A BBC investigation has uncovered a number of alleged child protection incidents in which young people were endangered in homes, schools and shelters run by Calcot Services for Children, including assault, childcare and child sexual abuse. A former staff member has accused Calcot of putting profit on children, failing to meet contract staff levels and neglecting to report serious incidents over the past three years to Ofsted, the social security guard. Calcot posted a profit of 36% last year – double that of its major care providers – after gaining 42% in 2020 and 32% in 2019, according to the BBC. The allegations follow the emergence of general concerns about the quality, safety and viability of the UK’s mainly private childcare market, where weekly fees can reach 150 150,000. Last month, an independent government-sponsored review of child welfare highlighted what it called a “broken” market that failed to meet the needs of too many foster children. He called for an unexpected tax on the surplus profits of the biggest providers and urged the boards to come together to prevent a profit. The head of the review, Josh MacAlister, told the Guardian that the BBC revelations about Calcot highlighted many broader issues, including speculation, inadequate services and weak system oversight. “This is another example of the need for a radical overhaul of the child welfare system.” Children’s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, told the BBC she was “shocked” by the findings, adding: “The whole system needs radical reform.” Incidents reported by the BBC include:
A 28-year-old Calcot headquarters staff member has been jailed for abusing his position by grooming and having sex with a 17-year-old while he was transferred to a support accommodation. A girl in a house in Calcot with significant learning difficulties, who was known to be in danger of escaping, repeatedly fled, once with a boy and twice attempted suicide, in one case being rescued by a nearby river bridge.
While some protection cases were not reported to Ofsted, others appear to have had little effect on Calcot’s home and school inspection ratings, which are rated as excellent or good. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST An Ofsted spokesman said: “Our actions in relation to the houses mentioned in the BBC investigation will become clear when the reports are published. We take the information from the complainants seriously. “As for those who contacted Ofsted about Calcot, we have taken action in each case.” In a statement, Calcot Services for Children said: “The sector is fairly subject to strict regulations and the company prioritizes the protection of all children in its care. Has a history of over 30 years in caring for and educating vulnerable and provocative children. “It is known for achieving positive results and is highly regarded by Ofsted and the local authorities with which it works.” Calcot added that he was grateful to the BBC “for highlighting the issues it considers to be protective”. Kathy Evans, managing director of Children England – an umbrella organization for charities in the field – said the childcare market was out of control. “The need for decisive market intervention powers and contingency planning with public resources to provide safe, secure alternatives to such an unsafe supply really could not have been more urgent.”
