Council addresses concerns after closing a children’s home due to child exploitation risks and inadequate safeguarding.
The home closed back in 2022 on Lytham Road. A report said the staff failed to protect kids. It involved sexual exploitation and trapping a child.
Ofsted called the home “inadequate” after an inspection. The council then decided to shut it down in September. A council member, Paul Marrow, brought it up. He asked about kids exposed to sexual exploitation. He also questioned the department’s staffing levels.
Julie Gunn responded to his questions. She clarified the home wasn’t just inadequate due to exploitation. The report mentioned failures in safeguarding and management. One child showed signs of exploitation.
Staff didn’t follow protocols to protect that child. Gunn said the child was indeed safe. They then implemented a new training program. The training covered online safety and CSE awareness. She also changed the leadership and reviewed the home. Ultimately, the pace wasn’t fast enough.
Gunn felt they needed to close the home. She wanted a better environment for the kids. Sexual exploitation can happen online, too. The Engage team helps kids at sexual risk. It includes police, health, and children’s services. They also address criminal exploitation cases.
In ten years, the council cared for 1,669 children. 121 of them dealt with the Engage team. There are 43,800 kids in the borough. 662 of those kids had Engage team involvement. That includes both CSE and CCE incidents. Gunn said they have enough staff.
Gunn’s figures showed some interesting stats. About 7.3% of cared-for children used Engage. Only 1.5% of all kids in the area did. This means kids in care are more vulnerable. They are almost five times more likely to be at risk. It’s a bit worrying, right?