Safeguarding review identifies 'serious abuse and neglect' at three residential homes in Doncaster.
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel identified a "culture of abuse" at three residential special schools in Doncaster
The review examined the experiences of 108 children and young adults living at Fullerton House, Wilsic Hall and Wheatley House between January 2018 to March 2021.A separate investigation - Operation Lemur Alpha, which began in March 2021 - is being carried out by the Doncaster Safeguarding Children Partnership and includes a criminal investigation by South Yorkshire Police.
"This national review seeks to make sense of how and why a significant number of children with disabilities and complex needs came to suffer very serious abuse and neglect whilst living in three privately provided residential settings," she said "That's why we have asked all local authorities and Ofsted to take urgent action to ensure all children living in similar circumstances are safe and well."In response, a Hesley Group spokesperson said it recognised there had been "serious failings" at the three sites - all of which have now closed - which had led to people receiving "unacceptable levels of care".
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said the investigation, led by Det Ch Insp Phil Etheridge, is looking into allegations of "physical abuse and violence, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual harm, unmet medical needs and misused and maladministered medication" to see whether any "meet the threshold for criminal investigation".