Britain's Hidden Children's Homes: 'My boyfriend was killed in care' - BBC Newsnight

[@paulgibbons2320]

We should not need the Law to protect our children. It should be a priority for every adult. World is a sick broken place.

[@firefly88887]

Amen 🙏🏻

[@auditingsocialservicesuk]

UK is a sick broken place. Go outside the UK and see the difference.

[@hettybl]

This girl is amazing ....I so hope you are ok Mrs...you are beautiful xxx

[@bigbobabc123]

The fact this happens in a civilised country is disgusting.

[@KumaBean]

Stories like this perhaps signal that society isn't as civil as we'd all like to believe it is; 'Out of sight, out of mind.' 💚

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

Even some developing countries have less of this

[@graceomalley4]

To those focusing on the ethnicity of the killer: children of all races and creeds in the care system are extremely vulnerable to harm. This child’s killer had mental health problems and was also in care. Even anecdotally I know white people with mental health problems who have become violent. I don’t blame that on their colour or creed. Sadly it’s their illness. Same here surely? Care children have terrible outcomes. How can we reverse that is the question I’d ask. Focusing on identity politics endangers the vulnerable. I always remember Fred West’s victims were mostly girls who were in care. Abusers of all colours are strategic. They go for maximum vulnerability. If we want to sort this out we need to ditch hate for clear vision and care. Ask questions and reflect fairly on the answers.

[@asnekboi7232]

Molly O true I hate it when people make it an immigrant religious or race thing

[@fearfactorymark]

I was in care most my child life. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy

[@jenniferderry4755]

Me too, I totally agree with you

[@lurky4799]

The care system is failing so many young people in so many different ways. This needs a good look at to make sure that kids are in a safe environment and are being supported properly with their needs.

[@L3a98]

Lance was failed by the people that should’ve taken care of him.

[@sophieshine3114]

He went to my school rip lance .......😔

[@andrewwatson6913]

Well done BBC. Another outstanding investigation.

[@andrewwatson6913]

@British Brexit Confusion I think the phrase 'anyone else who cares about our kids' is enough of an indicator of the level of your discourse. It is a phrase used by a ranter not a thinker. And I have no doubt I will receive more ranting and flailing emotion in response to this.

[@andrewwatson6913]

@British Brexit Confusion But the point is that it's not 'anyone else': you're referring to a specific group whom you feel have been unfairly treated. But there are many groups who care about the wellbeing of our children. In fact most people do.

[@costinvelicu3534]

Yeah if only they would do that when not everyone else is doing. BULLSHIT BBC ARE COMPLINCES IN THIS FUCKING NIGHTMARE THEY COVERED UP REPORTS ABOUT RAPISTS FOR DECADES

[@lydx5814]

That poor girl x much love to you x

[@andreabarnfather8972]

Of course the death was preventable. Had the severely MH person been kept in an environment that met his own complex requirements, rather than being housed in a multi occupant household. It would not surprise me if the decision to accommodate him there in the first instance was to reduce costs. I'd imagine that it was the MH professionals who expressed concern but the ultimate decision would have been up to Children's Services - thing that pisses me off is why did the professionals who did not agree challenge the decision? A young person who was 100% reliant on Children's Services has lost his life and his girlfriend will carry her grief indefinitely. A mentally ill person with a long history of violence has killed. The LA had a duty of care to both.

[@firefly88887]

MH for teenagers is appalling and no if that youngster was deemed to need a mental health unit (psychiatric assessment required) then the people who believed that he shouldn’t have been discharged shouldn’t have discharged him ! A MH placement requires funding part NHS part Children’s Services and in my experience it’s NHS that refuses the funding!

[@pollyannafree8131]

It’s not putting children in danger, it’s putting young adults in danger.

[@Raven-nx8dr]

You're still developing in many ways until you're in your early 20s. So yes, they're teens but still children.

[@firefly88887]

It’s quite terrifying to how poorly trained staff are ? As a first year student on placement I was called at 1:00am in the morning by a staff member considerably older and apparently more experienced than I , she was hysterical as one of our kids was pulling out his toenails- the hostel had a no drug policy so couldn’t stay there if they had a problem and everything driven under ground- I had warned this staff members that during an inspection I did find injectable in a kids room and that I felt he needed support- only support he got was he was out on his ass if he continued to use ! Unfortunately he went and scored something horrible on 5th day of attempting withdrawal and nearly killed himself and there was this woman crying on the phone to me instead of calling an ambulance- all this drama could have been avoided if the kids could actually speak- absolutely horrific place but thankfully he was ok

[@louisemulholland5510]

Bruh I went boarding school with lance philpots manor he was funny n sweet also very good friends rest in peace bro I wondered where u went

[@karenwilson9528]

My sister was in one of these homes. I dread to think what the council spent to keep her there, but she got an empty room and £45 a week jobseekers allowance to live on. (Not that she could have a job and stay there.) They would open up the emergency food cubord if a child could prove they had eaten nothing for three days. My sister was privileged enough once for them to do her the huge favor of opening the food cubord. The cubard under the stairs that was full to the brim with tins - donated, mind. She was allowed to pick two tins. She picked beans and a tin of frankfurters. And her three days started again!!!!!!

[@Sameoldfitup]

I was in care from 6 years old to 18 years

[@Bebedollie]

🙏💞💔

[@edwardlear4952]

Come Mrs Children's Commisoner, do your job and regulate these homes and protect our nations kids.

[@auditingsocialservicesuk]

Go after the Judge and Social Workers that made all this possible. Long Term PRISON Sentences 5 -25 years for Judges and Social Workers.

[@miasmall1040]

Miss u my uncle 🥺

[@deansumner5526]

I DO NOT EVEN SLEEP ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU MADE ME SUFFER

[@Sarah-is9vd]

From 2021 all care home for under 18 must be registered and regulated by Ofsted. QCQ don’t do nothing they disgraced part of trafficking network.

[@SuperChiko]

True story

[@KumaBean]

I resonated with a lot of this myself, all the best mate 🤝

[@susansherlock7474]

So, what is stopping the regulation? Typical UK now...

[@robokill387]

what is stopping the regulation? The Tories.

[@gainsboroughline8288]

The craziest problem of all is Risk Assessment. Its not nationally regulated. Every LEA, NHS Trust & General Council in UK has its own way of assessing mental health & vulnerability, based on their own criteria of what they think is low or moderate risk. Lack of inspections in assisted accommodation is only the tip of the iceberg!!! Another issue is this dividing line between under 18s & over 18s. UK should have a transitional legal age group of 15-25. That would give Young Adults (right across Scotland, Wales, England & NI far more protection than now. But that would imply that over 18s up to 25 years would 'also' be considered vulnerable...and I'm not sure UK councils actually have funding for this.

[@paulinemccallum7187]

The British empire has a lot to answer to time to look back in history

[@nathanwhite7010]

Social services do not care about children. They don’t know what the difference between real abuse looks like or coaching or manipulation or anything like that. Everyone that works for social services does not have the education to even work out what abuses because none of them actually know what abuse looks like because they have so many cases they just work out there. All of those cases are abuse so people end up losing their children to care for no fucking reason, because people did not want to do their jobs properly.. and when they have a case that has no abuse in it, they’ll try everything to keep you in the system

[@deansumner5526]

I have lost a good few people from care homes I have been in, I mean why kill a young child or make them suffer

[@kamauwilliamk]

So...sad

[@Bebedollie]

It was a shame he couldn't live with her, at her house.

[@deansumner5526]

Underley garden school, kirby Lonsdale is still open and the children are alot younger than what they were back then I had left UNDERLEY in 2001 late because my care home managers did not support me in were would be the best place for me, were I would feel safe

[@deansumner5526]

UNDERLEY GARDEN SCHOOL / UNDERLEY HALL SCHOOL apparently owned by DERRICK COOPER but to tell you all the REAL TRUETH there is more than this story than meets thee eye.

[@clayhoyt5717]

Speaking as an American, the foster system isn't great here. Kids get abused and worse in a very heavily regulated system over here. At least with these unregistered houses the kids aren't totally homeless. Its super tragic that kids like this have to live this way but its a fact of life. Over regulating this will just result in less people offering up properties they own, ultimately resulting in MORE kids just straight up on the street. At least this way they have a roof.

[@graceomalley4]

clay hoyt yes. But the bigger picture is that unless money is put in to helping the vulnerable in society all of us will suffer. So regulate the homes but find some way out of the private renting trap: the government build homes? I think of what I’d like to see if someone I loved was in that situation.

[@susansherlock7474]

A fact of life statement will not change anything...

[@rachelkellett4114]

Even regulsted this wont change i exoerianced some of the issues raised in this programme while in regulated care!

[@brakhahoward]

The homes are a business; run by companies.....He was uncared for in the homes......taken to unsuitable environments, violent residents, stealing things, no quality assurance well well...I can see Jemma Chick's family falling into this at some point....good luck; u do it to yourselves

[@deansumner5526]

MODERN SLAVERY RUSKIN MILL EDUCATIONAL TRUST SOME ONE NEEDS TO SORT THIS OUT OR I WILL!!!

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

Two Words: Jimmy Saville 🙄

[@str8skeptic]

This is a positive change, would you agree?

[@pollyannafree8131]

Absolutely they need regulation.

[@deansumner5526]

Yes BIRKENHEAD, WIRRAL COUNCIL I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU YET I WILL HAVE A COURT ORDER OUT FOR YOU AS SOON AS I have enough money for a good solicitor and trust me I am gonna get part of my life back for what you did to me MAUREEN O'BRIAN now a COURT PROSECUTOR AT BIRKENHEAD MY DAD ALSO LIED TO ME WITH YOU you won't get away with this I have been living with this for 15 fucking years I will see justice served and YOU BOTH CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK!!!

[@razabadass]

:’(

[@deansumner5526]

I am DISGUSTED at this country THIS IS ENGLAND not BRITAIN it is ENGLAND.

[@louiseburnett5795]

H E Y P E D O L E A V E O U R K I D S A L O N E ;

[@ChainsawingAMan]

Silence