Workers were derogatory about cared-for children
TWO care workers at a children’s home have admitted being part of a WhatsApp group used to make “derogatory and offensive” comments about the youngsters they were looking after.
The WhatsApp group was allegedly set up by the acting manager at the home as a means for staff to “vent and offload feelings”.
In total, six staff have faced allegations at a Social Care Wales fitness to practise hearing.
The hearing, sitting in Cardiff, heard claims two teenagers ran away after reading descriptions of themselves, while one allegedly selfharmed after seeing the messages.
The hearing heard posts to the group – which included “bread and butter sandwiches when she gets in” and “f*** her, she was the big girl running last night, leave her be cold and tired I say” – were made in November 2017 about two vulnerable children staying at the home, in Caerphilly county, and their families.
The hearing heard the group was discovered after one of its members, Megan Boulter, handed her phone to a child to play solitaire and left her unsupervised.
Christopher Lloyd, who was deputy manager at the care home at the time, and Rachel Williams, a senior residential child care worker, were both present at the hearing and accepted their part in the WhatsApp group.
Mr Lloyd, who was suspended on November 21, 2017, and resigned from his post in January 2018, posted messages saying “It’s a hard life walking around the valleys all night. T***” and “Spend time with your kid you placed in care you muppet” to the group.
He said he was “disappointed” in himself and said he was “shocked I allowed myself to be part of the WhatsApp group”.
He told the panel: “It was totally inappropriate but it is not reflective of my moral values.”
Miss Williams – who posted comments including “I can’t see [child] walking that long, got a job to walk up the stairs” followed by laughing emojis – said the children were never meant to see the messages and she “would have liked the opportunity to apologise to the young persons involved”.
She was suspended from her post on November 20, 2017.
Social Care Wales case presenter David Mortimer told the panel the WhatsApp group was set up by acting manager Scott Grubb, who posted: “F*** [child], she’s a c*** like all kids in care”.
Mr Grubb, as well as Ross Sheehan, Sarah Davies and Ms Boulter, who were all care workers at the home at the time, were accused of participating in the group but were not present at the hearing, which began on Monday.
Yesterday allegations proved.
The case against Mr Lloyd and Miss Williams was also proved after they admitted being part of the group.
The WhatsApp messages were discovered by a child referred to only as Young Person One, who took screenshots of the messages and sent them to the other child and members of her family.
The panel heard both children ran away from the home and it was claimed one subsequently showed signs they had been self-harming.
Esther Dawson, regional manager of the company which operates the care home, told the hearing she was shocked by the messages.
“I couldn’t believe that people I work with could have used that language and shared that kind of information,” said Mrs Dawson.
Mr Lloyd, who was described as “incredibly efficient and very capable”, told the panel he wished he hadn’t got “embroiled in the group” and blamed a “difficult dynamic” at the care home at the time.
After the messages came to light, both children were moved elsewhere and all six staff members involved in the group were suspended.
Miss Williams said: “I allowed myself to become embroiled in the group.
“It was appalling behaviour.” The hearing continues. the panel against all found the four were