being verbally taunted.
- Being made to sit in freezing cold baths.
- Being deprived medication.
- Being subjected to inappropriate restraints including being locked overnight in the bathrooms.
What action has been taken?
There has since been an apology by the chief inspector of the incidents of abuse, blaming the failure on the Hesley managers for not reporting the same.
Hesley Group has subsequently dismissed several staff and made the decision to de-register all homes.
The latest report by the Child Safeguarding review panel revealed how the system failed to protect these children and how Ofsted alarmingly failed to intervene for more than three years despite hundreds of complaints, serious incident notifications and staff whistleblowing reports about the condition at three of the homes.
How has Ofsted responded?
Ofsted have said:
“it is clear that the management and staff of these homes were not open and honest with authorities, including Ofsted. But it’s clear there are lessons for all of us to learn”.
They accept they missed opportunities to identify such trends/patterns of abuse but strongly maintain that many incidents of abuse were concealed by staff and management at the three homes.
Due to the above findings, Education secretary Gillian Keegan has commented that they have taken swift action to improve children’s immediate safety, including receiving assurances that all local authorities have reviewed the safety and wellbeing of all children placed in a specialist provision.
Ultimately, it is clear that these children require some measure of justice. Safeguarding failures involving abuse of this kind can have a notable impact, sadly leading to a multitude of psychiatric issues together with unwanted trauma in adult life.
South Yorkshire Police have encouraged those families of children who were affected at the homes to come forward so their ‘voices can be heard’ and so they can accordingly investigate all these allegations of abuse.
If you or your child has been a victim of abuse whether sexual, physical and/or emotional, please contact Rothera Bray’ Serious Injury Solicitor Seetal Patel for further advice on 03456 465 465 or s.patel@rotherabray.co.uk.
