Council apologises for failures after child in care abused

CHILDREN’S services bosses have apologised unreservedly over the failures which led to a vulnerable Gloucestershire child being groomed and sexually abused by her carer and becoming pregnant.

A safeguarding review into the inadequate care provided to Child X, who was 15 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, raised alarm earlier this month over the lack of supervision, safety, and quality of care.

The basics of safety and containment were not achieved, she was sexually abused, had access to cannabis and tobacco and absconded at times, the report said.

Gloucestershire County Council’s children’s safeguarding and early years cabinet member Stephen Davies (C, Hardwicke and Severn) apologised during the meeting at Shire Hall on Wednesday.

“I would like to apologise unreservedly both personally and on behalf of children’s services to all of those involved,” he said.

“This is a complex case involving a very troubled child. Children’s services have acknowledged mistakes and taken action to address the issues raised.

“However, it should not be forgotten this was a crime committed by a manipulative individual who has been charged, tried and sentenced to 44 months.”

Councillor Lisa Spivey (LD, South Cerney) said her Liberal Democrat group was disappointed by the report and asked when council leaders were first made aware of the issues related to Child X and why opposition and scrutiny leads were not informed.

“The report is dated 2023, so why has it only just been published? Was Ofsted aware of the circumstances of Child X’s care during their latest visit?

“Was anything arranged so that they would be less likely to look at that case?”

Cllr Davies said he did not have the chronology but was informed about it. He said there was no consultation with other leaders at that time because it was the subject of a serious case review.

He also said Ofsted were “absolutely” aware of the care the council had provided.

He explained it was a complex case and Child X had been involved in 30 placements which had broken down.

“We had built a unique to Gloucestershire specific provision for her,” he said.

“This is not a case where a child was put into one of our normal care homes or fostering situations and then put at risk.”

Councillor David Drew (L, Stroud Central) said the case is a “terrible indictment” of how the council has performed.

He said it was not the only case. “There’s an ongoing problem in this county,” he said.

Cllr Davies said the council “worries every day” about the safety of the county’s children in care.

Cllr John Bloxsom (L, Rodborough) said the case was appalling.

He said: “What happened is not the result of a criminal gang.

“It’s the result of people we have commissioned and paid to provide a service to a young person.”

Cllr Colin Hay (LD, All Saints and Oakley) said there were quite a number of issues highlighted in the report which flag up “systematic failures” within the authority as a whole.

He proposed referring the issue to a scrutiny committee to establish a task group to look at the various failures raised in the report.

Cllr Davies agreed and said it would be referred to the children and families overview and scrutiny committee and they would decide how to review the issues highlighted by the report.

What happened is not the result of a criminal gang. It’s the result of people we have commissioned and paid to provide a service to a young person CLLR JOHN BLOXSOM (L, RODBOROUGH)