Ministers are facing calls for urgent reform of the children’s residential care system in the wake of shocking reports of vulnerable youngsters being abused and sexually assaulted at homes run by a private firm making huge profits.
A BBC investigation revealed a series of alleged safeguarding incidents in which youngsters were put at risk in homes, schools and supported housing run by Calcot Services for Children, including assault, grooming and child-on-child sexual abuse.
Former staff accused Calcot of putting profit before children, failing to meet contracted staffing levels, and neglecting to report several serious incidents over the past three years to Ofsted, the social care watchdog.