Abuse probe at children’s home in Newcastle
A CHILDREN’S home for troubled youngsters is at the centre of an investigation by police and social services into alleged child abuse and staff misconduct.
Police swooped on Howestead Lodge in Fenham, Newcastle, amid allegations of mistreatment of children, drug taking and assault.
Eight children who were staying at the home have been removed and placed elsewhere by social services.
The raid comes after a whistle blower handed in a letter to the NSPCC expressing concern over the treatment of the teenage residents.
The letter, which has been seen by the Chronicle, says: “During my employment there have been a number of occasions where I have witnessed children being put at risk, exploited, abused, assaulted and humiliated.”
All the staff have been quizzed by detectives on a voluntary basis and the children have all been interviewed as witnesses, although no formal arrests have been made.
The allegations in the letter include:
A male staff member having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old resident
Two carers assaulting teenage residents
A staff member watching pornography
One worker drinking alcohol and taking illegal drugs on the premises.
Howestead Lodge, based in Two Ball Lonnen, is a privately-run home that is used by Northumberland County Council.
The authority pays money to the home to look after a small number of children in the care of the authority. Newcastle City Council does not use the home.
The detailed six-page letter, which was later handed to the police and social services, was written by someone claiming to have worked at the home for “a considerable period of time” and said the allegations should be investigated “as a matter of urgency”.
It begins: “I am writing this account to the best of my integrity and in the hope that by exposing the malpractice that I have witnessed it will be fully investigated and the children involved will be safeguarded from any future breaches of child protection legislation.”
The letter claims one of the male staff members was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a then 15-year-old resident. After an investigation it was decided that the allegations were untrue and the worker was allowed to continue working there.
The author claims that the same member of staff regularly drank alcohol when he was on “sleepover” duty.
After the alleged incidents were flagged up, the letter claims, an in-house investigation was conducted but it was felt the carer was innocent and staff were told to “move on”.
The letter says: “I felt very let down by all of this and felt the investigation had not been carried out properly.”
The author also alleges a carer turned off the CCTV cameras before assaulting a resident. In another alleged incident, the letter claims a senior member of staff was caught watching pornography in the staff bedroom.
The letter also claims that two male members of staff were seen taking cocaine on more than one occasion.
The Chronicle understands police are investigating the allegations of assault and Northumberland County Council social services, which is responsible for the children, will investigate the other allegations.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Police are carrying out inquiries into allegations about the standard of care at Howestead Lodge children’s home in Fenham.
“All current staff have been spoken to and are co-operating as part of our inquiries.
“Jointly with social services, we’ve also spoken to those young people who are believed to be involved. At this stage we are investigating allegations of assault.”
A spokesperson for the NSPCC said: “We received worrying allegations about abuse at Howestead Lodge and referred this to the local authority, who are taking further action.
“We take allegations of abuse very seriously and where concerns about the safety and welfare of children are raised with us, we will act on them.”
A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “We are aware of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the police and are working closely together with them and other agencies. Our top priority was making alternative arrangements for the children at this home.”
The owners of the home refused to comment when contacted by the Chronicle.
