Regulator fails to protect children

The BBC have reported on the abuse of more than 100 of the UK's most vulnerable children living in residential homes in the Doncaster area, despite repeated safeguarding concerns being raised by concerned whistleblowers directly with Ofsted.

In the report - Children punched and hit over the head in care homes rated ‘good’ - the abusive treatment of vulnerable children, many with complex needs, is documented. It is thought that both Ofsted, the regulator of children's social care settings such as these residential children's homes and special education schools, and the police were contacted by support workers that had seen the abuse first hand. Despite this, the homes remained on a 'Good' rating from Ofsted, before finally being shut down..

The impact of abuse of these children will be devastating and lifelong and serious questions will now be asked about how Ofsted and the police managed to fail in their duty of care.