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Speaking up from a Children's Home

My Story

Freedom to Care has recently (2001) been assisting a children's home worker who rasied concerns. She wishes to remain anonymous for the time being - this is her story:

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Employed by my local authority for over 20 years, I was asked to go and help set up and work in a new children's home, along with two other female colleagues. The unit was unique to my authority and housed 3 female teenage women. The husband of one of my colleagues took an interest in the unit and spent most of his time there painting, decorating etc. It soon became apparent to me that he was getting too involved and too close with one of the girls. I reported incidents to management - and they responded by making him an approved "volunteer"! He started driving her around, picking her up late at night from friends, pubs etc.

Things became very difficult for me and for one of my colleagues, as management were unwilling to take our concerns seriously. I decided to speak to the man myself, but two days later I was asked to move out of the unit back to my old post as there had been a complaint made against me. It later emerged that the fabricated complaint was made by the young woman and the male volunteer.

Two weeks later one of the other young women made a false complaint that I had physically assaulted her. I was suspended and am still under suspension 24 weeks later. While I have had tremendous support from my colleagues, I have been isolated from them and management were unwilling to listen to any of the numerous concerns raised.

I contacted Freedom to Care. They were sufficiently convinced that my story showed evidence that the "volunteer" may have been "grooming" one or two of the girls, so FtC took the unusual step of contacting our Child Protection Unit. A full investigation is apparently underway, but I have had to appoint a solicitor to act to protect me, as the concerns I have raised have implied criticisms of some of my managers. Have they been listening, have they been acting in the children's best interests and protection? The outcome of their inquiries will show.

[more to follow]

UPDATE (Nove/Dec 2002)

FtC can now reveal that the above article was written by Pat Conneely. Here is an update from The Whistle No. 20 (Dec. 2002):

FtC continues to support a Coventry residential child care social worker, Pat Conneely, who raised evidenced concerns that the husband of a fellow staff member, then a serving policeman but now retired, doing unofficial work in a Coventry children’s home for girls, was displaying grooming (seductive) behaviour towards at least one resident.

Pat was suspended following a pre-emptive counter-allegation that was subsequently found to be unsubstantiated. We believe there is sufficient evidence to indicate that this was intended to silence her. Late in 2000, Freedom to Care became seriously concerned that one of the girls may have been subject to sexual abuse and we contacted Coventry’s Child Protection Unit and passed on our concerns, an unusual step for us. The girl who is the subject of these concerns is one of the two Care Leavers, who may not now be receiving the protection and support due to them under the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.

Perhaps they and their evidence are too much of an embarrassment to Coventry, currently "zero-rated" by the Government for its poor performance. Social Services Director, Jonathan Smith, left Coventry, following his Department’s “zero-star” rating in May. On December 5th 2002, the Coventry Evening Telegraph wrote: “Staff from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s office and the Audit Commission were visiting Coventry to explain what the government plans to do about the city council’s position as one of the country’s worst authorities. Council chief executive Stella Manzie and council leader Cllr Nick Nolan were being told exactly how badly the authority has performed in the first national town hall league tables.”

Pat Conneely has continued to advocate for these girls (at considerable personal cost to herself), but neither Stella Manzie, the Chief Executive, nor the Social Services Managers have appeared to be willing to discuss these concerns with her. Those who were discussing the issue with her have now withdrawn to such an extent that Pat could not get any Managerial response to her requests for advice even on current children she was working with - leaving both her and the children considerably exposed. Now, her Grievances unheard, with no response from Coventry, Pat is off sick, but still determined to pursue the interests of the girls. She has contacted Councillors and local MP, Geoffrey Robinson, but has been met with either silence, hostility or inaction.

As a result of evidence given by Pat, we have written to Coventry and the Department of Health to ask if the ex-Policeman's name has been submitted to the Department's List 99/Protection of Children Act List of those barred from working with children or the current Criminal Records Bureau as “additional (non-conviction) information”? Also, we ask whether Coventry submitted its information on him to the West Midlands Police with a view to an investigation.